Fortnite servers are down on October 15, 2026. Epic Games has scheduled maintenance for the v42.40 update. Downtime starts at 4 AM ET. Matchmaking usually closes about 30 minutes earlier. Servers should return at 6 AM or 7 AM ET, though Epic has not confirmed a time. The update is the last major patch of Chapter 7 Season 4 and the second half of Fortnitemares 2026.
Here is the downtime schedule and what the update adds.
Fortnite Servers Down: Downtime and Return Time
Epic Games will take Fortnite offline at 4 AM ET on Thursday, October 15. Epic has not shared a precise return time, which is normal for Fortnite downtime. The servers will be offline for 2 to 3 hours, based on past downtime periods.
That puts the return at around 6 AM or 7 AM ET. Delays can happen, especially if Epic runs into problems while deploying the new content.
Fortnite update 42.40 is a content patch. It adds end-of-season content to Fortnitemares 2026 in Battle Royale, Reload, and the Horde Rush LTM. Epic has pushed a major update with downtime every 2 weeks.
| Event | ET | IST | UTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtime starts | 4 AM | 1:30 PM | 8 AM |
| Expected return | 6 AM | 3:30 PM | 10 AM |
| Latest expected return | 7 AM | 4:30 PM | 11 AM |
Players in India should plan for the servers to be offline from 1:30 PM IST. They may stay offline until 4:30 PM IST.
What Is in the Fortnite v42.40 Update?
The October 15 update marks the halfway point of Fortnitemares 2026. The event runs until November 1. Here is what Fortnite v42.40 patch notes cover:
- New Sprites: The Honey Sprite sends bees after enemies who damage you. The Obsession Sprite lets One Wish Willow help you collect other Sprites.
- Loot Hacks: The update adds 6 new Loot Hacks.
- Match Overrides: Early notes point to at least 3 more Match Overrides during Fortnitemares 2026. They have no names yet.
- Item Shop: New skins and cosmetics are expected.
- Weapons: According to reports, new weapons enter the loot pool. The early patch notes have not confirmed any.
Most map changes arrived at the start of Fortnitemares 2026, so none are expected this time. One thing to watch is the storm above the Geno’s Machine landmark. It is slowly growing in size and intensity.
Fortnitemares 2026 Collabs and Quests
Several Fortnitemares 2026 collabs are already live. The Obsession collab arrives on October 15. The collabs listed for this update are:
- Beetlejuice
- Hazbin Hotel
- Predator Badlands
- Slender Man
- The Purge
- Obsession
Dates for the other collabs are unknown. Epic Games will reveal them toward the end of the week.
Players can already earn the Jack-A-Nape skin through Fortnitemares 2026 quests. More quests arrive this week with XP and cosmetic rewards. A new set of Kado Thorne Quests also arrives with the update. The Gold Punk skin is available too. Players can get it by redeeming a Fortnite Gift Card before the event ends.
What Comes After v42.40?
This is the last update before the final season of Chapter 7 starts next month. Reports say an anime-themed mini-season is on the way, with One Piece as the main collab. Epic has already given the One Piece collab its first tease. Fans asking whether Chapter 7 is the last chapter of Fortnite can read our earlier report.
How to Check Fortnite Server Status
Epic Games posts live updates on social media. The Epic Games Public Status page also lists scheduled maintenance. Check both for news of any delay.
Players should update the game before the servers return. That lets them jump in right away.
