Running into a “fatal error” and seeing the game crash when playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can be frustrating, especially when you’re unsure what’s causing it. More specifically, you will see the error pop-up, “The UE-Sandfall Game has crashed and will close” and this guide walks you through the most common reasons and step-by-step solutions based on community discussions and support forums.
What Causes Fatal Error in Expedition 33?
High-end PC users are also encountering the Fatal Error, so it’s not the specs that are causing it. However, there are a few common reasons why it could be happening.
- Corrupted game files
- Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers
- Missing runtime libraries like DirectX or Visual C++
- Conflicts with antivirus or firewall software
- Game not having proper permissions to run
Troubleshooting Tips
Verify Game Files
If you’re using Steam or another launcher:
- Open your game library
- Right-click on Expedition 33 and go to properties
- Navigate to local files and click verify integrity of game files
This process checks and replaces missing or corrupted files. Wait for the process to be over, and relaunch the game. If you encounter crashes again after 20-30 minutes or more, the following troubleshooting tips may help.
Update Your Graphics Drivers
Fatal errors can often be linked to outdated GPU drivers. NVIDIA, AMD and Intel users can visit the official site of the manufacturer and download the latest drivers from there.
Also, ensure Windows is fully up to date to avoid compatibility problems.
Install or Update Runtime Components
Expedition 33 depends on certain software to run properly. Make sure the following are installed:
- DirectX 12
- Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables (especially 2015-2019)
- .NET Framework
You can download these directly from Microsoft’s official site. Plus, make sure you have installed the game on an SSD. Minimum specs allow for 1080p 30FPS low settings gameplay.
Temporarily Disable Antivirus or Firewall
Security software can sometimes block game connections or other services.
- Try disabling your antivirus temporarily and launch the game
- Add Expedition 33 to your antivirus and firewall exception lists
Run the Game as Administrator
Right-click on the game’s shortcut or executable file and choose run as administrator. This ensures the game has the necessary permissions to access system resources.
Use Compatibility Mode
If you’re on older hardware or Windows versions:
- Right-click the game executable
- Go to properties and open the compatibility tab
- Enable compatibility mode and select Windows 8 or Windows 7
This can help in cases where newer systems create conflicts with the game engine.
Reinstall the Game
As a last resort:
- Uninstall Expedition 33 from your system
- Restart your PC
- Reinstall the game from scratch
A Few More Things to Keep in Mind
- Close unnecessary background apps that may conflict with the game
- Keep an eye on the official Expedition 33 community channels for patch notes or hotfixes
Some players who are also facing this error and crashes suggest opening the game with DX11 because it should ideally stop crashing, but it will also affect the FPS. Some also suggest lowering settings to check if crashes still occur.
If none of these steps help, it may be worth reaching out to their support team directly.
