Is Fortnite Down?
Yes, Fortnite is down right now because Epic Games has put the game into scheduled maintenance for the v39.40 update. Matchmaking was disabled shortly before the downtime began, so players trying to queue into a match will see errors or be unable to connect. @FortniteStatus shared on X that downtime for Fortnite v39.40 begins at 4 AM ET in February, with matchmaking ending shortly beforehand as Love and Legends content arrives.
It is the usual “update day” situation: social feeds full of confused players, some people thinking their internet is broken, others already posting memes about staring at the lobby screen.
The Fortnite Status post clearly flagged that “Love and Legends” are coming in February, which is a big hint that this downtime is tied to a Valentine‑themed content drop, not some surprise outage.
Why Are Fortnite Servers Down?
Fortnite servers are down for scheduled maintenance to roll out the v39.40 update, which includes new Valentine’s event content and other features. Epic usually takes the game offline when pushing major patches so that files, servers and matchmaking all stay in sync.
This time, the update is bringing a Love and Legends event, fresh cosmetics, and festival content, so a bit of downtime is the trade‑off for a chunk of new things to unlock and grind.
Matchmaking was turned off roughly 30 minutes before the official downtime start, which is standard practice to stop matches from getting cut off mid‑game.
Many regular players are used to this routine: one last rushed match, servers go dark, then everyone shifts to scrolling through patch notes and leaks while waiting.
When Are the Fortnite Servers Back Up?
Fortnite servers are expected to be back up roughly 1.5 to 2 hours after downtime starts, with most sources indicating they should return around 5.30 to 6.00 in the morning Eastern Time.
Epic has indicated that v39.40 maintenance beginning at 4.00 in the morning Eastern Time should be a relatively short window, assuming there are no unexpected issues.
Recent updates of similar size have typically kept the game offline for between 90 minutes and 2 hours, though there is always a chance of a longer wait if a bug appears.
A lot of players handle it in a simple way: check the official Fortnite Status account, refresh the Epic Games status page, and only then restart the game instead of endlessly retrying and wondering if it is “just my Wi‑Fi again.”
Once servers are back, the new Valentine‑themed content and other v39.40 additions should be live and ready to explore.
Disclaimer
Fortnite server status, downtime windows, and update details can change at short notice based on developer decisions or technical issues. This information is for general guidance only. Players should always double‑check the latest official Fortnite channels or in‑game notifications for real‑time status and maintenance updates.
