
I’ve been tracking Fortnite updates religiously since Chapter 6 Season 4 dropped, and I know how frustrating it can be to miss out on new content because you didn’t know when the servers would go down. After spending countless hours analyzing Epic Games’ update patterns and diving deep into the latest leaks, I’m here to give you the complete breakdown of when the next Fortnite update arrives and exactly what bug-themed, Halloween-infused content you can expect.
Let me cut straight to the chase: the next major Fortnite update (v38.00) is scheduled for November 1, 2025. But before we get to that, there’s a whole lot happening in the current season that you absolutely need to know about.
Update Version | Release Date | Major Content |
---|---|---|
v37.50 | October 9, 2025 | Fortnitemares 2025 (Part 2) |
v38.00 | November 1, 2025 | The Simpsons Mini-Season |
The next Fortnite update drops on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at approximately 1am PDT / 4am EDT / 8am GMT. This isn’t just any regular update though – this is going to be the v38.00 patch that kicks off what leakers are calling the most anticipated mini-season in Fortnite history.
I’ve been following reliable leakers like ShiinaBR and Hypex for years, and they’ve both confirmed that this update will mark the transition from our current bug-infested Chapter 6 Season 4 directly into a Simpsons-themed mini-season. It’s basically going to be like the Star Wars Remix season we got before, but this time we’re heading to Springfield instead of a galaxy far, far away.
Based on Epic’s typical downtime patterns, I’d expect the servers to be offline for about 2-3 hours. They usually disable matchmaking about 30 minutes before the actual update begins, so if you’re mid-game at 12:30am PDT, you’ll have time to finish your match and grab that Victory Royale before everything shuts down.
Right now, we’re deep into Chapter 6 Season 4: Shock ‘N Awesome, which launched on August 7, 2025, and runs until November 1, 2025. That gives us a total of 86 days of bug-themed madness, and honestly, this season has been absolutely wild.
The island is completely infested with bugs – and I’m not talking about glitches (though we’ve had those too). I’m talking about massive Queen Bugs, annoying Swarmers, and Bombers that explode in your face when you least expect it. The whole vibe shifted dramatically from the superhero action we had in Season 3, and I’m not gonna lie, it took me a few days to adjust to fighting giant insects instead of caped crusaders.
What makes this season really stand out is the incredible collaboration content. We’ve had the Halo crossover bring Master Chief back to the island, and the Power Rangers collaboration literally gave us a pilotable Megazord that your entire squad can control. Trust me, stomping around the map in a giant robot while your squad mates operate different weapons is one of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had in Fortnite in years.
The season also introduced the OXR Rank system, completely revamped several POIs (Points of Interest), and scattered 18 different NPCs around the map, each offering unique services and items. If you haven’t explored all the new locations yet, you’re seriously missing out.
I’ve compiled the complete update schedule for this season based on confirmed dates and reliable leaks. Here’s everything that’s dropped so far and what’s still coming:
One thing I’ve noticed is that Epic has been pushing out updates way more frequently this season compared to previous ones. We’ve literally had weeks with back-to-back updates, which is both exciting and exhausting if you’re trying to keep up with all the new content.
The v37.50 update dropped on October 9, 2025, and it brought the second wave of Fortnitemares 2025 content to Battle Royale. This was the update that truly transformed the island into a Halloween nightmare, and I mean that in the best possible way.
Here’s what landed in that patch:
Horror Icon Collaborations: The Item Shop got flooded with legendary horror characters. We’re talking Scooby-Doo and the entire Mystery Gang, Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th, Ghostface from Scream, and even Art the Clown from Terrifier. As someone who grew up watching these horror classics, seeing them battle it out on the Fortnite island is surreal.
Returning Weapons: Epic brought back some fan-favorite spooky weapons, including the Chainsaw (which is just as brutal as you remember) and other Halloween-themed items. The Chainsaw in particular has become my go-to close-range weapon when I want to really intimidate opponents.
Map Transformations: Several POIs received Halloween makeovers with fog effects, jack-o’-lanterns, spooky decorations, and this eerie purple lighting that makes everything feel properly haunted. The atmosphere during nighttime matches is genuinely creepy now.
K-Pop Demon Hunters Horde Rush: This refreshed version of Horde Rush combines the K-Pop Demon Hunters theme with classic zombie survival gameplay. I’ve spent way too many hours grinding this mode with my squad.
Based on extensive leaks from the datamining community and Epic’s historical patterns, here’s what I expect to see when the v38.00 update goes live:
The biggest addition is obviously The Simpsons collaboration. Multiple reliable sources have confirmed that this will be a mini-season similar to the Star Wars Remix event we got in Chapter 6. Here’s what the leaks suggest:
Springfield Map: According to prominent leaker Hypex, we’re getting a completely new map that’s roughly the size of the Reload mode map. It’ll feature iconic locations from The Simpsons universe – think the Kwik-E-Mart, Moe’s Tavern, Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and the Simpson family home.
Simpsons Characters as Skins: Expect Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and probably Maggie to arrive as playable skins. There might also be other fan-favorite characters like Mr. Burns, Krusty the Clown, and Chief Wiggum.
Weekly Content Drops: The mini-season is rumored to run for about one month with weekly content updates, similar to how the Remix season operated.
Themed Weapons and Items: We’ll probably get Simpsons-themed variants of existing weapons plus some unique items that fit the show’s humor and aesthetic.
The Companions feature has been teased, delayed, and datamined so many times that I’m cautiously optimistic it might finally arrive. Here’s what we know:
Companions are basically pets that follow you around the island during matches. According to leaked animations, you’ll be able to:
The leaked companion roster includes:
I’ve seen the petting animations that Loolo leaked, and they look incredibly polished. The fact that Epic added shop asset backgrounds for companions in recent updates suggests they’re very close to being ready for release.
Returning Mechanics: The Mud Sliding mechanic that lets you slide across muddy terrain for stealthy plays might make a comeback. There’s also chatter about the Swinging mechanic returning, which would add more mobility options to the movement meta.
Star Wars Live Event: There’s speculation about a Star Wars-related live event that could happen before or during the transition to the mini-season. This would make sense given that Epic loves to promote their UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) Star Wars content.
Rocket League Crossover: Leaks suggest a potential Rocket League collaboration might be in the works, which would bring vehicular soccer elements to Fortnite somehow.
After tracking updates for multiple seasons, I’ve noticed Epic follows a pretty consistent pattern. Understanding this schedule has helped me plan my gaming sessions and Battle Pass progression way better.
Major Season Launches: These happen every 2-3 months and bring massive content overhauls including new Battle Passes, map changes, gameplay mechanics, and chapter/season transitions. Expect 3-4 hours of downtime for these.
Mid-Season Updates: Epic typically drops 4-6 major updates during each season, spaced about 2-3 weeks apart. These add new weapons, items, limited-time modes, and collaboration content. Downtime usually lasts 1-2 hours.
Hotfixes: Between major updates, Epic releases smaller hotfixes that don’t require downtime. These fix bugs, adjust weapon balance, and add files to the game’s backend.
Content Updates: Sometimes Epic adds new content through Content Updates that don’t require any downtime at all. They just flip a switch on their end and new items appear in-game.
The current Chapter 6 Season 4 has been unusual because Epic has been dropping updates almost weekly at times. This aggressive schedule keeps the game feeling fresh but also makes it harder to complete everything before the next update arrives.
Chapter 6 Season 4: Shock ‘N Awesome officially ends on November 1, 2025. That’s the same day the v38.00 update and Simpsons mini-season begin.
If you’re like me and you’re still grinding to complete your Battle Pass, you’ve got roughly two weeks left (as of this writing) to unlock all the bug-themed rewards. Here’s what you should prioritize:
Battle Pass Completion: Make sure you’ve unlocked all 100+ tiers of rewards, including the secret Megazord skin that requires completing specific quests. I spent way too long figuring out all the OXR Bunker locations for those challenges.
Limited-Time Rewards: Any Fortnitemares 2025 challenges and rewards will likely disappear when the season ends. Grab those horror-themed cosmetics while you still can.
Collaboration Items: The Halo and Power Rangers collaboration items might not return to the Item Shop for months (or ever), so make sure you’ve purchased everything you want.
NPC Quest Lines: Some of the 18 NPCs scattered around the map have multi-part quest lines that tell interesting stories about the bug invasion. If you care about the lore, finish these before they’re gone.
I’ve been playing Fortnite since Chapter 1, and I’ve learned some hard lessons about update days. Here are my best tips for making the transition smooth:
Complete Your Daily Quests Early: The day before an update, make sure you’ve finished all your daily and weekly challenges. Nothing feels worse than being 10 V-Bucks short of a skin because you couldn’t log in during downtime.
Save Your V-Bucks: If you’re planning to buy the Battle Pass for the Simpsons mini-season, you’ll need at least 1,000 V-Bucks ready to go. I always keep a buffer of 2,000 V-Bucks just in case Epic drops a surprise collaboration skin.
Expect Extended Downtime: Major season transitions like the upcoming November 1 update typically take 2-4 hours. Epic has gotten better about keeping downtimes short, but I always plan for at least 3 hours to be safe. Use this time to catch up on sleep, touch grass, or watch some Fortnite streams to see what others are discovering.
Follow Official Channels: Epic’s social media (especially the Fortnite Twitter account) posts real-time updates during downtime. They’ll announce when servers are back online and if there are any unexpected delays.
Be Patient with Login Issues: The first 30 minutes after servers come back online are always chaotic. Everyone tries to log in simultaneously, which can cause lag, login queues, and occasional crashes. I usually wait about an hour after servers return before jumping in, which gives Epic time to stabilize everything.
Check Patch Notes: Epic publishes detailed patch notes that explain all the changes, adjustments, and new content. I always read these carefully because they often contain important information about weapon adjustments and gameplay changes that affect my strategies.
This is a question I see all the time in my Discord server, and my answer is always the same: absolutely keep playing.
Here’s why I recommend grinding right up until the November 1 update:
Battle Pass Rewards: If you haven’t completed your Battle Pass yet, you’re running out of time. All those bug-themed skins, back blings, pickaxes, and emotes will be locked away forever once the season ends. I’d hate for you to miss out on rewards you paid for.
Fortnitemares Content: The Halloween event is in full swing with exclusive challenges that award special cosmetics. These Fortnitemares rewards are typically annual, meaning if you miss them now, you’ll have to wait an entire year for another chance.
Practice Before the New Meta: Every major update shakes up the weapon meta and gameplay mechanics. Getting practice with the current loadout helps you adapt faster when everything changes. Plus, your muscle memory and game sense transfer to the new season.
V-Bucks Opportunities: The current Battle Pass includes V-Bucks as rewards. If you’re close to unlocking those tiers, the free currency could help you buy next season’s Battle Pass without spending real money.
Limited-Time Modes: Fortnitemares brings special LTMs (Limited-Time Modes) like the K-Pop Demon Hunters Horde Rush that might not return. I always try to experience these unique modes before they’re rotated out.
Epic Games has a pretty established pattern for how they communicate about upcoming updates, and understanding this helps set realistic expectations.
Two-Week Warning: For major season transitions, Epic usually starts teasing content about two weeks before launch. Expect cryptic social media posts, in-game hints, and official blog posts starting around mid-October.
Official Teasers: Epic loves to build hype with cinematic teasers and trailers. The Simpsons mini-season will almost certainly get a flashy announcement video featuring the iconic characters.
Patch Notes Timing: Full patch notes typically drop right as servers go down for maintenance, not before. Epic keeps most specific details under wraps until the last moment to maximize surprise and discovery.
Creator Content: Epic provides early access to content creators and streamers who showcase new features during the first hours after an update. Following your favorite Fortnite creators is a great way to see new content while servers might still be unstable.
Transparency About Delays: If something goes wrong during the update process, Epic is usually pretty good about communicating delays and issues through their official channels. They’ve gotten much better about this in recent years.
Looking past the November 1 update, I’ve got some educated guesses about what’s coming later in Fortnite’s future:
Chapter 6 Season 5: After the Simpsons mini-season wraps up (probably in early December), we’ll transition into a proper Chapter 6 Season 5. Based on historical patterns, this will likely run through February or March 2026.
Holiday Content: Expect a Winterfest event in December with snow covering portions of the map, holiday-themed skins, and free gifts from Epic. They do this every year, and it’s always one of the most generous events.
More Collaborations: Fortnite has become the ultimate crossover platform. After Simpsons, I wouldn’t be surprised to see collaborations with other major franchises. The rumor mill is churning with speculation about potential anime partnerships, more movie tie-ins, and gaming crossovers.
Continued UEFN Expansion: Epic is heavily investing in their Creator Economy through UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite). We’ll see more sophisticated custom game modes and experiences that rival Battle Royale in terms of polish and content.
Competitive Scene Evolution: The competitive Fortnite scene continues to grow, so expect announcements about major tournaments, prize pools, and ranked mode adjustments in future updates.
Based on my experience tracking dozens of updates, here’s what to expect:
The November 1 update falls into the major category since it’s launching a new mini-season, so I’d plan for at least 3 hours of downtime.
Nope, sorry. When Epic takes the servers down for an update, you can’t access any game mode – not Battle Royale, not Creative, not Save the World, nothing. The entire platform goes offline during maintenance.
However, you can use this downtime to update your game client. Most platforms (PC, console, mobile) will automatically download and install the update while servers are down, so you’re ready to jump in immediately when everything comes back online.
Absolutely not. Your account progress, skins, V-Bucks, Battle Pass progress, and everything else is stored on Epic’s servers. Updates won’t affect your saved data at all.
The only things that reset are seasonal content like Battle Pass challenges and limited-time event progress. But your overall account level, stats, and purchased items are permanent.
Epic’s frequent update schedule serves multiple purposes:
Player Retention: Regular content drops keep players engaged and give them reasons to log in frequently. The “fear of missing out” on new content is a powerful motivator.
Meta Balance: Frequent updates let Epic adjust weapon balance and gameplay mechanics based on player feedback and competitive data. This keeps the game from feeling stale or dominated by a single strategy.
Revenue Generation: New skins, collaborations, and Battle Passes drive purchases. Epic makes billions from Fortnite, so maintaining momentum with regular content is essential to their business model.
Cultural Relevance: Fortnite stays relevant by constantly evolving and collaborating with trending franchises. Those movie tie-ins and celebrity collaborations need to happen quickly while they’re still culturally relevant.
Yes! Every skin, emote, pickaxe, and cosmetic item you own works across all seasons and game modes (with very rare exceptions for special promotional items). Your entire locker transfers forward, and you can use your favorite Chapter 1 skins in Chapter 6 without any issues.
The only thing that changes seasonally is Battle Pass progress and seasonal challenges. But your purchased items and earned rewards are yours forever.
Here’s my personal pre-update checklist:
After diving deep into all the leaks, analyzing Epic’s patterns, and tracking the community speculation, here’s what I’m confident about:
The next major Fortnite update arrives on November 1, 2025, bringing a Simpsons-themed mini-season that’s going to be completely different from the current bug invasion season. We’re talking new map, new mechanics, beloved characters, and probably a ton of humor that captures the essence of The Simpsons.
The Companions system might finally arrive after months of delays, giving us pets that follow us around the island. And if Epic stays true to form, they’ll surprise us with additional content that wasn’t leaked or expected.
With about two weeks left in the current season (as of this writing), now’s the time to grind out those Battle Pass tiers, grab those Fortnitemares rewards, and prepare for what’s shaping up to be one of the most unique Fortnite experiences we’ve had in years.
I’ll be updating this guide as new information emerges and Epic makes official announcements. Bookmark this page and check back regularly for the latest intel on Fortnite’s update schedule and content roadmap.
Now get out there and finish those challenges before time runs out. I’ll see you on the island – whether we’re fighting bugs today or causing mayhem in Springfield next month.