“We need to create new IPs”: Expedition 33 and Final Fantasy voice actor urges the industry to move beyond sequels

Ben Starr — the voice of Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Clive in Final Fantasy XVI — spoke at Emerald City Comic-Con about the state of the gaming industry. In his view, studios have become too focused on sequels and remasters at the expense of original ideas.

Starr pointed to Resident Evil as an example — a franchise that, in his words, is currently in an “incredibly strong” phase, introducing new characters and shifting perspectives. Even so, he said he’d rather play “the next Clair Obscur” than another sequel. And he didn’t mean a direct continuation — but rather the developers’ statement that their next game will be something entirely different. Clair Obscur is meant to be a broader franchise, while Gustav’s expedition is just one of many possible stories.

The actor also admitted he’s concerned the industry might take the wrong lessons from Expedition 33’s success — potentially flooding the market with similar games instead of exploring new creative directions. Starr added that he would love to appear in a new entry in the Legacy of Kain series — but even there, he noted it would be better if it were something entirely new.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched in 2025 and became one of the biggest surprises of the year. The debut project from Sandfall Interactive received “universal acclaim” on Metacritic, a 98% recommendation rate on OpenCritic, and the highest user score in the platform’s history. The game proved that an original idea from a small team can compete with big-budget franchises.

Do you agree with Ben Starr — or do some franchises still deserve sequels? Share your thoughts in the comments.