Fortnite just launched its Expert mode on July 29, promising a bot-free, intense gameplay experience for those craving real competition. But guess what? Major leakers like Shiina and AllyJax say these lobbies are still packed with bots, making the whole “bot-free” claim feel kinda empty.
The original Fortnite OG mode has been criticized for feeling pretty dead in 2025, with matches sometimes having fewer than ten real players. Bots were introduced initially to shorten queue times, but as the player base shrank, bots became a crutch, frustrating those who wanted actual players to fight against.
Epic Games said Expert mode would fix this by removing bots and focusing on real players only. However, leakers report that Expert mode still includes the same bots from OG mode. AllyJax even tweeted, “Epic have made it to where OG Expert has 10 maximum REAL players. No I am not kidding.” So, the bot problem isn’t just a rumor, it’s happening in the new mode too.
Players have shared clips showing opponents standing still mid-fight, a classic sign of bots. AllyJax expressed frustration, saying, “Me and a friend were just having a goddamn blast on this mode… what the hell is Epic’s problem man?” He also pointed out that Fortnite’s own tweet suggests Expert mode shouldn’t have bots at all, which makes this situation even more confusing.
Could this be an oversight? AllyJax thinks so, mentioning that internally, the mode looks the same as before. Fans are baffled too. One asked, “Tf is the point of the mode then? Wasn’t the reason for Expert mode to be a no bot mode?” I mean, why promise something and not deliver?
Some blame Epic’s hectic schedule. Managing over 20 game modes, a Blitz mode, a Superman event, and the next long season might be spreading the devs too thin.
So, what’s the deal? Is Epic quietly keeping bots in Expert mode to fill lobbies or just forgot to remove them? Either way, this kinda defeats the purpose of a bot-free challenge, right?
