Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 System Requirements

if you have a modern 6-core Intel/AMD CPU, 8–16 GB RAM and a midrange GPU from the past 3–4 years (think GTX 1660 / RTX 3060 class or better), you’ll be able to play. For stable 60 FPS at 1440p with high settings, target something like an RTX 3060 Ti / RTX 3070 or AMD equivalent. The official storefronts list minimum and recommended specs — aim for the recommended for the experience this game wants to deliver.

Official minimum system requirements (what you absolutely need)

Here are the baseline specs reported on official storefronts (Steam/Epic) and technical aggregators. These represent the configuration the developers expect will let the game launch and be playable at low-to-medium settings.

• CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
• RAM: 8 GB
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 570 (4 GB VRAM)
• OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Shader model: 5.0
• Storage: 50 GB free (HDD or SSD)

Official recommended system requirements (for a smooth experience)

If you want to enjoy the game as intended — richer visuals, more stable frame rates and fewer compromises — aim for the recommended specs.

• CPU: Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
• RAM: 16 GB
• Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6800
• OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
• Shader model: 6.0
• Storage: 50 GB free (SSD preferred)

What “minimum” and “recommended” actually mean in practice

Minimum = playable. Recommended = intended experience. But the phrasing hides nuance.

Frame rates, settings, and resolution

• Minimum specs often aim for 1080p at ~30 FPS on low settings.
• Recommended specs aim for 60 FPS at 1440p on high settings. If you play at 4K, expect to need high-end GPUs.

Bottlenecks: CPU vs GPU vs RAM

• GPU: Heavy scenes, global illumination, and dense particle effects hit the GPU hardest.
• CPU: NPC counts, AI, and physics are CPU-bound; an older CPU with a fast GPU will still stutter.
• RAM: 8 GB is the bare minimum; swapping will kill performance. 16 GB reduces stuttering and background-app interference.

How the game engine (Unreal Engine 5) affects performance

Clair Obscur is built on Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), which gives beautiful visuals but can be demanding depending on which UE5 features the devs employ (Lumen, Nanite, etc.). UE5 can deliver massive scene detail but also shifts resource demands toward GPU and VRAM, especially with ray-traced or Lumen-like global illumination. Wikipedia and reporting on the title list UE5 as the engine powering the game.

Features that cost performance (Lumen, Nanite, etc.)

• Global lighting (Lumen): smooth, realistic lighting at a cost.
• Nanite: high polygon detail without many draw calls — great visuals, but VRAM and GPU throughput matter.
• Temporal features & post-processing: motion blur, ambient occlusion, and film grain all cost FPS.

Tweaks to squeeze better performance

You don’t need a new PC to improve FPS — try these prioritized tweaks.

In-game graphics settings that give most FPS per tweak

1. Resolution / Render Scale — biggest single improvement. Dropping render scale to 90–80% gives big FPS wins.
2. Shadow Quality — shadows are expensive; lowering from Ultra to High or Medium helps a lot.
3. Ambient Occlusion / Global Illumination — cut these to Medium for much smoother performance.
4. Post-processing (motion blur, film grain) — cosmetic; disable for clearer image + better FPS.
5. Texture Quality — lowers VRAM use; useful if you see stutters due to paging.

Windows and driver tweaks

• Update GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel).
• Set power plan to “High performance” for desktops; for laptops enable performance mode in vendor software.
• Close background apps (especially browsers with many tabs).
• Enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling only if your driver revision recommends it.

TechRadar noted that post-launch patches added frame generation and low-latency support for NVIDIA/Intel, which can improve performance if the driver/platform supports it. Keep the game and GPU drivers up to date.

Which GPUs are best value for Expedition 33 in 2025?

Value depends on price in your region, but here's a practical bucket list:

Budget picks (playable at 1080p)

• NVIDIA GTX 1660 / GTX 1660 Super — can do 1080p medium.
• AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT / Intel Arc A380 — OK at medium settings.

Sweet spot (best 1440p experience)

• NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti / RTX 3070 — target for consistent 60 FPS at 1440p.
• AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT / RX 6800 — good alternatives, especially with driver optimizations.

Enthusiast (4K / Ultra)

• NVIDIA RTX 3080 / 3080 Ti or RTX 40-series equivalents, or AMD RX 6800 XT / RX 6900 XT — these let you push higher settings and higher resolutions.

How much storage and SSD vs HDD matters

The game requests ~55 GB of storage. Using an NVMe SSD will dramatically improve load times and reduce streaming hitches compared to mechanical HDDs — especially in open or highly detailed zones. If your HDD causes microstutters when assets stream in, move the game to an SSD.

Running on laptops and Steam Deck / handhelds

• Gaming laptops: many modern gaming laptops with RTX 3060 or better will run the game well at 1080p/1440p depending on power limits. Use the vendor’s "Turbo/Performance" GPU profile for best results.
• Steam Deck / handhelds: the title is playable but compromises visual fidelity and smoothness — reviews from players indicate the game loses much of its visual impact on the Deck and similar devices. If you care about atmosphere and visuals, prefer a desktop or high-end laptop.

Patch history & post-launch performance fixes

The developer and publishers have been active with updates. A notable patch (1.4.0) introduced QoL features and technical fixes including frame generation and low-latency support for NVIDIA and Intel GPUs — meaning players on supported hardware may see improved frame pacing and responsiveness after that update. Keep an eye on patch notes and driver releases for continued improvements.

Troubleshooting common launch / FPS issues

• Game crashes at startup: verify files via Steam/Epic, update GPU drivers, ensure Windows is updated.
• Stuttering / hitching: move the game to an SSD, increase RAM (16 GB recommended), drop texture streaming settings.
• Low FPS despite good GPU: check for CPU bottleneck, background processes, or thermal throttling. Use monitoring tools to check CPU/GPU utilization and temps.
• Controller issues: some players report mapping quirks — check Steam Input or the game’s controller settings.

FAQ: quick answers

Q: Do I need ray tracing to enjoy Clair Obscur? No — ray tracing is a visual enhancement. The core experience is accessible without it; enabling it improves visuals but costs FPS. Q: Is 8 GB RAM enough? Technically yes for the minimum, but 16 GB is strongly recommended for stability and future-proofing. Q: Will it run on older GTX 10-series cards? Some GTX 10-series cards (like GTX 1060/1070) may run at low settings, but expectations should be tempered. Q: Should I play on Steam or Epic? Both storefronts list system requirements. Choose the platform you prefer for saves, mods, and refund policies.

Conclusion

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a visually ambitious RPG that asks a little more of modern PCs than the average indie title. If you own a midrange rig from the last few years (6-core CPU, 16 GB RAM, and an RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT class GPU), you’ll likely enjoy the game at high settings and smooth frame rates. If you’re on the minimum side, you can still play at 1080p with settings turned down — but upgrading RAM and running from an SSD will make the experience significantly better. Keep your GPU drivers and the game patched; post-launch updates have already improved performance and added features.

Five Detailed FAQs

1. What are the exact storage and OS requirements?

Officially the game needs about 55 GB of free space and requires a 64-bit OS — Windows 10 at minimum, with Windows 11 recommended for the best experience. Install the game on an SSD if possible to avoid streaming stutters.

2. Will my GTX 1660 / GTX 1060 run the game?

A GTX 1660 is considered within the playable bracket for 1080p on low-to-medium settings. A GTX 1060 may run but expect to reduce settings further and possibly accept 30–40 FPS in demanding scenes.

3. How much difference does upgrading to 16 GB RAM make?

Moving from 8 GB to 16 GB reduces stuttering, prevents paging to disk, and helps maintain consistent frame pacing, especially with background apps running. It’s one of the highest-impact upgrades for a smoother experience.

4. Do game patches actually improve performance?

Yes. The devs have released patches that address performance issues and add features like frame generation and low-latency GPU support. Regularly updating the game and GPU drivers is recommended.

5. Is cloud or Game Pass streaming a viable option?

Clair Obscur was available day-one on Game Pass and services like GeForce Now host the title; cloud streaming can deliver the best visuals regardless of your local hardware, but latency and input feel depend on your network. If your PC is older, cloud play is a solid alternative.