Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2, officially titled Showdown, arrives on March 19, 2026, with Update 40.00. The season centers on a rivalry between two of Fortnite's most iconic storyline characters — The Foundation and the Ice King — and delivers sweeping changes to the Golden Coast island, a completely refreshed weapon pool, new points of interest, and a movement mechanic called Skyzips.
Quick answer: Fortnite Update 40.00 goes live on March 19, 2026, at 2 AM ET after an extended downtime of roughly 8–10 hours. Downtime is expected to begin around 6 PM ET on March 18, shortly after the final Chapter 7 Season 1 live event concludes.
Release time: March 19, 2026, 2:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM UTC
Update 40.00 Downtime and Server Maintenance
Because this is a full seasonal update rather than a mid-season patch, Epic Games is scheduling an extended maintenance window. Matchmaking and all playlists will be disabled once servers go offline. Players should expect to be locked out for the full 8–10 hour window while Epic deploys the new map geometry, loot tables, and seasonal systems. If past seasonal rollouts are any indication, downtime could stretch slightly longer than the initial estimate.
Showdown Battle Pass Skins
The Chapter 7 Season 2 Battle Pass is called the Showdown Pass, and it leans heavily on remixed versions of fan-favorite characters alongside a major crossover. Eight skins fill out the pass:
| Skin | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Foundation Remixed | Redesigned armor with a noticeably different chest piece and smoother helmet compared to the original |
| The Ice King Remixed | Completely overhauled look; may also function as a playable boss players can transform into |
| The Order Remixed | New take on the Seven-affiliated character |
| Jules Remixed | Seen wielding a new revolver in the season's key art |
| Fishstick (Cthulhu variant) | A squid/octopus-themed spin on the beloved meme skin |
| Bugs Bunny | Part of the confirmed Looney Tunes crossover |
| Cat-themed Skin | Original design |
| Frost Queen Skin | Original design tied to the Ice King's faction |
Captain America also appears prominently in the season's teasers — specifically a version inspired by Captain America: The First Avenger — though whether that skin lands in the Battle Pass as a bonus reward or in the Item Shop separately has not been officially confirmed.
The Foundation vs. Ice King Rivalry
Showdown's central narrative pits The Foundation, leader of the Seven, against the Ice King. Both characters have deep roots in Fortnite's overarching storyline, and the Dark Voyager appears to be manipulating the conflict behind the scenes. The season's teaser ended with an Avengers-style card reading "The Foundation and The King will return in Fortnite: Showdown," firmly establishing the confrontation as the season's driving force.
In-game, the lobby will feature a Rivals screen that functions similarly to the "Choose a Side" mechanic from Chapter 2 Season 2. You'll pick either The Foundation's faction or the Ice King's faction, and your choice could unlock unique, side-specific rewards throughout the season. The Ice King is also expected to appear as a boss on the map, and leaks suggest he may be a "playable boss" that players can transform into during matches.
New POIs and Map Changes
The Golden Coast island is getting at least three notable additions with the seasonal refresh:
Frigid Fortress is the Ice King's castle and the marquee new landing spot. It's a massive, upgraded version of the Polar Peak POI from the Chapter 1 map. Teasers show frozen trophies inside the castle — including frozen statues of The Foundation and Captain America — with hints that one of those captives escapes as soon as Season 2 begins.
An Atlantis-inspired POI, first glimpsed in the Chapter 7 Season 2 cinematic trailer, rounds out the confirmed new locations. A third new POI has been teased but remains unidentified.
Alongside the new spots, expect significant terrain changes across the existing map as the ice-themed conflict spreads. The Battle Royale discovery image in the lobby has already been "iced out," mirroring the visual treatment Epic used during the original Ice King event years ago.
Revamped Loot Pool and New Weapons
Fortnite design director Ted Timmins confirmed ahead of the season that Chapter 7 Season 2 would bring a completely refreshed loot pool. Most weapons currently in Chapter 7 Season 1 are expected to be vaulted, making room for an entirely new arsenal. Two confirmed additions have already surfaced:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Scoped AR | Spotted in the Fortnite Google Play Store announcement gameplay footage |
| New Revolver | Seen in the key art, wielded by Jules in her remixed outfit |
Both weapons are expected to be available at launch. The loot pool overhaul is one of the "major gameplay changes" Timmins referenced, so the full weapon list on day one could look dramatically different from what players are used to.
Seven-Themed Weapons — Cluster Cannon and Rift Rifle
Two faction-specific weapons tied to The Foundation and the Seven are headed to the game:
The Seven Cluster Cannon was briefly available during a recent Power Hour event and will carry over into Season 2 as a permanent addition. It uses a charge mechanic to fire an explosive projectile that splits into six smaller projectiles on impact, making it a strong area-denial tool.
The Foundation's Rift Rifle first appeared in a cinematic during the Chapter 2 finale live event. It incorporates Rift mechanics, though it's unclear whether the weapon will function exactly as it did in that cinematic or if Epic will rebalance it for standard play. The Rift Rifle is expected to arrive mid-season, not at launch.
Looney Tunes Crossover
Bugs Bunny in the Battle Pass is only the beginning of the Fortnite × Looney Tunes collaboration. Official teasers from the Looney Tunes social media channels confirm that Daffy Duck and Lola Bunny will be available in the Fortnite Item Shop shortly after Season 2 launches. Additional Looney Tunes characters may follow later in the season.
Skyzips — New Movement Mechanic
Epic Games co-founder Mark Rein dropped his traditional one-word teaser for the new season: "Skyzips." The most likely interpretation is an aerial zipline network that connects different areas of the Golden Coast island, giving players a fast traversal option similar to the Splitstreams from Chapter 1 Season 9. If the name is any indication, these ziplines will sit high above the map, offering both speed and a bird's-eye view of the battlefield below.
Additional Collaborations Arriving Alongside Season 2
Beyond Looney Tunes, several other crossovers are confirmed or expected around the Season 2 launch window:
| Collaboration | Timing |
|---|---|
| Crimson (Cliff skin) | March 19 — free with Epic Games Store pre-purchase of Crimson; later in the Item Shop |
| Bloons TD 6 | March 28 |
| Captain America (MCU) | Season 2 window (exact date unconfirmed) |
| Cyberpunk Part 2 | Later in the season or beyond |
| Ninjago Part 2 | Later in the season or beyond |
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 is shaping up to be one of the more narrative-heavy seasonal launches in recent memory. Between the faction-choice system, a completely new weapon pool, at least three fresh POIs, and the Skyzips traversal mechanic, Showdown has the potential to meaningfully shake up how matches play out on the Golden Coast. The full picture will come into focus once Update 40.00 drops and players can get hands-on with everything Epic has been teasing.