Fortnite Servers Down Today for Fortnitemares Update
Fortnite servers are currently offline as Epic Games rolls out the major v37.10 update, bringing the highly anticipated Fortnitemares event.
Fortnite players are staring at a blank screen today. Epic Games shut down the servers early this morning to roll out the v37.10 update. This isn’t just any regular patch. It marks the official launch of Fortnitemares, the game’s annual Halloween extravaganza.
If you tried to queue up for a battle royale match right before the maintenance, you likely saw an error message. That is standard procedure. Epic disabled matchmaking about half an hour before the servers actually went offline. This prevents players from getting booted in the middle of a tense final circle.
So, when will the game be back up? Let us look at what we know about the downtime, the expected schedule, and the spooky content waiting on the other side.
When Will Fortnite Servers Come Back Online?
Epic Games officially started the downtime at 4:00 AM ET (1:00 AM PT / 9:00 AM BST). Matchmaking was disabled at 3:30 AM ET. Historically, major seasonal updates like Fortnitemares require a bit of heavy lifting behind the scenes. You can expect the servers to remain offline for roughly three to four hours.
This puts the estimated return time around 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM ET. However, keep your expectations in check. Large patches occasionally run into unexpected snags. If Epic needs more time to iron out database issues or deploy the files, the downtime could stretch into the late morning. You can keep an eye on the official Fortnite Status account on social media for real-time updates.
What to Expect in the Fortnitemares Update
Fortnitemares is always one of the biggest events on the Fortnite calendar. Epic rarely disappoints when it comes to turning the island into a haunted playground. The v37.10 patch is set to bring a mix of nostalgic favorites and brand-new features.
Here is a quick look at what is rumored and confirmed for this year’s spooky event:
- Spooky Weapons: Classic items like the Pumpkin Launcher and Witch Brooms are highly likely to make their return. We might also see the Wood Stake Shotgun or entirely new supernatural gear.
- Map Transformations: Expect several points of interest to get a creepy makeover. Fog could roll across the island, and haunted decorations will likely pop up in residential areas.
- New Collaborative Skins: Fortnitemares is famous for its crossover skins. Dataminers have hinted at several iconic horror movie characters and pop culture villains joining the item shop this year.
- Horde Rush Mode: The fan-favorite PvE mode is expected to return. Grab your squad and fight off waves of Cube Monsters to earn exclusive free rewards.
How Fortnitemares Affects Competitive Play
While casual players love the chaos of flying on brooms and shooting pumpkin rockets, competitive players usually have a different take. Epic Games traditionally keeps the wilder Fortnitemares items out of ranked play to preserve competitive integrity. If you are grinding the ranks, expect a cleaner, more standardized loot pool, free of jump scares and supernatural weapons. However, the visual map changes and fog might still affect your visibility, so adjust your settings accordingly.
Preparing for the v37.10 Download
Because this patch introduces a whole seasonal event, the file size will be larger than a typical weekly hotfix. If you are playing on a console or PC, make sure you have enough storage space cleared out ahead of time.
If your device supports auto-updates, the download should start automatically while the servers are offline. If not, you will need to trigger the update manually through your launcher—whether that is the Epic Games Launcher, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Nintendo eShop. Once the download finishes and Epic turns the matchmaking servers back on, you will be ready to drop right back in.
For now, grab a drink and wait out the storm. The island is about to get a lot scarier.
