Expedition 33 - flickering and waviness of backgrounds on DLSS inputs

[Skylighty]

Game name and version:

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (56180)

Mods and mod versions used

• ClairObscurFix v0.0.4 (without it problem is the same)
• OptiScaler v0.7.7-pre9
• dxc_2025_02_20 (added DX libs)

GPU

RX 9070 XT

OS

Win 11

Used automated or manual install?

• [x] Automated
• [ ] Manual

If on AMD/Intel and Automated, used DLSS inputs?

• [x] Yes
• [ ] No

Did you check the Wiki?

• [x] Yes
• [ ] No

Please describe the issue and steps to reproduce it

I use 3440x1440 (UW) monitor. I started by using XeSS inputs to use FSR4, however if these are used black screen appears, HUD is visible though - tried to inject new DirectX libs versions (dxil.dll + dxcompiler.dll), because that was solution mentioned in the previous issues, on Wiki as well - didn't solve the problem. Reinstalled OptiScaler in order to give DLSS inputs a try - it works, works quite well, with FG too, however the backgrounds without depth-of-field (blurred) during chats with characters flicker - i will provide GIF attachment which hopefully will clarify what issue I'm writing about. I tried everything i suppose - setting the non-linear sRGB inputs, changing some options - in-game and in OptiScaler menu. I play with DisableOverlays=false, because i use Steam Horipad and it needs Steam Input to run properly, however it turned out to have no impact here.

Summary of my observations:

• Changing DLSS in-game quality (so source res) doesn't solve the issue
• Using non-linear inputs doesn't solve the issue
• Adding new DX libs doesn't solve the issue
• Disabling Steam Overalays in Steam and .ini as well doesn't solve the issue
• Disabling FG doesn't solve the issue
• Disabling Chromatic Aberration and Vignette in-game doesn't solve the issue
• Putting copy of FSR4 .dll in game directory doesn't solve the issue
• Changing OptiScaler filename from dxgi.dll to winmm.dll doesn't solve the issue
• Changing from Full Screen to Borderless (which runs in 3840x2160 even though monitor is 3440x1440 and i can't change it) doesn't solve the issue
• Changing OptiScaler version from v0.7.7-pre9 to v0.7.7-pre8 doesn't solve the issue
• Changing OptiScaler overriden sharpness doesn't solve the issue
• Changing FOV/Camera settings doesn't solve the issue or I'm completely clueless on how to set these
• I've noticed similar flickering in Split Fiction, and in RDR2 using DLSS inputs (trees and mountains in the distance went wavy)
• Eventually i think that i've tried every option that seemed reasonable to me in OptiScaler and none of them have worked to solve this flickering

I have attached

• [x] OptiScaler.log (set LogLevel=0 and LogToFile=true in Optiscaler.ini, zip it if too big) OptiScaler.zip
• [x] Video of visible issue (converted to GIF for GitHub convenience, may provide longer video with better quality)
• [x] Screenshot of game folder (where you placed Opti)
• [x] Screenshot of Opti overlay in-game (opens with shortcut, default Insert)

Thanks for help in advance! If needed - I shall provide more details. Cheers

[cdozdil]

Hi,

Could you try Non-linear sRGB option, if it helps?

[TheOathMan]

I can confirm flickering in cutscenes only when I use fsr4. gpu: 9070. DLSS inputs.

[TheOathMan]

Hi,

Could you try Non-linear sRGB option, if it helps?

I can confirm, enabling Non-linear sRGB option removed the flickering in my part. Thank you.

[Skylighty]

Hi,

Could you try Non-linear sRGB option, if it helps?

As I mentioned in my post - it didn't help when I tried. I'll try again once I'm home, maybe somehow it'll help... (late CEST). I have also forgot to mention that I OC the GPU, but the behavior was the same without the OC unfortunately. AMD Driver used is 25.4.1

[Skylighty]

Hi,

Could you try Non-linear sRGB option, if it helps?

I think this option reduces the problem a bit, but the flickering is still present. I guess I'll have to cope with that, using AMD GPU here, maybe they'll ad native FSR support in time... I would be glad if there was a complete solution. As i said - this flicker/image distortion only happens (and looks improper) when focus is on the character, and items that are very near/far are blurred by the game (so mostly during chats with other characters). In my case however - I didn't notice additional character ghosting with sRGB non-linear input (which is obviously visible in i.e. RDR2), OptiFG runs great as well. Here's the extended footage where the effect is visible - https://youtu.be/1swn4wjlzxY

[TheOathMan]

Hi,

Could you try Non-linear sRGB option, if it helps?

I think this option reduces the problem a bit, but the flickering is still present. I guess I'll have to cope with that, using AMD GPU here, maybe they'll ad native FSR support in time... I would be glad if there was a complete solution. As i said - this flicker/image distortion only happens (and looks improper) when focus is on the character, and items that are very near/far are blurred by the game (so mostly during chats with other characters). In my case however - I didn't notice additional character ghosting with sRGB non-linear input (which is obviously visible in i.e. RDR2), OptiFG runs great as well. Here's the extended footage where the effect is visible - https://youtu.be/1swn4wjlzxY

By "flickering" do you mean the blurred background pixilated ? Because I do still have that. When I say flickering, I meant black screen flickers every now and then in cutscenes, and that was solved on my part.

[Skylighty]

Hi, Could you try Non-linear sRGB option, if it helps?

I think this option reduces the problem a bit, but the flickering is still present. I guess I'll have to cope with that, using AMD GPU here, maybe they'll ad native FSR support in time... I would be glad if there was a complete solution. As i said - this flicker/image distortion only happens (and looks improper) when focus is on the character, and items that are very near/far are blurred by the game (so mostly during chats with other characters). In my case however - I didn't notice additional character ghosting with sRGB non-linear input (which is obviously visible in i.e. RDR2), OptiFG runs great as well. Here's the extended footage where the effect is visible - https://youtu.be/1swn4wjlzxY

By "flickering" do you mean the blurred background pixilated ? Because I do still have that. When I say flickering, I meant black screen flickers every now and then in cutscenes, and that was solved on my part.

Yes, that's what i meant. Didn't know how to describe it better.

[AlexanderLeechkins]

I dont think this has anything to do with optiscaler, try setting post processing to low as this will turn off all DOF effects.

[kilyan82]

Hello, the foliage in distance flickers like crazy with optiscaler, doesn't happen without optiscaler, i use dlss and tried various presets, it always flickers. I managed to fixed it, it seems that even my monitor is not HDR, disabling HDR in optiscaler produce flickering. HDR IN OPTISCALER NEEDS TO BE LEFT ON TO AVOID UNDESIRED FLICKERING

[TheRazerMD]

So far the flickering issues seem to be connected to the Balanced preset, and maybe even the Ultra Quality preset (which apparently isn't a thing in the game, but Optiscaler manages to expose it when spoofing). Non-linear sRGB seems to workaround these flickers, but apparently causes increased ghosting in dark areas, so it's more recommended to change the preset to a non-flickering one.

Root cause could be the way devs are using some custom shaders, maybe somewhat improperly in the pipeline when upscalers are added to the equation. 🤔

@kilyan82 those settings are modified by the game, so I'd recommend not playing with default settings unless needed.

[kilyan82]

So far the flickering issues seem to be connected to the Balanced preset, and maybe even the Ultra Quality preset (which apparently isn't a thing in the game, but Optiscaler manages to expose it when spoofing). Non-linear sRGB seems to workaround these flickers, but apparently causes increased ghosting in dark areas, so it's more recommended to change the preset to a non-flickering one.

Root cause could be the way devs are using some custom shaders, maybe somewhat improperly in the pipeline when upscalers are added to the equation. 🤔

@kilyan82 those settings are modified by the game, so I'd recommend not playing with default settings unless needed.

Than we have another problem, the game crashes continously and who is the culprit? hud fix with frame generation. I tried to play the game without hud fix and i can't stand the messed up hud, so i ended uninstalling optiscaler completely, since my only interest was the frame generation

[TheRazerMD]

We know it's HUDfix that causes the crashing, but there aren't any estimates on fixing this. It's a general issue with the whole method of acquiring the HUDless resource and the reason why Experimental is plastered everywhere. Game having some custom shaders doesn't help either. Nitec has been working on a HUDfix refactor, but due to the turbulent last 2 months, that ended up on the backburner.

[Skylighty]

Well I found the noise generated by injecting FSR4 a bit reduced by using this mod: https://www.nexusmods.com/clairobscurexpedition33/mods/4 in the BASE variant, probably because it seems to reduce the usage of this custom shader or the blur, it's not perfect though. Now I play without using FG, because the crashes would ruin the experience - I will wait for the HUDFix refactor mentioned by Razer as well - i know how busy can man be, especially comitting to the opensource project. I do appreciate your work guys :)

[kilyan82]

We know it's HUDfix that causes the crashing, but there aren't any estimates on fixing this. It's a general issue with the whole method of acquiring the HUDless resource and the reason why Experimental is plastered everywhere. Game having some custom shaders doesn't help either. Nitec has been working on a HUDfix refactor, but due to the turbulent last 2 months, that ended up on the backburner.

Mine was just a feedback, at current state i don't think FG is usable, until Hudfix can be activated without crashes. Take the time it needs for fixing it

[FakeMichau]

Hi, Could you try Non-linear sRGB option, if it helps?

I think this option reduces the problem a bit, but the flickering is still present. I guess I'll have to cope with that, using AMD GPU here, maybe they'll ad native FSR support in time... I would be glad if there was a complete solution. As i said - this flicker/image distortion only happens (and looks improper) when focus is on the character, and items that are very near/far are blurred by the game (so mostly during chats with other characters). In my case however - I didn't notice additional character ghosting with sRGB non-linear input (which is obviously visible in i.e. RDR2), OptiFG runs great as well. Here's the extended footage where the effect is visible - https://youtu.be/1swn4wjlzxY

Could you point out a timestamp where that happens? Only think I've noticed is FSR FG not detecting a scene change and trying to interpolate between two quite different frames