Fatal Error (UE-Sandfall) on RTX 5090 – Only Works with -dx11

[Puransu]

Hi everyone,
I'm experiencing a persistent fatal error (UE-Sandfall) every time I start a game in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I've tried numerous fixes, but nothing seems to work.
Issue Details:
Error Message: Fatal Error (UE-Sandfall) upon starting a game.
Temporary Workaround: Launching the game with the -dx11 option allows it to run, but the graphics quality is significantly reduced. I'd prefer to play with -dx12 for better visuals.
System Specifications:
Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (8 cores, 16 threads)
Motherboard: ASRock X870E Taichi
RAM: 64 GB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (31.8 GB)
Secondary GPU: AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics (2 GB)
Monitor: ASUS ROG PG248QP (1920x1080, 24.3 Inch)
Troubleshooting Steps Taken:
Updated BIOS to the latest version (AGESA ComboAM5 PI 1.2.0.3d).
Updated NVIDIA drivers to version 576.52 WHQL.
Verified game files through Steam.
Disabled Steam and Discord overlays.
Attempted running the game as administrator.
Tried compatibility mode settings.
Cleared DirectX shader cache.
Disabled Windows Defender real-time protection.
Limited in-game FPS.
Despite these efforts, the game continues to crash with the same error unless I use the -dx11 launch option.
I've noticed that other users with similar high-end setups, including the RTX 5090, have reported smooth gameplay. I'm eager to play the game with full graphical fidelity and would appreciate any assistance or suggestions.
Thank you in advance for your help!

[Shout Out To Ground Pound]

try to run the GPU in PCIe 4.0 instead of 5.0
Try to Roll back Drivers to a Earlyer Version (Nvidia having alot of Problems with drivers Try to Deactivate Steam Overlay.
Do not use DX11 because you dont have to (i mean if it is just working with DX11 then here we go) but not that your GPU has Missing Rops and this cause Problems maybe ?Nvidia RTX 5000 Cards have this issue.
Is your Ram Overclocked ? Try to run it with base Speed or atleast 3000 - 3600 mt and belive me it wont hurt your performance in any way, just test it maybe this is it.

Did you try to Install the game on a Different M2 SSD ?

Do you have Multimonitor setups ?

[Puransu]

Originally posted by Shout Out To Ground Pound:

try to run the GPU in PCIe 4.0 instead of 5.0
Try to Roll back Drivers to a Earlyer Version (Nvidia having alot of Problems with drivers Try to Deactivate Steam Overlay.
Do not use DX11 because you dont have to (i mean if it is just working with DX11 then here we go) but not that your GPU has Missing Rops and this cause Problems maybe ?Nvidia RTX 5000 Cards have this issue.
Is your Ram Overclocked ? Try to run it with base Speed or atleast 3000 - 3600 mt and belive me it wont hurt your performance in any way, just test it maybe this is it.

Did you try to Install the game on a Different M2 SSD ?

Do you have Multimonitor setups ?

I've already tried everything:

I updated the BIOS and the GPU drivers.

I disabled the Steam overlay.

I changed the RAM frequency (tested lower settings like DDR5-3200 and higher ones like DDR5-5600).

I checked the ROPs as you mentioned — everything seems to be working correctly.

I even reinstalled the game on a different SSD (Samsung 990 PRO), but the issue persists.

Honestly, I’ve spent days looking through forums trying every fix I could find, and nothing works. Still getting the fatal error every time I launch a match unless I force -dx11, which looks awful compared to -dx12.

I don’t understand why it’s not working — I’ve tested so many things and nothing helps. :(

[ding.dewen]

Constant crushing, frozen screens or even system auto-restarting after 5-10 minutes of gameplay. Sometimes the fatal error comes up, sometimes not.

I have a RTX 5090 too (MSI Suprim) and CPU as 9950X. I tried most of the settings as you did too.

The game is badly optimized.

[C1REX]

Originally posted by Puransu:

I don’t understand why it’s not working — I’ve tested so many things and nothing helps. :(

People suggest that the new drivers are the problem since rolling back to older ones does solve the issue. Unfortunately you can’t do that as older drivers don’t work on 50 series.

Maybe try DDU current drivers in safe mode and install other versions?

[xO_oxdk]

It's a UE problem, not people's hardware. It's happening in ALL UE games right now. So stop posting the same useless advice, about tweak this and "maybe it's your cables, you bios firmware, the way you face your window when eating a muffin".
None of that works.

Only thing that will fix it, is Epic owning their problem.

[King of Koopahs]

I had a lot of crashing issues in latest Nvidia 576+ drivers. I downgraded to 572.83 and many of the crashes went away. This was on RTX 5080.

[Kobi Blade]

Originally posted by xO_oxdk:

It's a UE problem, not people's hardware. It's happening in ALL UE games right now. So stop posting the same useless advice, about tweak this and "maybe it's your cables, you bios firmware, the way you face your window when eating a muffin".
None of that works.

Only thing that will fix it, is Epic owning their problem.

This is not a problem with Unreal Engine at all, don't know what you been smoking. We wouldn't be able to develop games if the engine kept crashing left and right.

However crashes have been tied to both Intel faulty CPUs and NVidia drivers, which is why this game works perfectly fine on AMD builds.

You can either grow up and listen to the adults to try and fix your issues, or you can keep crashing and spreading lies.

[Mikial]

Too bad the devs are so busy bragging about how many copies they've sold that they don't care about fixing the fact that it crashes for so many people.

[Rob]

Well after 2-4 hours i will get a Fatal error since i start playing this game.

I just accepted it but its still strange that something is off with this game and RTX5080/RTX5090.

So drivers or UE itself is the issue.
I laugh my ass off when I see an essay with a 50 point on a how to "maybe" get rid of that issue.
It's a communication issue between Nvidia and the devs.

[Cephei]

Getting "the eu sandfall game has crashed " mostly during some fights or cutscenes.

[Enzo]

Originally posted by Kobi Blade:

Originally posted by xO_oxdk:

It's a UE problem, not people's hardware. It's happening in ALL UE games right now. So stop posting the same useless advice, about tweak this and "maybe it's your cables, you bios firmware, the way you face your window when eating a muffin".
None of that works.

Only thing that will fix it, is Epic owning their problem.

This is not a problem with Unreal Engine at all, don't know what you been smoking. We wouldn't be able to develop games if the engine kept crashing left and right.

However crashes have been tied to both Intel faulty CPUs and NVidia drivers, which is why this game works perfectly fine on AMD builds.

You can either grow up and listen to the adults to try and fix your issues, or you can keep crashing and spreading lies.

Maybe you are smoking good things lol, i have an all AMD build and i have the same crashes/issues

[Mayer84]

Same problem here with a RTX 4090, game is now unplayable

[Zereul]

Could be a driver issue. You can try deleting the unreal engine config file. The game will populate a new one when launched. Its a basic step too, but I assume you checked the "file integrity" of the game? I had constant crashes from another game until I did this and a mb or two was redownloaded and it fixed the issue.

[Konan]

same here siince today

[C1REX]

Originally posted by Konan:

same here siince today

The most common problems:
- some mods can cause crashes
- nvidia drivers newer than 566.36.
- 13 or 14th gen intel CPU with old, unstable bios.
- Shader Cache data needs resetting.

There can be more reasons but these 4 seem to be the most common.