This same current issue that in release build you have to launch the game through the epic launcher in order to play and you if you try to launch it through the exe. file the game out right crashes.
Not able to launch the game through exe file
the game has 2 requirements, the Epic game Store needs to be open, and you need an internet connection for PC, if you have those 2 requirements to launch and the game wont launch (or crashes at launch), try creating a new shortcut (do this on the test version if you want to get a test version shortcut, i just had this one lying around so i used it 