Fortnite Announces Downtime for First Major Chapter 7 Season 2 Update (v40.10)

Epic Games has officially confirmed the downtime schedule for Fortnite’s first major update of Chapter 7 Season 2, patch v40.10. The update marks an important content drop following the launch of the new season on March 19.

Chapter 7 Season 2, titled Fortnite Showdown, introduces a large-scale conflict between The Foundation and the Ice King. At the beginning of the season, players were required to choose a side, shaping their gameplay experience throughout the season. In Battle Royale matches, players are assigned rivals from the opposing faction and must eliminate them to earn points for their team.

As with every new season, players were introduced to fresh mechanics, weapons, non-playable characters (NPCs), and an evolving storyline. However, Epic Games gradually rolls out additional content over time to maintain engagement across the season’s lifespan. With nearly two weeks completed, most players have already progressed through early milestones and are now anticipating new content.

Downtime Details for v40.10

Epic Games had previously shared its 2026 update roadmap via Trello, confirming a scheduled update for April 1. The exact downtime timing has now been revealed:

Downtime Start: April 1 at 4:00 AM ET
Matchmaking Disabled: Around 3:30 AM ET

Players are advised to finish their matches early, as matchmaking is typically disabled 30 minutes before servers go offline.

What to Expect in the Update

The v40.10 update is expected to bring significant new content, including:

Chapter 1 Season 8 OG Pass:
A nostalgic return featuring classic map elements, weapons, and gameplay mechanics from 2019.
Endgame LTM (Limited-Time Mode):
The popular mode is set to return on April 3, giving players a fresh challenge after the update.
New Skins (Rumored):
Viral “brainrot” meme skins like Tung Tung Tung Sahur and Ballerina Cappucina are expected to launch, possibly aligning with April Fool’s Day.

While some features are officially confirmed, others remain based on leaks and speculation. As usual, dataminers are expected to reveal more details once the update goes live.

With exciting content lined up, Fortnite players have plenty to look forward to as Chapter 7 Season 2 continues to evolve.