Indie Game "Dear Passengers" Sparks Boycott Backlash Over Epstein Reference

The reveal trailer for "Dear Passengers," a chaotic co-op physics game from Kyiv-based studio FLEXUS, went viral overnight, racking up 40 million views and 500,000 Steam wishlists.

However, the massive debut quickly turned controversial after viewers spotted a pilot character named "Epst. J." throwing a Donald Trump lookalike out of an airlock.

Many players took the name as a reference to Jeffrey Epstein, leading to swift calls for a boycott and overshadowing the game's initial praise. While some defenders argued the moment was merely a dark, satirical joke at Epstein’s expense rather than glorification, the gag split the community. 

Billed as a simulator for the "world's worst airline" where players manage disastrous flights, "Dear Passengers" is slated for a 2026 PC release on Steam, but its promising launch is now competing directly with the mounting controversy.