Summary
Subject: Private version codes stuck on “Searching for server” indefinitely — validation fully passed (island: BIOS TRIO)
Description:
Our team is preparing a major update for our published island BIOS TRIO (live code 4059-2791-0712, active and joinable without issues). To test the update with multiple players, we created private versions — but every private version code hangs indefinitely on “Searching for server” when entered in Fortnite. No server is ever allocated; the search runs for minutes until we cancel.
Affected private version code: 3452-8076-8162
Earlier private version with the same symptom: 6445-9594-7418
What we have verified:
The private version passed all validation checks in the Creator Portal: Version Type, Download Size (83 MB / 400 MB), Memory Usage (~40,700 / 100,000), Asset Status, Verse Validation (persistable data backwards compatibility), and In-Island Transactions — everything green, no warnings.
We waited more than 24 hours after validation completed and retried repeatedly — no change.
Reproduced on multiple PCs and multiple Epic accounts on different networks — this is not client-side.
The live island (4059-2791-0712) and other public islands join normally from the same clients, so general matchmaking works for us.
Matchmaking region: [z.B. “Europe; we also tried switching regions in Fortnite settings — no change”]
Additional context that may help: The project uses the “Custom Items and Inventory” beta and Verse persistence. Earlier private versions of this project were stuck in “Verse Validation: In progress” for over two days before we resolved a schema issue on our side; since then validation passes cleanly, but server allocation for private codes still never succeeds. It is possible the island’s backend state for private-version matchmaking is stuck.
Impact: We cannot playtest our update with multiple players, which is blocking the release of a major update for an actively monetized island.
Request: Please check the server allocation / matchmaking backend for private versions of this island and let us know if there is an island-side state you can reset.
Attachments: screen recording of the endless “Searching for server” screen, screenshot of the green validation checklist.
Please select what you are reporting on:
Unreal Editor for Fortnite
What Type of Bug are you experiencing?
Matchmaking
Steps to Reproduce
- Open Fortnite (PC client).
- Go to island code entry and enter the private version code 3452-8076-8162 (created in the Creator Portal for island “BIOS TRIO”, live code 4059-2791-0712; the private version passed ALL validation checks — Verse Validation and In-Island Transactions included — more than 24 hours before testing).
- Confirm and start matchmaking.
- Wait.
- Repeat on a different PC with a different Epic account and network. Same result. An earlier private version of the same project (6445-9594-7418) behaves identically.
Expected Result
A server is allocated within a reasonable time and the private version loads, so our team can playtest the update together — the same way our live island (4059-2791-0712) joins normally from the same clients.
Observed Result
The “Searching for server” spinner runs indefinitely (several minutes until manually cancelled). No server is ever allocated, no error message is shown. Reproduced on multiple PCs, multiple Epic accounts and different networks over more than 24 hours after validation completed, including after switching matchmaking regions. Public islands including our own live island join normally from the same clients, so general matchmaking works.
Possibly relevant context: the project uses the “Custom Items and Inventory” beta and Verse persistence. Earlier private versions were stuck in “Verse Validation: In progress” for over two days until we fixed a persistable-schema issue on our side; validation now passes cleanly, but private-version server allocation still never succeeds. The island’s backend state for private-version matchmaking may be stuck.
Platform(s)
PC (Windows) — multiple machines, multiple accounts, different networks
Island Code
4059-2791-0712
