Why am I getting matchmaking error #1, #2, or #3 in Fortnite?

Chaos hits Fortnite as the new Ballistic mode goes live-players are stuck in broken matchmaking queues while Epic scrambles to patch the problem.

There are plenty of errors happening in the matchmaking that prevent the players from entering the highly anticipated game mode. The official @FortniteStatus X account shared a post acknowledging this issue. While there is no timeline for the servers to come online yet, a lot of players are waiting in the Fortnite lobby to join the latest 5v5 game mode.

Initially, I ended up with a “Matchmaking Error #1, Unknown Error, Maybe try again? (match.failed_to_ontain_link_code.404)”. While I thought the game was not working for me, I checked the socials, and well, it was the same for many others. One user with the name @waxpen_ on X asked if anyone from NA East getting the Fortnite Ballistic matchmaking error.

Then I tried to restart the game and check if the error persisted. And guess what happened? I got a new error message. This time it said “Matchmaking Error #2, We failed the cook request for the client. invalid_json.” Well, this still meant my Fortnite Ballistic matchmaking is still not working.

The Epic Games server status page that helps you locate if Fortnite is down confirmed the matchmaking error. The server page message says, “Investigating – We’re aware that players may be experiencing matchmaking errors for several experiences in Fortnite, and we will provide an update when this has also been resolved.” One X user @hollands118 shares their frustration saying Fortnite Ballistic just dropped and it’s already not working.

Update 1 (12/12/2024 12:00 am)

When was the ballistic matchmaking error resolved

The Fortnite Ballistic matchmaking error was resolved on December 12, 2024.​

Official Announcement

Epic Games’ Fortnite Status account confirmed the fix early that day, around 12:00 AM, stating servers were back online and matchmaking was stable for Ballistic. They committed to continued monitoring during the mode’s early access phase.​

Lingering Reports

Some players reported isolated issues like crashes or preparation phase hangs shortly after, but core matchmaking worked for most. No widespread problems persisted beyond that date based on status updates.​

Is the matchmaking fully stable now for Ballistic

No, Ballistic matchmaking is not fully stable as of January 2026. While Epic Games resolved the initial widespread errors by December 12, 2024, ongoing player reports highlight persistent problems like long queues, unbalanced teams, and desync issues.​​

Current Stability

Early access updates through mid-2025, such as v36.10 in June, adjusted matchmaking based on party ranks but did not eliminate complaints. Recent 2026 discussions note matchmaking frustrations, including skill mismatches for beginners.​

Ongoing Issues

Players continue facing spawn glitches, uneven team sizes (e.g., 3v5 matches), and preparation phase hangs across platforms. Epic monitors stability, but early access nature means full fixes remain incomplete.​