6 Ways to Fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Not Launching on a Windows PC

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the most highly-rated new Windows PC games in years, but it doesn’t start on some players’ PCs. A player said this on Reddit, “Game not launching… Expedition33.exe is running in Task Manager, but the game won’t launch.” Players who have recently purchased the game may consider seeking a refund if it doesn’t start. However, there are some ways you can fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not launching on Windows PCs. If you’re an Epic user, check out this page. 

Verify the Clair Obscur Files

The Sandfall Interactive support service recommends players verify the Clair Obscur game files to repair corrupted files. Furthermore, some Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 players confirm verifying that the game has worked for them. You can repair corrupted game files with the Verify option, as covered on this Steam page. If you’re an Epic Games user, check out this page. 

The Verify integrity of game files option

Set a DirectX 11 Launch Option for Clair Obscur

Setting a DirectX 11 launch option can sometimes fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not launching, as confirmed by players. Applying this possible solution ensures the game utilizes the DirectX 11 API. You can configure a -dx11 launch option for Clair Obscur with Stream and Epic like this:

Steam

1. Start Steam to click Library within Valve’s gaming client.
2. Right-click Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in the Library sidebar to select Properties.
3. Input -dx11 for DirectX 11 in the launch options text box.

The launch options in Steam

Epic Games

1. Run Epic Games to select Library in that software.
2. Click the three-dot menu button for Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 to select Manage.
3. Please turn on the Launch Options setting by clicking its toggle switch.
4. Enter -dx11 within the Launch Options box.

The launch options in Steam

Add Clair Obscur to the Windows Firewall’s Allowed List

Some players confirm that they could fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not launching by adding the game to the Windows firewall’s allowed list. This Microsoft guide page provides instructions for adding apps to the allowed list. Select to add the Expedition33_Steam.exe and SandFall-Win64-Shipping.exe files from the game’s installation folder to that allowed list, with the Private and Public checkboxes also selected for them.

The Allowed apps in Windows Defender Firewall

Reinstall Graphics Card Drivers

Another confirmed way to fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not launching is to reinstall graphics drivers. Players have said they’ve done this using the DDU or something, but you can uninstall drivers with Device Manager. This is how you can reinstall a graphics card driver.

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager from the menu.
2. Next, expand the Display Adapters category by double-clicking on it.
3. Right-click your graphics driver shown in the Display adapters category to select Uninstall device.
   
   

   The Uninstall device option

4. Click the Delete driver from this device checkbox to select that option.
5. Select Uninstall device to finish.
6. Reinstall your driver with the method in this guide for updating graphics drivers. If you manually install an NVIDIA graphics driver, select the Custom Installation > Perform a clean installation option.

Enable the Steam Overlay

Although it’s usually recommended to turn off Steam overlay for fixing gaming issues, in this case, players have confirmed that enabling it helps to fix Obscur: Expedition 33 not launching. This highlights that there might be a game bug that crashes the game at startup. You can enable Steam’s overlay, as covered on this page.

The Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game option

Delete the Sandfall Folder

Deleting the Sandfall data folder is also among the more widely confirmed ways to fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not launching. However, note that applying this possible fix also erases saved game data. If applying this possible fix erases any corrupted saved data, then it might resolve the issue. You can erase the Sandfall folder like this:

1. Next, open File Explorer and the C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Local folder.
2. Right-click the Sandfall folder to select Delete.
3. It’s also recommended to disable Steam Cloud Save if enabled to ensure that the feature doesn’t restore corrupted saves. Open Steam to click on Library.
4. Right-click Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to select General.
5. Unselect the Keep game saves in the Steam Cloud option.

The Steam Cloud option

Other Possible Ways to Fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Not Launching

Try applying the potential fixes suggested above first. If they’re not enough, these are some extra ways to fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not launching that might be worth trying:

• Set your Steam games client to run as an administrator.
• Try running the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 game from its installation folder.
• Disconnect unneeded external devices, such as gamepads, steering wheels, etc, before starting the game.
• Reinstall the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 game.

The potential fixes included in this guide will probably fix Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 not launching for the majority of players. We don’t promise guaranteed fixes for everybody, but the potential solutions above are worth trying. You can also contact the game’s support service for more possible fixes from this get-in-touch page.

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