Fortnite Goes Offline for Spooky Season Preparations
Fortnite players need to prepare for some time away from the Battle Bus. Epic Games has confirmed that the game’s servers are going offline on Tuesday, October 1, 2026. This scheduled maintenance is for the highly anticipated v37.10 update. Why the excitement? It is finally time to prepare for Fortnitemares, Fortnite’s massive annual Halloween event.
If you are planning an early morning gaming session, you will want to adjust your schedule. Here is everything we know about the upcoming downtime, when the servers will go dark, and what spooky surprises might be waiting on the other side.
When Do Fortnite Servers Go Offline?
Epic Games announced the maintenance schedule via its official social media channels. The downtime for the v37.10 update is set to begin at 4:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday, October 1. For players on the West Coast, that means a late-night cutoff at 1:00 AM Pacific Time (PT). Over in the UK, the servers will go offline at 9:00 AM British Summer Time (BST).
Do not expect to queue up right until the last second. Epic always disables matchmaking about 30 minutes before the official maintenance begins. If you are in the middle of a tense Battle Royale match, make sure you finish up by 3:30 AM ET to avoid getting booted mid-fight.
How long will the game be offline? Typically, major updates like v37.10 keep the game down for about two to three hours. If everything goes smoothly, you can expect to jump back into the action around 6:00 AM or 7:00 AM ET. However, larger seasonal updates can sometimes run into unexpected snags, so a bit of patience might be required.
What to Expect in the v37.10 Update
The main focus of this patch is laying the groundwork for Fortnitemares 2026. While the full Halloween event might not launch the second the servers turn back on, the game files will be packed with all the spooky content set to roll out over the next few weeks.
Fortnitemares is always a fan-favorite period. Players can expect the usual visual overhaul of the island. Think creepy fog, jack-o’-lanterns decorating the remaining POIs, and maybe some haunted decorations scattered around the map.
We are also likely to see the return of classic Halloween weapons. The Pumpkin Launcher is a safe bet, sending explosive, laughing gourds flying across the battlefield. The Witch Broom, a popular mobility item that lets players glide through the air, is another highly anticipated returnee.
New Skins, Collabs, and Cosmetics
What is a Fortnite update without new cosmetics? Dataminers will undoubtedly have a field day once the v37.10 patch goes live. Epic Games usually hides upcoming shop assets in these updates.
Rumors are already swirling about which pop culture icons will make an appearance this year. Previous years gave us characters from classic horror movies, Disney villains, and creepy pop-culture icons. Players should keep an eye on social media for leaks showing off brand-new skins, spooky emotes, and Halloween-themed pickaxes.
There is also the chance of some gameplay tweaks. While Fortnitemares is the star of the show, Epic often uses these mid-season updates to balance weapons, fix lingering bugs, and adjust storm circles.
Preparing for the Update
Before the servers come back online, you will need to download the actual patch. Depending on your platform—whether you play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or mobile—the update size will vary.
It is always a good idea to leave your console or PC in standby mode so the download can start automatically. That way, you will not have to sit through a massive download bar when you are ready to play.
Stay tuned for more updates. We will monitor the server status throughout the morning and provide updates if Epic Games encounters any delays. Until then, get those last few matches in before the dark falls on the Fortnite island.
