Fortnite Downtime Prepares for Epic Star Wars Update

NEW YORK, NY — Hundreds of Fortnite players reported issues during the early hours of Tuesday morning as the online multiplayer game underwent a planned update. Downtime for patch 34.40 began at 4 AM ET, with the official Fortnite Status account warning players about the matchmaking shutdown shortly before.

The update leads to a new Star Wars season titled “Fortnite Galactic Battle,” set to launch on May 2. The 2025 player base remains strong, with over 650 million registered users, alongside 60 million daily and 110 million monthly active players. Epic Games, the game’s producer, continually engages players through regular updates that introduce new content and features.

Patch 34.40 is particularly focused on preparing players for the upcoming thematic overhaul that includes significant tie-ins to the Star Wars franchise. Minor updates occur every 1-2 weeks, while major overhauls are introduced approximately every 10-12 weeks, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.

The April patch not only features early elements of the Star Wars event but also includes new cosmetics linked to popular celebrities and adjustments in competitive gameplay. Epic Games stated that the update “introduces the Armored Transport spawner from Fortnite Battle Royale, Rebel’s Roost prefabs and galleries, and a range of characters and tools for creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles islands.”

Leaker @ShiinaBR informed The Mirror that the patch is “particularly packed,” drawing attention to new TMNT cosmetics and hints of upcoming Star Wars content. “Brace for impact before the arrival of Darth Jar Jar and his minions,” Shiina said, showcasing the excitement around the update.

Moreover, this update marks a significant shift in Epic Games’ policies as it begins restoring accounts of players previously banned for cheating, following a change in its lifetime ban policy. ShiinaBR noted that the updates also include a new ‘Tournament Ban’ token, ensuring that certain players will not participate in tournaments once the bans are lifted.

Epic’s downtime is expected to last several hours, likely concluding around 10 AM ET. Players are encouraged to log off ahead of downtime to avoid suspension mid-game.

As Fortnite gears up for its next big event, anticipation continues to build among its millions of players, eager to engage with fresh content and experiences.