Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Patch 1.5.0 Known Issues, Bugs & Fixes

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The Real State of the “Thank You” Update (What’s Fixed & What Still Hurts)

When the “Thank You” update dropped for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it felt like a victory lap done right. A free, content-packed patch celebrating a Game of the Year win? That’s rare—and Sandfall Interactive absolutely delivered.

Verso’s Drafts introduced fresh challenges, Lumina Sets completely changed how builds work, and long-overdue handheld performance fixes finally made portable play viable. For many players, Patch 1.5.0 is the best version of Expedition 33 yet.

But no patch—especially one this ambitious—is flawless.

As the community digs deeper, a clearer picture has emerged of what Patch 1.5.0 fixed brilliantly, what issues still linger, and which “fixes” need a little clarification. This guide breaks it all down so you know exactly what to expect before diving back into the Canvas.

✅ The Official Fixes: What Patch 1.5.0 Got Right

Patch 1.5.0 addressed a wide range of bugs, from outright progression blockers to sneaky balance issues that quietly warped the meta. Here’s what’s now officially resolved.

🧱 Game-Breaking & Progression Fixes

  • Fixed “Battle Retry” spawning players out of the world after cinematics
    → Prevents soft-locks and lost progress.

  • Added the “Old Key” to the final area
    → Gives players a second chance to obtain missable journals and complete collections.

⚔️ Combat & Ability Balance Fixes

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Patch 1.5.0 Known Issues

  • Boucharo now correctly grants +50% Critical Chance (not +150%)
    → Fixes a massive statistical imbalance.

  • Removed hidden +10% damage bonuses from Luminas like Sweet Kill and First Strike
    → Restores intended combat balance.

  • Fixed Breaking Death affecting all enemies instead of just the killer
    → Corrects incorrect ability behavior.

🎮 Performance & Handheld Improvements

  • Removed the 30 FPS cap on Steam Deck
    → Enables smoother handheld gameplay.

  • Fixed overly aggressive fog and lighting in Flying Manor, Visages, and the Endless Tower
    → Improves visibility and visual clarity.

🧰 Quality-of-Life Improvements

  • Inventory sort order now persists after closing menus
    → A small fix that saves constant frustration.

  • Playtime tracking now includes Game Over time
    → Note: This does not retroactively update old saves.

⚠️ Known Issues & Lingering Challenges

Despite the strong patch notes, real-world play reveals a few ongoing problems—and some important caveats.

1️⃣ Steam Deck: Performance vs Visuals Is Still a Trade-Off

Patch 1.5.0 earned Expedition 33 a Steam Deck Verified badge, but “Verified” doesn’t mean “perfect.”

Players currently face two distinct options:

🔹 Default “Verified” Mode

  • Locked to a heavily optimized preset

  • Best performance: ~30–45 FPS

  • Major visual downgrades that many players find too aggressive

🔹 Unlocked Visual Mode

  • Launch command:
    SteamDeck=0 %command%

  • Restores full graphics options

  • Better visuals, but at a cost:

    • Typically 30–35 FPS

    • Occasional dips on the world map

Verdict:
There’s no universal best setting. You must choose between smoother performance or a richer visual experience.

2️⃣ Endless Tower Bosses: Brutal Challenge or Unfair Design?

The new Divergent Star bosses headline Patch 1.5.0—but they’re also its most divisive feature.

Common criticisms include:

  • Enormous health pools (some fights last nearly an hour)

  • Refilling HP bars and deceptive mechanics

  • One-shot attacks that punish even small mistakes

Many players describe the experience as less “difficult” and more exhausting, especially when a single missed dodge can end a long attempt.

Verdict:
These bosses aren’t broken—but they are intentionally extreme. They’re optional superbosses designed for highly optimized builds, and their difficulty remains a major community debate.

3️⃣ Persistent Visual Glitches

Although major fog and lighting issues were fixed, smaller visual quirks remain—especially on Steam Deck. Examples include:

  • Occasional odd hair rendering

  • Minor lighting inconsistencies

These don’t affect gameplay, but they highlight the limits of Unreal Engine 5 on lower-power hardware.

4️⃣ Important Clarifications on “Fixes”

Some changes have caused confusion, so it’s worth clearing these up:

  • Playtime Tracking

    • Only counts new playtime after Patch 1.5.0

    • Old saves are not retroactively updated

  • Build Balance Changes

    • Boucharo and Lumina damage reductions are intentional

    • If your pre-patch build feels weaker, that’s rebalancing—not a bug

🛠️ What to Do If You Encounter Issues

If something feels off, here’s how to handle it:

  • Verify game files via Steam or Epic Games Launcher

  • Check community hubs (Reddit, Discord) for Steam Deck tweaks and boss strategies

  • Report serious bugs through the official Steam forums or developer support channels
    → Screenshots and video clips help immensely

🧠 Final Verdict: A Powerful Patch with Manageable Flaws

Patch 1.5.0 is a massive win for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It fixes critical bugs, rebalances broken mechanics, introduces game-changing systems like Lumina Sets, and significantly improves handheld play.

The remaining issues mostly come down to:

  • Performance trade-offs on Steam Deck

  • The intentionally punishing design of optional superbosses

For most players, this update is a huge step forward and one of the most generous post-launch patches in recent memory. Just be prepared to make a few setting choices—and steel your resolve if you’re climbing the Endless Tower. 

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