Fortnite is going dark for its v40.41 update, the last major patch before the Chapter 7 Season 2 finale. Epic Games is using the maintenance window to load in files for the Shattered live event, Community Day content, and assorted bug fixes before the season wraps up.
Quick answer: Downtime begins May 28, 2026, at 4 AM ET (8 AM UTC). Servers are expected back online roughly two to three hours later, around 7 AM ET.
Downtime starts: May 28, 2026 at 4:00 AM ET (8:00 AM UTC)
v40.41 downtime schedule by region
Matchmaking shuts off about 30 minutes before servers go offline, so if you queue up too close to the 4 AM ET cutoff, you will get kicked back to the lobby. The full downtime window covers all Fortnite modes, including Battle Royale, Zero Build, LEGO Fortnite, Fortnite Festival, and Rocket Racing.
| Region | Downtime starts |
|---|---|
| US Pacific (PT) | 1:00 AM |
| US Mountain (MT) | 2:00 AM |
| US Central (CT) | 3:00 AM |
| US Eastern (ET) | 4:00 AM |
| UTC | 8:00 AM |
| United Kingdom (BST) | 9:00 AM |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 10:00 AM |
| India (IST) | 1:30 PM |
| Japan (JST) | 5:00 PM |
| Australia East (AEST) | 6:00 PM |
| New Zealand (NZST) | 8:00 PM |
When Fortnite servers come back up
Epic typically resolves mid-season patches in two to three hours, with login and matchmaking re-enabled in waves once stability checks pass. Expect to be back in a match around 7 AM ET, give or take, assuming nothing breaks during deployment. The v40.40 patch earlier this month ran a bit longer than estimated, with login and matchmaking issues lingering for about an hour after maintenance officially ended, so build a little buffer into your morning if you are planning to grind quests.
You can verify Fortnite is back online when the "Server Offline" tile in the Epic Games Launcher disappears, and matchmaking accepts a queue. Epic posts confirmations through the Fortnite Status account on X once the patch is live.
What v40.41 is loading in
This is the cleanup patch before Chapter 7 Season 2 ends, and Epic is using it to stage the Shattered live event, scheduled for Friday, June 5. Expect encrypted files, teaser assets, and the framework for Chapter 7 Season 3 to drop alongside it.
Beyond the live event prep, the patch is expected to bring Community Day quests and rewards, fresh Item Shop additions including the Typical Gamer Icon Series skin, and a handful of cosmetics tied to leaked collaborations. The Showdown rivalry between Team Foundation and Team Ice King continues racking up points toward the season-end reward, which determines whether Battle Pass holders unlock Frost-Ready Foundation or Exalted Frost Ice King.
What to do during downtime
Pre-download the patch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One so you are not stuck staring at a progress bar after servers return. On PC and Switch, the launcher will queue the update once it is pushed. Avoid spamming the login button while maintenance is active. The account services stay locked until Epic flips matchmaking back on, and repeated attempts will not get you in any faster.
For real-time confirmation that servers are live again, the Epic Games status page tracks Fortnite alongside login, matchmaking, and Item Shop services individually, which is useful if part of the platform comes back before the rest.
Once you are in, the patch notes typically post to the official Fortnite site shortly after servers stabilize, with the full breakdown of bug fixes, balance changes, and any item adjustments rolled into v40.41.