Fortnite v42.40 downtime began at 08:00 UTC (4:00 a.m. ET) on October 15, 2026. Epic disabled matchmaking approximately 30 minutes earlier, and its public status record marked maintenance complete at 10:02 UTC. Use 08:00 UTC as the authoritative start when checking any region; local clock labels can shift with daylight saving.
Fortnite v42.40 release time by region
The schedule below converts Epic’s 08:00 UTC maintenance start. The times identify when scheduled downtime began, not a guaranteed moment when every player could log in.
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| Region or time zone | Scheduled local start |
|---|---|
| Pacific Time (PT) | 1:00 a.m. |
| Mountain Time (MT) | 2:00 a.m. |
| Central Time (CT) | 3:00 a.m. |
| Eastern Time (ET) | 4:00 a.m. |
| Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) | 9:00 a.m. |
| Central European Time (CET) | 10:00 a.m. |
| Eastern European Time (EET) | 11:00 a.m. |
| India Standard Time (IST) | 1:30 p.m. |
| Singapore Time (SGT) | 4:00 p.m. |
| Japan Standard Time (JST) | 5:00 p.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) | 6:00 p.m. |
| New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) | 8:00 p.m. |
October daylight-saving rules make some abbreviations in this conversion imperfect. For example, parts of North America may be observing daylight time rather than standard time, and Australia and New Zealand may use seasonal daylight names. If your device shows a different abbreviation, convert the instant from 08:00 UTC on October 15 rather than changing the underlying time.
When did Fortnite matchmaking stop?
Epic’s public status notice said: “Scheduled downtime for v42.40 begins at 4 AM ET (8 AM UTC). Matchmaking will be disabled 30 minutes prior.” That means matchmaking was scheduled to stop at about 07:30 UTC (3:30 a.m. ET). Players already in a match could be affected as the service transition began, so starting a long game immediately before that window was risky.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Is Fortnite v42.40 live and when was maintenance finished?
Epic recorded the v42.40 maintenance incident as completed at 10:02 UTC on October 15, 2026. That is the official completion state, but it is not a universal promise that every platform finished downloading, installing, or accepting logins at exactly that minute. Console certification, patch size, regional delivery, queueing, and an individual connection can delay access after the service is declared operational.
What to do if the update is not visible
- Close Fortnite completely instead of leaving it suspended in the background.
- Check your platform’s update screen and start the v42.40 download manually if it is queued.
- Allow the installation to finish, then restart the game and sign in again.
- If matchmaking remains unavailable, check Epic’s public status information for a new incident rather than repeatedly reinstalling the game.
What Fortnite v42.40 changed
Epic’s October 15 release notes describe several creator and discovery changes alongside the update’s gameplay work.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Abilities leave Experimental status
Fortnite abilities and template abilities are no longer labelled Experimental. That status change signals that Epic has moved those systems out of their experimental phase; it does not mean every island or experience uses them in the same way.
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
UEFN source assets through Fab
Epic also announced licensing for UEFN source assets through Fab, giving eligible creators a way to use those assets under the applicable licensing terms. The availability and permitted use of an individual asset still depend on its listing and license.
Phased Discover redesign
The Discover experience began a phased rollout with a redesigned presentation. Because the rollout is phased, two players or islands may not see identical Discover layouts at the same time.
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Island publishing requirement starting October 22
Epic says that, beginning October 22, 2026, island publishing or updating will require three image types: a portrait thumbnail, a landscape thumbnail, and a logo. Creators planning an update after that date should prepare all three before submitting the island; the requirement applies to publishing or updating, not merely opening an existing project.
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“Release time” can mean two different events. The first is the service event—08:00 UTC, when scheduled downtime started. The second is the player’s client-ready moment, after Epic restores services and the platform downloads and installs the patch. Epic’s 10:02 UTC completion record establishes when maintenance was marked complete, but it does not guarantee one identical login time for PC, console, cloud, or every region.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
For the most reliable check, anchor your calculation to 08:00 UTC on October 15, note the roughly 07:30 UTC matchmaking cutoff, and treat 10:02 UTC as the recorded maintenance completion. If your local clock differs, daylight-saving rules or a device time-zone setting are more likely explanations than a different Fortnite schedule.
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