Ways to fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Fatal Error

May. 07, 2025 / Updated by Seraphina to Gaming Solutions

fix-clair-obscur-expedition-33-fatal-error

Some Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 players have encountered a "Fatal Error" during gameplay, causing the game to crash and significantly affecting the experience. This article introduces several effective solutions to help you quickly restore smooth gameplay.

1. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are one of the most common causes of fatal errors in games. Ensuring your drivers are up to date can effectively resolve the issue. It is recommended to use Driver Talent to automatically detect and update drivers, saving time and reducing the risk of installing the wrong drivers.

Download Driver Talent

Click the download button to get the latest version of Driver Talent. After installation, open the software and click "Scan".
Once the scan is complete, it will display any missing or outdated drivers. Locate the SM Bus Controller driver in the list and click the "Update" button.

driver-update

After updating, it is recommended to restart your computer to ensure the new driver takes effect properly.

2. Check Minimum System Requirements

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB / AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6 GB / Intel Arc A380 6 GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 55 GB available space
Additional Notes: SSD required. Minimum specs allow for 1080p 30FPS low settings gameplay.

3. Verify Game File Integrity

Open the Steam client.

Go to your Library, right-click on the game, and select "Properties".

Under the Local Files tab, click "Verify integrity of game files".

verify-game-file-integrity

Wait for Steam to automatically repair the files.

If you did not install the game via Steam, consider reinstalling it to resolve possible file corruption.

4. Run as Administrator

Locate the desktop shortcut for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Right-click the shortcut and select "Properties".

Go to the Compatibility tab, check "Run this program as an administrator", then click "Apply" and "OK".

run-as-administrator

If the game runs normally, the crash was likely due to insufficient permissions.

5. Disable Steam Overlay

Launch the Steam client and go to the "Library" tab.

Right-click the game and select "Properties".

Under the General tab, uncheck "Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game".

disable-steam-overlay

Save changes and exit Steam.

6. Force the Game to Use DirectX 11

Open Steam and go to your Library.

Right-click on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and choose "Properties".

Under the "General" tab, find the "Launch Options" field.

Type "-dx11" in the field and close the window.
Delete the D3D12 file from the game's installation directory.

To access the installation folder:

In the Steam Library, right-click the game → Select Manage → Browse local files.