The indie game Dear Passengers has gone viral across social media platforms following the release of a trailer depicting a chaotic “world’s worst airline,” though the developer faces backlash for including a reference to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The physics-based co-op title, developed by Ukraine-based studio Flexus, has amassed over 42.6 million views on X and more than 241,600 views on TikTok since its debut on Tuesday.
The controversy centers on a character in the official trailer—the plane’s pilot—who bears the username “Epst. J” above his head. In the same sequence, the pilot is seen slapping a figure resembling former US President Donald Trump before throwing him out of the aircraft. While some viewers characterized the scene as satire, others labeled the use of a sex offender’s name for marketing as “gross.”
Flexus, a studio with more than 70 employees, previously developed mobile titles including Tower Craft, Mow My Lawn, and Dye Hard. Dear Passengers is scheduled for a PC release in 2026, though a specific date has not been announced.
Controversy Over “Epst. J” Reference in Official Trailer
The rapid spread of the trailer has been fueled in part by negative reactions to the pilot’s naming. Users on X have questioned why a reference to Jeffrey Epstein was included in a professional marketing asset. One user, WolfbaneVT, wrote that there is “zero reason for someone to have Epts. J as they username in the game trailer.”
User Mamfie stated on X, “Why the fk is a username like that in the OFFICIAL TRAILER for this game? Click on the link and it’s on the Steam page. Never playing anything from Flexus.” A third user, THECEOGAMERSEX, described the joke as being based on “the most notorious child sex trafficker in the world.”
Dear Passengers Gameplay and “Friendslop” Genre
Dear Passengers is positioned within the “friendslop” genre—a term used to describe physics-based, chaotic multiplayer games designed for social play, similar to the recent success of Meccha Chameleon. The game tasks players with managing the operations of a failing airline, allowing them to choose between piloting the aircraft or working as cabin crew.
According to the developer, the gameplay will feature dynamic weather, turbulence, air pockets, and the management of “risky passengers.” The physics-driven nature of the game is intended to create “chaotic multiplayer shenanigans,” which has already led to online comparisons and jokes regarding budget carriers like Ryanair.
Marketing Strategy and Impact
The sheer volume of engagement—including posts criticizing the Epstein reference that have attracted over 47,000 likes—suggests the controversy may have been a calculated move to increase visibility. By utilizing shock humor and political slapstick, Flexus has successfully pushed the trailer into the viral cycle of X and TikTok.
Despite the backlash, the game remains listed on the Steam page, where interested players can track its progress toward the 2026 launch. The studio’s transition from smaller mobile titles to a PC co-op experience marks a shift in scale for the Ukraine-based team.
The next confirmed milestone for the project is its 2026 release window on PC. We invite readers to share their thoughts on the trailer’s humor in the comments below.
Worth a look