By Jacob Miller | Apr 16, 2026
With Fortnite being a live service, there are often times when players experience being updated with new content. The patch v40.10 was released on April Fool's Day; from that patch to the last patch that will be implemented (v40.20), there will be the release of new features and some major changes to some of the original game modes.The Timing and Dates of Downtimes
Epic Games has regularly updated Fortnite once every 14 days; however, there is usually some form of delay or time changes that could affect these updates from occurring on the predicted date. In the past, Epic Games has included future patches and updates in its release roadmap, allowing players to have prior knowledge of what and when to expect new updates. Most of the time, the players would expect an update for the week of April 16. However, at the time of writing this article, an update date had not been released.
According to Epic Games, the official start of Downtime for patch v40.20 will begin on April 16, 2026, at 4 AM ET, while the game servers are down so that the patch can take place. Typically, downtime tends to occur for a limited time every few hours, but once all tests and patches have been completed, the server(s) will be back up again. If you're playing up until patch time, you will want to remember the following information. Generally speaking, matchmaking is disabled 30 minutes prior to scheduled downtime. Therefore, if you're trying to get in a last-minute match before the patch, you'll be unable to queue any longer after 3:30 ET.
What Are the New Features/Fairings?
As patch v40.20 approaches, there is a lot of anticipation about this patch from the Fortnite Festival fans as they prepare to release the 14th Season of the Festival Series. This Season will contain new music and new features, including the following: Pro Vocals & Pro Drums, to provide players with a better rhythm gameplay experience.
One of the most exciting features of this patch update is that players will be able to use microphones to sing along with songs using real-time vocals, with their musical cues displayed on screen. This karaoke-style experience adds an added level of interaction, allowing players to make use of Fortnite in a completely new way beyond the traditional action-fighting genre.
Along with using microphones to sing, players will also be able to use compatible drum kits (including Rock Band 4 hardware) to play drums along with songs. This will enhance the player experience and appeal to those who love rhythm games with realistic gameplay. The new update includes cosmetic items such as a new skin inspired by Laufey, which will be available for purchase in the in-game shop, and additional music pass purchases.
The new content indicates that Fortnite continues to develop beyond its battle royale roots and now offers a number of other gameplay experiences that appeal to both new and existing players.
Fortnite Save the World Gone Free-to-Play
One of the biggest highlights of update v40.20 is that Save the World has now been converted from a paid to a free-to-play model. This mode was originally the core Fortnite game mode and included cooperative gameplay, as well as a tower defense mechanic. Previously, the only way to access this mode was to purchase the Founder's Pack or the Save the World Quest Pack.
Starting on April 16, anyone will be eligible to play Save the World at no cost. This is a major change that opens the mode to a wider audience than ever before and enables them to play a different type of Fortnite than they have previously played. The only downside to this change is that players who do not pay for the mode will not be eligible to earn V-Bucks through gameplay; only those who originally paid for it will earn V-Bucks via gameplay.
As Save the World continued to receive fewer and fewer updates and became less popular than the massively popular battle royale mode, many players began viewing the Save the World mode as "not as valuable." Many players use Save the World mostly to earn V-Bucks.
However, the Save the World mode is still an entirely different gameplay style than other Fortnite modes. More players are now likely to try out the Save the World mode after its free-to-play conversion. This is especially true for players who enjoy strategy and tower defense gameplay styles. Based on how the community will respond to this update, it could determine how many players return to play the mode after it is available for free.
What Happens Next?
These updates, such as v40.20 and others (like the addition of music-based gameplay and the continued work to make previously available modes more accessible), show that Epic Games is committed to expanding the Fortnite experience in multiple ways. This is evident both through the creation of new music-based modes and through the ongoing efforts to keep the overall experience of Epic's games (such as Fortnite) fresh and fun for all types of players (new and returning).
The April 16 downtime is the beginning of the new era of Fortnite. Once the servers are back online, players will be able to experience all the new features included in the update (Festival Season 14, new gameplay features, and free Save the World access). The new Fortnite patch has the potential to become one of the defining moments in the development of Fortnite.
The bottom line for players: if you want to play Fortnite, be ready for the 4:00 AM (ET) post-downtime and expect several hours of downtime before continuing your Fortnite experience.
