Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Controller Not Working on PC: Fixed (2025)

Unfortunately, you may encounter the issue — Clair Obscur Expedition 33 controller not working on PC. You are not alone. So, follow along with this guide on MiniTool will walk you through the most effective ways to fix this vexing problem.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Controller Not Working

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. This game offers an emotionally engaging and visually captivating turn-based RPG experience where timing and accuracy are crucial. It distinguishes itself from typical turn-based RPGs by merging intricate and strategic gameplay with the need for quick reflexes.

As you can see, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 requires players to react quickly and grasp the timing to complete the level. In order to be able to operate the character smoothly, a large number of players will choose to play with a controller. However, many players reported encountering issues, such as Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Stuck on Syncing Data Screen, crashing, and Clair Obscur Expedition 33 controller not working on their PCs.

If you find you are in the same situation, follow this step-by-step tutorial, and we will explore some feasible fixes to resolve controller lag or controller not working in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 on PC.

How to Fix Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Controller Not Working

Now, let me show you the instructions for the following methods to solve the Clair Obscur Expedition 33 gamepad not working issue on PC.

Fix 1. Disable Steam Input

Disabling Steam input is worth a shot. This method can solve many game issues, particularly with controllers, because it allows Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to use its native input methods instead of Steam’s interpretation. Follow these steps:

1. Open Steam and access your Steam Library.
2. Right-click Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and select Properties.
3. In the Properties window, go to the Controller section.
4. Click on the Steam Input option adjacent to Override for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
5. From the choices provided, select the controller type you are using and set it to Disabled Steam Input.

Fix 2. Update Controller

Outdated devices may cause compatibility issues. If your controller is outdated, the PC may not recognize it properly, or the game may be conflicted with it. Therefore, consider using the PlayStation Accessories app or Xbox Accessories App to update your controller.

1. Download and install the PlayStation Accessories app or Xbox Accessories App from the Microsoft Store according to your own controller’s brand.
2. After installing, launch the application and connect your controller to your PC using a USB cable.
3. Check the controller update. if any is available, download it and update your controller.

Additionally, you can easily update your controller in Device Manager if you are not using the PS or Xbox controller. Here’s the way to do it:

1. Connect your controller to your PC, press Win + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager from the list.
2. In the pop-up window, expand the Human Interface Devices category.
3. Right-click your controller and choose Update driver.
4. Next, select Search automatically for drivers.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

Fix 3. Create a game.ini File

This method is suitable for those who play Expedition 33 with a Dualsense controller on the Game Pass version and encounter controller issues. This way will make the game display PS controller inputs rather than Xbox button prompts.

Step 1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer and go to: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Sandfall\Saved\Config\WinGDK. Advertently, you can simply press Win + R, type %localappdata% and press Enter. Next, locate the folder: Sandfall > Saved > Config > WinGDK.

Step 2. Within the WinGDK folder, you will see a file called GameUserSettings. Copy and paste it into this WinGDK folder, and choose do not replace it. Right-click this copied GameUserSettings file and choose Rename, and then type Game.ini. Double-click this file and delete all the information in it. If you don’t have a GameUserSettings, you can right-click the space and navigate to New > Text Document, and then name it Game.ini.

Step 3. Modify the game.ini file and paste the following text only. Ensure no extra spaces are included – just copy and paste it:

[CommonInputPlatformSettings_WinGDK CommonInputPlatformSettings]

DefaultGamepadName=PS5

bCanChangeGamepadType=False

To save the document, go to File > Save.

Step 4. Right-click on game.ini, select Properties, and ensure Read-only is checked under Attributes. This will stop the game from overwriting your settings.

If you do the steps incorrectly, it will result in the game showing the incorrect button prompts while in-game. If you complete the remaining instructions accurately, the controller will still function, but with Xbox controller prompts. This adjustment is solely for the correct display of the PS controller buttons within the game.

Fix 4. Add a Non-Steam Game

Now, consider using Steam to launch the Game Pass game like Expedition 33 and activate complete PS5 controller compatibility. Here’s the way to do it:

1. Open Steam, select Add a Game located in the bottom-left corner, and then Add a Non-Steam Game.
2. From the list, choose any random application and click Add Selected Programs.
3. In your Steam Library, locate the application you just added. Right-click on it and select Properties.
4. Change the name of the shortcut to the title of the game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Leave the window open and proceed to the next step.
5. Open the Xbox App. Right-click Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and go to Manage > Files > Browse. It’ll open the folder where the game is installed. The default install path is usually C:\XboxGames\YourGameName. You need to remember this path.
6. In Steam, still in the Properties window of your renamed shortcut. Click Browse under Target and navigate to: Clair Obscur- Expedition 33\Content\Sandfall\Binaries\WinGDK.
7. Select SandFall-WinGDK-Shipping.exe and right click on it, select Copy as Path on Windows 11. If you are using a Windows 10 PC, you just need to use Shift + Right click to get the Copy as Path option for the .exe file. Then press cancel on the window, go to Target, delete the old path, and right click Paste the new path or CTRL + V. Example in my PC: “D:\Games\Clair Obscur- Expedition 33\Content\Sandfall\Binaries\WinGDK\SandFall-WinGDK-Shipping.exe” (with the quotes).
8. Set Start In to the same folder path but without adding SandFall-WinGDK-Shipping.exe at the end of the path. Example in my PC: D:\Games\Clair Obscur- Expedition 33\Content\Sandfall\Binaries\WinGDK (without any quotes).
9. Make sure it detects your PlayStation 5 Controller. If not, please enable Steam Input.

Fix 5. Use the DS4Windows Program (For PS Controller)

It seems to be a common issue that Xbox Game Pass games occasionally fail to recognize the PlayStation controller. To fix the Clair Obscur Expedition 33 controller not working for the PlayStation controller users, opt for downloading the DS4Windows program to make it an Xbox 360 controller, but not a DualShock 4 or 5.

The interface displays symbols corresponding to the Xbox controller rather than those representative of the PlayStation controller; however, it is important to note that the PlayStation controller remains functional despite this discrepancy.

Fix 6. Enable Controller in Sound Control Panel

Some players reported that enabling the controller in the sound control panel helped them fix the Clair Obscur Expedition 33 controller not working issue.

1. Type control panel in the Windows Search box and press Enter.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Sound.
3. Next, connect your controller. Once you connect it, you can see your controller over here.
4. Right-click your controller and select Enable.
5. After enabling, right-click it again and click Configure Speakers.
6. In the following interface, select Quadrophonic and click the Next button.
7. Next, check the boxes of Front left and right and Surround speakers, and then click Next.
8. Click the Finish button.

Fix 7. Launch Steam in Big Picture Mode

Last but not least, you can launch Steam in big picture mode and enable Generic Gamepad Configuration Support to fix the Clair Obscur Expedition 33 controller not working. Follow the breakdown:

1. Open Steam, move your mouse to the top-right corner, and click Enter Big Picture Mode.
2. Navigate to Settings > Controller Settings.
3. Enable Generic Gamepad Configuration Support.

Wrapping It Up

This post provides 7 fixes to solve the Clair Obscur Expedition 33 controller not working issue on PC. What’s more, the game provider has noticed this issue, and I believe it will be resolved soon.