Viral new indie game Dear Passengers under fire for Epstein reference

Dear Passengers has become one of 2026’s biggest overnight indie game reveals, but an apparent Jeffrey Epstein joke hidden in its trailer has already sparked calls to boycott the game.

Developed by Kyiv-based studio FLEXUS, Dear Passengers is a physics-based co-op game that puts players in charge of Budget Premium, which is described as the “world’s worst airline.”

One player is responsible for flying the plane while the rest of the crew serves passengers and deals with fires, turbulence, dangerous cargo, and other escalating disasters. Dear Passengers is scheduled to launch on PC through Steam in 2026.

The reveal trailer rapidly spread across social media, with posts sharing footage reportedly amassing more than 40 million views in less than a day. FLEXUS founder Semen Kozyura also claimed the game had already been added to more than 500,000 Steam wishlists following its announcement.

Dear Passengers viewers divided over Epstein reference

However, some of the attention surrounding the trailer has shifted away from its chaotic gameplay after viewers spotted the name “Epst. J” above one of its pilot characters.

The abbreviated username was widely interpreted as a reference to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The character is seen interacting with passengers before throwing out a person resembling President Donald Trump from the airlock.

Despite the trailer’s comedic tone, viewers questioned why a reference to Epstein was included in the official reveal of the game.

“Why the f*** is a username like that in the OFFICIAL TRAILER for this game?” one user wrote, adding that they would not play anything released by FLEXUS.

Another asked, “Who would play a game that markets itself with a f***ing Epstein joke?”

Others called it unnecessary “edgelord” humor and argued that including a reference to a real-world sex offender distracted from what had otherwise been an overwhelmingly successful introduction to the game.

The criticism has been amplified by several viral posts, including one highlighting the reference that attracted more than 44,000 likes. Another post questioning the character’s name surpassed 18,000 likes.

Other viewers defended the creative choice, interpreting the moment as a joke at Epstein’s expense rather than an attempt to glorify him.

Regardless of the intention, the reference has divided the reception of a trailer that had initially been praised as a potential successor to chaotic co-op hits such as Lethal Company, R.E.P.O., and Peak.