Fortnite DOWN – Server status latest as Battle Royale offline ahead of map update patch

Fortnite will be going down today as Battle Royale servers are taken offline ahead of the release date and start time for the map update on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Epic Games will take Fortnite servers offline today ahead of the highly anticipated launch of patch V.2.2.0.

The free download brings the Fortnite Battle Royale map update and will also disable friendly fire – so be careful where you aim!

Fortnite servers will be go down at 12pm GMT and 7am ET ahead of the rollout of patch V.2.2.0 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Epic Games has not revealed how long Battle Royale will be down for – but in the past maintenance periods for these big updates are usually finished by late afternoon in the UK.

The Fortnite team revealed the Battle Royale server downtime on Twitter yesterday.

They tweeted: “Downtime for V.2.2.0 will begin at approximately 7:00am ET (12:00 GMT) on Jan 18. 

“Servers will be unavailable while updating.”

The Fortnite map update will bring eight new locations to Battle Royale and also update existing ones, adding more details to these areas.

One new area being added is the ‘Tilted Towers’ city location – which is a type of location that fans have been calling for.

A new trailer for the Fortnite map update that was revealed yesterday also showed patch V.2.2.0 will bring a new football mini-game to the hit PS4, Xbox One and PC Battle Royale title.

The teaser clip showed two Fortnite characters having a kick-about, with a goal scored causing an explosion in the nets – similar to the effect that goals scored in Rocket League sparks.

How this will be incorporated in Fortnite remains to be seen, but surely Epic Games will be hoping it takes off like Overwatch’s popular Lucio Ball.

The North Carolina-based developers revealed the release date for the Fortnite map update and more details about the upcoming Battle Royale patch in a new blog post.

Speaking about Fortnite patch V.2.2.0, they said: “This patch includes the long awaited Battle Royale map update, along with a number of significant improvements to the Scoped AR, voice chat, and much more.”

And discussing the Fortnite map update for Battle Royale, they added: “Discover a new city, underground mine and a number of other brand new locations scattered across the Western side of the map. 

“Biomes are also premiering in this patch, enriching the environment and personalizing each area. 

“Where are you going to drop?”

The Fortnite team recently spoke to Express.co.uk about the Battle Royale map update, saying it will give players “more places to land, explore, and fight in.”

David Spalinski, Lead Level Designer for Fortnite, told us: “When we launched the Fortnite Battle Royale mode in September, we knew we had a solid foundation for the map, but there were things we knew we could do to improve the experience, as well as things we’ve learned from playing with and listening to the community. 

“The map update that’s coming addresses a lot of that stuff. 

“One thing we’ve done is added more points of interest to the map. 

“This should give players more places to land, explore, and fight in. 

“One example is ‘Tilted Towers’, which is a city area, something players have been asking for. 

“This space features multiple tall buildings, that offer some fun verticality to encounters. 

“Another example is ‘Shifty Shafts’, which is an underground space that’s a bit more claustrophobic.”

Here are the patch notes for how Fortnite V.2.2.0 will change the game’s world:

• The map has been updated with many new points of interest, biomes, and more!

• Players now interact with grass and foliage as they walk through it.

• Added water effects when entering and exiting water.

• Added a new post-process effect for when your camera goes below the water surface.

• It will now look like you are actually underwater, and you can no longer see for an infinite distance.

• Added Ammo Boxes to Dusty Depot.

• Increased the amount of metal harvested from shipping containers.