Spectator Bug – Only 3 Players Can Join My UEFN Map, Others Spawn as Spectators

Summary

Hello Epic Games Support,

I’ve encountered a serious issue with my UEFN map and I need your help. I’ve spent weeks building and testing my map. I duplicated a previously published project (which worked fine), adjusted it, and re-published it. All the settings are correct – I double and triple checked spawn pads, player settings, game settings, and memory usage. Everything is configured properly.

The Problem:

When more than 3 players join the map (through party matchmaking or by entering the map code), only the first 3 can play. All other players spawn as spectators – even though the “Max Players” is set to 16.

Even if I join the map myself, I often get placed in spectator mode, unless I enter first and alone. If others try to join while I’m in-game, they appear as spectators too.

I added a collaborator (as I have a low-end PC) and he was the one who officially published the map from UEFN. Still, the issue remains.

I’ve tried:

Republishing the map

Checking every single player spawner and team setting

Re-validating and verifying everything in UEFN and Fortnite

Creating a new project based on the working map

Nothing helps. I am extremely frustrated and exhausted from this.

Please help me fix this.

I just want players to be able to join and enjoy my map without being stuck in spectator mode.

Map Name: RP IL CITY

Code: 842596383832

Thank you in advance,

JustRonii

Please select what you are reporting on:

Unreal Editor for Fortnite

What Type of Bug are you experiencing?

Matchmaking

Steps to Reproduce

Open UEFN and duplicate an existing working map project.

Set max players to 16, place working player spawners for all teams.

Collaborator publishes the map (I invited him as publisher because my PC is too weak).

Enter the published map in Fortnite with a group of 4 or more players.

Only the first 3 players can join the game, others become spectators.

Sometimes even I become a spectator unless I enter the map first and alone.

Expected Result

All players (up to 16) should spawn properly in the game using the player spawners and be able to play together, not as spectators.

Observed Result

Only 3 players can join the game. All other players (even me, sometimes) are forced into spectator mode, even though the map settings allow up to 16 players and all spawners are correctly placed.

Platform(s)

Fortnite on PC (Windows), using UEFN to create and publish the map

Island Code

842596383832