Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This guide gives you a free config file and the in-game settings to change for more FPS and less stutter in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5, which uses software-based Lumen for global illumination and reflections. Follow the steps in order, and you can undo all of it by deleting one file.

Can you run Clair Obscur on a low end PC?

These are the minimum specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
• RAM: 8 GB
• VRAM: 6 GB
• Storage: 55 GB on an SSD

The config and the settings below lower the load, but they can’t replace missing hardware. If your PC is below these specs, expect low frame rates even on the Low preset.

Best Clair Obscur settings for low end PCs

• Use the Low preset first. Then change the options below.
• Upscaling: pick FSR or XeSS. Both work on any GPU. Pick DLSS only if you have an Nvidia RTX card.
• Anti-aliasing: the game has no option to turn it off. Choose TAA, DLAA, or XeSS Native AA. The native modes sit under their upscaler’s settings.
• Ray tracing: turn it off if you see the option. The game only has limited ray tracing, based on software Lumen.
• Frame rate cap: pick 60 FPS, or 30 FPS if your PC can’t hold 60. Cutscenes stay locked at 30 FPS whatever you pick.
• V-Sync: leave it off unless screen tearing bothers you. V-Sync can add input lag when the frame rate drops.
• Borderless windowed: turn it on if you switch between apps a lot.

Clair Obscur Engine.ini location and install

1. Download the config zip with the button above the article, then unzip it.
2. Close the game if it’s running.
3. Press Windows + R, paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\Sandfall\Saved\Config\Windows, and press Enter. If the folder doesn’t exist, start the game once, close it, and try again. If only a WinGDK folder exists in the same place, use that one instead.
4. If the folder already has an Engine.ini, move it somewhere safe. That is your backup.
5. Copy the Engine.ini from the zip into the folder.
6. Start the game.

What the config changes

The file only changes the settings listed here.

• Post-processing: motion blur, depth of field, color fringing, lens flares, light shafts and film grain are off. Sharpening is set to 0.6.
• Lighting and reflections: ambient occlusion, screen-space reflections, subsurface scattering, contact shadows and capsule shadows are off. Volumetric fog uses a coarser grid.
• Shadows: shadow quality is set to 2, the maximum shadow resolution is 1024, and shadows reach a shorter distance. Small objects cast fewer shadows.
• Draw distance and foliage: the view distance scale is 0.8, detail mode is set to 1, maximum anisotropic filtering is 4, and foliage and grass density are set to 0.6.
• Lumen, Nanite and virtual shadow maps: Lumen reflections are off, and Lumen skips mesh distance field tracing. Nanite detail is lowered. Virtual shadow maps use a lower resolution for directional and local lights.

The streaming settings turn on the async loading thread and turn off forced garbage collection, for smoother loading and fewer hitches when you move between areas.

How to fix Clair Obscur stuttering and FPS drops

Start with the Unreal basics:

• The first launch compiles shaders. Let it finish, and expect hitches in the first few minutes.
• Install the game on an SSD if you can. It needs 55 GB on one.

Then the Windows basics:

• Close background apps, such as browsers and launcher overlays.
• Update your GPU driver from the official page: Nvidia, AMD, or Intel.
• On a laptop, plug it in and set the power mode to best performance.

Undo the changes

Delete Engine.ini from the folder, or copy your backup back in. The game rebuilds its defaults.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 FAQ

Where is the Clair Obscur Engine.ini file?

It is in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Sandfall\Saved\Config\Windows. Press Windows + R, paste that path and press Enter. If the folder is missing, start the game once and check again. Some versions use a WinGDK folder in the same place.

Can Clair Obscur run on a low end PC?

Yes, if your PC meets the minimum specs: an Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD RX 5600 XT with 6 GB of VRAM, 8 GB of RAM, and 55 GB of SSD storage. Under those specs, expect low frame rates even on the Low preset. The config file helps but can't replace missing hardware.

How do I fix Clair Obscur stuttering and FPS drops?

Expect hitches in the first few minutes, so let the first launch finish compiling shaders. Install the game on an SSD, close background apps, and update your GPU driver. Then add the config file and the low end settings.

Can I undo the Clair Obscur Engine.ini changes?

Yes. Delete Engine.ini from the config folder, or copy your backup back in. The game rebuilds its defaults, so the change is easy to reverse. Back up any existing Engine.ini first.