Rich Keeble, the actor behind the popular character Monoco in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, revealed that he received what he considered "lousy" advice from co-star Ben Starr regarding the game's anticipated success. Keeble shared that Starr, who voices Verso, attempted to manage his expectations about the game's reception, suggesting it wouldn't reach the heights of a phenomenon like Baldur's Gate 3. "I think it'll do well, but I don't think it's going to be a Baldur's Gate 3-style movement," Starr reportedly told Keeble. Keeble, however, found this advice to be misguided in retrospect, as Expedition 33 has achieved significant critical and player acclaim.
Keeble spoke with Polygon about the unexpected popularity of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He noted that the game's success has led to dedicated fans sending wedding invitations to cast members and getting tattoos celebrating the title. "I've just had an email forwarded to me that people want to invite us to their weddings and things like that," Keeble stated. He also mentioned receiving feedback from conventions where players have called Expedition 33 the game of the decade.
Despite the game's serious themes, such as grief, it also features moments of levity and absurdity. Keeble highlighted the comedic introduction of his character, Monoco, who is initially reluctant to join Verso's quest. Monoco's deadpan response, "OK, bye," followed by his eventual agreement due to the promise of combat, has become a notable scene. Keeble recalled that Starr predicted this particular exchange would be widely clipped on social media, a prediction that proved accurate with the scene garnering millions of views.
Keeble, who began his acting career later in life, voiced 11 characters in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He admitted that his extensive roles stemmed partly from nervousness during recording sessions. "I like to cover up my anxiety by messing around a bit in between takes," Keeble explained. "I just do silly voices and it ended up becoming a thing where they go, ‘Rich, do you fancy voicing another character?’" He also mentioned that some of his character's backstories, like Monoco's true nature, were not fully revealed to him during recording to avoid potential confusion.
Keeble acknowledged that even after the game's overwhelming success and accolades, including a BAFTA for Best Game, he still experiences nerves in the recording booth. He found a moment of validation when Ben Starr, who had initially tempered expectations, admitted after the game's launch, "Yeah, I was wrong."