A Fortnite player reportedly got an unexpected change of game after trying to restart Fortnite through Epic’s new launcher. Instead of returning to the battle royale, the launcher allegedly opened Among Us.
The incident has been circulating in social media discussions about Epic’s AI-assisted launcher, with users connecting the apparent mix-up to its “vibe coded” branding. It comes just days after Epic released the redesigned client in public preview.
In brief:
- A player reportedly tried to restart Fortnite and ended up launching Among Us.
- Epic released its AI-assisted launcher preview on October 14 for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- The cause of the reported mix-up remains unverified.
- Epic acknowledges that the preview may have issues and plans further updates.
Fortnite Restart Reportedly Launches Among Us Instead
Social media discussion attributes the incident to a clip from L’Hibou, describing a Fortnite restart that unexpectedly opened Among Us. The reported behavior quickly became material for jokes about Epic’s decision to promote the launcher’s use of AI.
For someone trying to get back into a match, opening an entirely different game would be a frustrating interruption. It also puts attention on a basic expectation for any launcher, and that is to reliably start the game the player selected.
However, the original clip and the circumstances behind it could not be independently verified. The available discussion also doesn’t establish that AI-generated code caused the reported problem.
Epic Promoted Its AI-Assisted Launcher With Steam Speed Comparisons
Epic launched the preview on October 14, promising quicker startup times, more responsive navigation, and reduced background resource use. The company openly described the rebuilt launcher as “vibe coded.” Epic Games Store
As we covered before, Epic also took aim at Steam. Its published comparison listed a 5.47-second cold startup for the new launcher against Steam’s 10.07 seconds. Those figures came from testing commissioned by Epic, with results varying by hardware.
Epic executive Martin Keely described AI as a tool used to write and review functionality during the rebuild. That confirms AI assistance in development, while leaving the cause of individual bugs to be established separately.
Epic Acknowledges Launcher Preview Issues
Epic’s announcement includes an updated note explaining that the launcher is a testing preview and may have issues. Players can report problems through its Send Feedback button, and Epic says updates, optimizations, and additional features are planned.
Separately, Tim Sweeney said on October 17 that a substantial Fall Guys retooling is underway. He offered no release date or specific features, and a connection to further Fortnite integration remains unconfirmed.
For the launcher, the immediate challenge is straightforward. Faster navigation is welcome, but players also need their installs, updates, and game launches to work consistently.
