Fortnite’s Simpsons mini-season is getting a loud send-off. Update v38.11, rolling out on November 19, turns Springfield into a Homer-filled chaos zone, drops a new close-range weapon into the loot pool, and starts the countdown to the chapter finale. On top of that, there’s a limited-time Winter Rush event and a fresh wave of racing cosmetics.
Fortnite Simpsons v38.11: key changes
| Feature | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Homer clones | AI Homers that spawn from donut pinatas and roam Springfield in waves | Add PvE chaos, light loot, and new hotspot behavior |
| Makeup Shotgun | Short-range, double-burst shotgun themed around Homer | Rewards aggressive close-quarters play with high burst damage |
| Zero Hour countdown | Live event timer for the end of the current chapter | Signals upcoming Zero Hour finale and transition into Chapter 7 |
| Winter Rush quests | Party-based XP quests with seasonal cosmetics | Encourages squad play and offers a free Cuddle Bear skin |
| F1 & Ferrari cosmetics | F1 cars, Ferrari F40, and themed gear in the item shop | Extends the licensed crossover push into motorsport |
| Springfield map changes | Purple “corruption” in Springfield’s water and new sidekicks | Visually sets up the Zero Hour event and the chapter’s endpoint |
Homer clones invade Springfield
The headline change is the arrival of Homer clones blanketing Springfield. They wander around town, react when you get close, and can end up chasing you mid-fight. They do not function like standard NPC vendors or bosses; they show up in defined waves and behave more like roaming PvE mobs than scripted quest givers.
Homer clones are tied to the Simpsons theme objects on the map. Destroying donut pinatas spawns waves of clones in the area. Clear a wave and they drop light loot, giving you ammo and basic supplies rather than full endgame loadouts. The update also hints that clones will expand into more landmarks as the mini-season pushes toward its finale, so Springfield is just the starting point.
For fights, that means third-party pressure now comes not just from other squads but from swarms of Homers that can pull aggro at the wrong time. Dropping in Springfield becomes less about stable rotations and more about improvising around AI noise and extra damage sources.
Homer’s Makeup Shotgun joins the loot pool
The other major gameplay addition is Homer’s Makeup Shotgun, a short-range weapon that leans hard into burst damage. It fires two heavy shots in quick succession before needing a reload, functioning as a “pump-and-dump” tool for players who like to dive straight into close-range duels.
Makeup Shotgun basics
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Weapon type | Burst pump shotgun (double shot before reload) |
| Rarity | Epic to Legendary |
| Effective range | Very short; built for face-to-face engagements |
| Reload behavior | Noticeable reload after firing both bursts |
| Loot sources (general) | Chests, floor loot, and special Springfield drops |
| Loot sources (higher odds) | Mr Burns Mystery Boxes and Supply Drops |
The weapon is tuned to reward commitment. If you hit both bursts, you can delete a target quickly; if you whiff, you are stuck in an exposed reload window. That makes it ideal in tight interiors, box fights, and third-party collapses where your target has limited room to dodge.
Where Makeup Shotgun spawns
The shotgun is not tied to a single boss or named POI. It is spread across the island but appears more frequently in higher-value containers:
- Standard chests: The most common access point. The drop rate is moderate, so early-game chest routes remain important if you want to build around this weapon.
- Mr Burns Mystery Boxes: Event-branded containers with a slightly better chance to roll crossover items like the Makeup Shotgun. Opening them is a gamble; sometimes you get the shotgun, sometimes you don’t get anything of equal value, but they are the best bet outside of late-game drops.
- Supply Drops: As usual, these have one of the highest odds for Epic–Legendary gear. If you are already stacked and can safely claim an airdrop, it’s a sensible way to fish for the Makeup Shotgun.
How to actually play around the Makeup Shotgun
The Makeup Shotgun only shines when you control distance. It loses most of its threat once your opponent is more than a few meters away, and the reload leaves you vulnerable if you fail to convert both bursts into a knock.
- Use mobility items or Simpsons-themed boosts (like the tomato speed effect) to close gaps before you shoot.
- Plan your fights around cover: dash in, fire both bursts, then immediately break line of sight for the reload.
- Carry a reliable mid-range backup (assault rifle or SMG) so that you are not forced into impossible pushes just to make the shotgun work.
In squad modes, the weapon is particularly effective when one teammate runs Makeup Shotgun as an entry tool while others provide ranged cleanup.
Zero Hour countdown hits the island
v38.11 also flips on the Zero Hour countdown for the end of the current chapter. A large timer now hangs over major points of interest across the island, ticking down in real time to the live event that will bridge into Chapter 7.
The countdown is more than a cosmetic overlay. As the clock winds toward zero, the island starts reacting: visual effects around Springfield’s water, background changes near key Simpsons landmarks, and small teasers hinting at what Zero Hour will actually do to the map. When the timer expires, the chapter-ending event fires, and Chapter 7 begins immediately after.
Springfield lake corruption and map tweaks
The cosmetic story work for Zero Hour shows up most clearly around Springfield’s water. The lake and connecting waterways are now streaked with purple “corruption,” visually echoing the power plant leaks in the Simpsons crossover shorts and the in-game animated episodes.
This is not a full map overhaul, but it reframes rotations around Springfield. Players get clearer visual cues that this region is central to the coming event, and the purple water reinforces that the whole mini-season has been one extended buildup rather than a disconnected collaboration.
Alongside the corruption, the update sets up new sidekicks and additional item shop crossovers that will rotate in as the shop updates. These helpers and cosmetics deepen the Simpsons presence without forcing more mechanical systems into the core battle royale loop.
Winter Rush party quests and Cuddle Bear rewards
On the progression side, v38.11 switches on Party Up Winter Rush quests, a limited-time event built strictly around playing with friends in a party. Solo players can’t brute force this; every objective must be completed in a group.
| Winter Rush element | Details |
|---|---|
| Quest type | XP tasks that require being in a party |
| Rewards | Seasonal cosmetics, culminating in a Cuddle Bear skin |
| Event window | Runs until November 29 |
Each milestone in the Winter Rush track unlocks a new cosmetic, with the final reward being a full Cuddle Bear skin. The schedule is tight but not brutal; the November 29 end date lines up with the current battle pass timeline, giving regular players enough room to finish both their pass and the Winter Rush line if they log in consistently.
In practice, these quests “tax” your playtime less than full narrative chains. They sit on top of normal matchmaking and reward you for doing the usual things—eliminations, placements, and movement—while grouped up.
F1 cars, Ferrari F40, and racing cosmetics
Fortnite’s collaboration treadmill doesn’t slow down here. The update also injects a cluster of motorsport gear into the item shop, pushing the game further into car culture.
| Racing content | What’s included |
|---|---|
| F1 racers bundle | F1 driver outfits, an F1-themed pickaxe, glider, and related accessories |
| Ferrari F40 bundle | Ferrari F40 car variant, decals, and a wheel set |
These items are cosmetic; they don’t alter the core physics in battle royale, but they fit Fortnite’s ongoing project of turning its car roster into a playable showroom of licensed brands. With F1 and Ferrari sitting next to Star Wars and Marvel, the Simpsons season ends with one of the denser crossover stacks Fortnite has run.
v38.11 is both a content drop and a countdown. Homer clones turn Springfield into a riskier landing spot, the Makeup Shotgun gives aggressive players a new close-range option, and the Zero Hour timer makes the chapter’s end feel tangible every time you look up at the sky. With Winter Rush running until November 29 and a wall of cosmetics queued up in the shop, the Simpsons mini-season is set to exit on a busy, slightly radioactive note.
