Where To Find the Old Key in Clair Obscur Expedition 33

Staring at a locked gate, knowing a crucial journal—and maybe your platinum trophy—is just out of reach, is a uniquely frustrating feeling for a completionist. In the enchanting, painterly world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, one small, easily missable item has caused an outsized amount of angst: the Old Key. For many players, this key was the sole barrier to 100% completion, locked away in the game's prologue with no option to return. The problem wasn't a glitch or a bug, but a deliberate—and, many argued, flawed—design choice that permanently locked players out of a collectible if they missed a specific purchase early on. Thankfully, developer Sandfall Interactive listened to the community. With the Verso’s Drafts Update, they’ve thrown a lifeline to those who missed it, offering a second chance without forcing a brutal new playthrough. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about this elusive item, its new home, and how to finally claim that coveted journal.

Causes of the "Problem"

So, why did the Old Key become such a notorious sticking point? The issue stems from a combination of classic RPG design and modern completionist culture.

• Permanently Missable Content: The original—and only—method to obtain the Old Key was exclusively in the game's Prologue in Lumiere. Once you progressed past this story segment, you could not return. There was no merchant in the later world selling it, no hidden chest as a backup.
• Resource Competition: In the Prologue, you earn a limited number of Festival Tokens. Players had to choose between spending these tokens on the Old Key, a new hairstyle for Gustave, or a quirky Pictos. Without a guide, many players spent their tokens on the more immediately appealing cosmetic items, unknowingly locking themselves out of the key.
• High Stakes: The key unlocked a gate in Old Lumiere containing one of the game's journals. For trophy and achievement hunters, this single journal often represented the final obstacle to the "Documentalist" trophy or its achievement equivalent, blocking a full 100% clear.
• No In-Game Warning: The game did not explicitly signal that this key was a one-time, never-return opportunity for a mandatory collectible. This lack of communication is what transformed a simple choice into a perceived "problem" for countless players.

Quick Solution (For the Impatient)

Don't want the backstory? Here's the fast fix:
If you missed the Old Key in the Prologue, load your save after installing the Verso’s Drafts Update. Travel to Lumiere in Act III. From the first Expedition Flag, go down the stairs and immediately take a left. Look for a purple glowing orb on the ground—that's your second-chance Old Key. Pick it up, fast travel back to Old Lumiere, and open that stubborn gate!

Detailed Step-by-Step Solutions

Follow these steps carefully to locate and use the Old Key in your current playthrough.

Method 1: The New, Guaranteed Method (Post-Update)

This is the solution for virtually everyone who missed it the first time.

Ensure the Update is Installed: First, confirm your game has been updated to the Verso’s Drafts Update or later. You should see the update in your platform's download history or news feed.

Progress to Act III: You must have reached the game's third act. The new key spawn does not appear earlier.

Travel to Lumiere: Use the Expedition travel menu to return to the town of Lumiere. Sit through the brief arrival cutscene.

1. Locate the Starting Flag: You'll begin at the primary Expedition Flag rest point in the town square. This is your anchor.
2. Navigate to the Spawn Point: From the flag, head down the main staircase directly in front of you. At the bottom, immediately turn left into a smaller, side alcove or pathway. Do not continue straight into the larger town area.
3. Spot the Item: On the ground, you will see a distinctive purple collectible orb, identical to those used for other key items in the game.
4. Claim Your Prize: Walk over to the orb and press the interact button (typically X onPlayStation, A on Xbox, E on PC). A notification will confirm you'veobtained the "Old Key."
5. Fast Travel to Old Lumiere: Open your map and fast travel to the "Old Lumiere" location. This is a separate map from the main town.
6. Find the Locked Gate: Navigate to the area where you remember (or will discover) a conspicuous locked metal gate. It's typically in a recessed area.
7. Unlock and Collect: Interact with the gate. Your character will use the Old Key. Enter the now-open area and collect the journal inside to finally check it off your list.

Method 2: The Original Prologue Method (For New Players)

If you're starting a fresh playthrough, here's how to get it the intended way.

1. During the Prologue in Lumiere, complete the early quests for Maelle to earn Festival Tokens.
2. Correctly answer the question posed by the "old friend" NPC to earn additional tokens. (Tip: Pay attention to the lore hints he gives!)
3. Locate the vendor selling peculiar goods. His stock includes the Old Key.
4. Ensure you have enough Festival Tokens and purchase the Old Key before buying the hairstyle or Pictos if you're low on tokens.
5. Proceed to Old Lumiere when the story takes you there and use the key on the locked gate immediately when you see it.

Alternative Solutions

While the update provides the cleanest fix, there were two other community-considered "solutions" prior to its release:

• New Game+ Run: If the update hadn't arrived, the only recourse was to start a NewGame+ playthrough, speed-run to the Prologue, and purchase the keycorrectly. This was a time-consuming but guaranteed method.
• Pre-Update Save Scumming: For players who had a save file still in the Prologue, they could reload that save, replay up to the vendor, and get the key. Most players, however, had long overwritten such saves.

Thankfully, the new spawn method renders these cumbersome alternatives obsolete.

How to Prevent the Issue From Happening Again

The new update is the ultimate prevention, but for future playthroughs or other games:

• Embrace the Explorer Mindset: In RPGs, especially in early-game vendor areas, buy unique keys, maps,and nondescript items before cosmetics. Their purpose is often revealedlater.
• Manual Save Rotations: Before leaving a major story zone like a Prologue area, create aseparate manual save file. Keep 2-3 rotating saves to avoid beingtrapped by a single decision.
• Check Community Guides Early: A quick peek at a non-spoiler checklist for missable items can save dozens of hours of regret. For Clair Obscur, the Old Key is now famously item #1 on those lists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: I'm still in Act I/II. Can I get the new Old Key spawn?
A: No. The devs placed the new key in Act III specifically so it doesn'tinterfere with early-game progression. You must advance to the thirdact.

Q2: I already bought the key in the Prologue. Will the purple orb still be there?
A: No. The item is unique. If you already have the Old Key in your KeyItems inventory, the purple orb will not spawn. The game checks yourinventory first.

Q3: Does using this key lock me out of any other endings or items?
A: Absolutely not. The key only unlocks the one gate in Old Lumiere forthe journal. It has no bearing on narrative endings or other secrets.

Q4: I picked up the orb, but the gate won't open. What do I do?
A: First, double-check your Key Items inventory to confirm the Old Key is there. If it is, ensure you are at the correct gate in Old Lumiere (not the main town). If the issue persists, try restarting the game or loading a save from before you picked up the orb.

Q5: Is the "Documentalist" trophy/achievement now fixed?
A: Yes! The update was specifically deployed to fix this blockage. Onceyou collect the journal using the newly acquired key, thetrophy/achievement should pop upon collection, provided it's the lastone you needed.

Closing with a Call to Action

And there you have it—the full saga of the infamous Old Key, fromfrustrating obstacle to redeemed secret. That locked gate is finallywithin your power to open, and your journey to 100% completion in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can reach its satisfying conclusion. The community's voice made thischange possible, proving that sharing your gaming hurdles leads tosolutions for everyone.

Did this guide help you finally grab that last journal? Pay it forward! Share this guide with other Expeditioners still searching for answers, or drop a comment below sharing your own tales of triumph over missable collectibles. Stuck on another puzzle in Lumiere or beyond? Explore our full library of Clair Obscur guides—we’re here to help you uncover every last brushstroke of beauty and secret this incredible game has to offer. Happy hunting

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