Fortnite servers status: Epic Games hints at LENGTHY downtime in latest update

Fortnite servers are offline ahead of the rollout of the season 5 week 2 challenges and possibly also a new update today.

Fortnite servers have been taken offline for maintenance by Epic Games as the Battle Royale makers get ready to rollout the new challenges.

It’s also possible that Fortnite fans will get to download a brand new update today, with it rumoured that the new gifting system could be launched.

Yesterday the official Fortnite Twitter account revealed that Fortnite server downtime was scheduled ahead of the challenges rollout.

They tweeted: “Scheduled maintenance is planned for tomorrow, July 19. Downtime will begin at 4 AM ET (0800 GMT).”

And today the Fortnite Twitter has confirmed the Fortnite server downtime has begun – with no ETA for when it will return.

They tweeted: “The downtime for scheduled server maintenance has begun. Watch http://status.epicgames.com for updates.”

However, before servers went offline today in Fortnite Epic Games may have hinted that Battle Royale fans are set for a lengthy delay.

In the Fortnite Battle Pass screen it gave a countdown for how long until the season 5 week 2 challenges will go live.

And just before Fortnite went down at 9am UK time, it said that challenges would become active in six hours time.

During Fortnite season 4 when challenges were refreshed they typically were not accompanied by any server downtime.

And like clockwork every Thursday the Fortnite challenges would go live at 9am UK time during season 4.

It was thought that this would be the case during Fortnite season 5 also.

So, the countdown that was running in the Fortnite Battle Pass either shows that the time Fortnite challenges is going live in season 5 has been changed.

Or alternatively, it could show that Fortnite fans are set for lengthy server downtime today.

It’s not uncommon for Fortnite servers to go down for a long time.

Earlier this year in January Fortnite went down for around 18 hours after a database issue occurred.

While in April Fortnite servers went offline for a whole day around the world across all platforms as Battle Royale experienced a total blackout.

Epic Games usually lets Fortnite fans know why servers are going down – with it invariably being taken offline ahead of a big update.

However, this time round they have not explained the reason for the Fortnite server downtime.

It could be possible that Epic Games have a big update planned which they want to keep a secret so they can truly surprise Fortnite fans.

One theory is that Fortnite will be getting the long-awaited gifting feature today.

Earlier today the Fortnite Battle Royale Leaks Twitter account posted: “* INFO * Here’s just a photo via. Fortnite’s Store API.

“This is some proof to backup that outfits can be purchased from the item shop and gifted to other players.

“Yes, It says enabled but it is not available to players as of yet.

“(Similar to Xbox/Steam gifting)”.

The gifting feature will let Fortnite players exchange skins with one another.

Alternatively, Fortnite servers could be going down to fix some of the issues that have affected players since the launch of Fortnite season 5.

Last week the Fortnite Battle Royale Leaks Twitter posted: “Unless Fortnite has an “emergency” patch for the bugs that got released within v5.0 there will most definitely be downtime for next weeks Content Update and most likely they’ll slip in some new files.”

Alternatively, Fortnite servers could be going down ahead of a new limited time mode (LTM) being launched.

The FBR Leaks Twitter recently posted: “* INFO * Now, this isnt a meme. But there is some Event (Battle Royale) coming soon and its called the “Day of Hoe event.” These files are under Giftboxes, so you’ll be rewarded something.

“Nothing on what that gift is as of yet.”

One other LTM that could be launched is the mysterious Leviathan mode that was said to be penciled in for a release at the end of Fortnite season 4.

Reliable Fortnite leakers TwoEpicBuddies previously said the Leviathan LTM would come at the end of Fortnite season 4.

As we know, this didn’t happen in the end – but that’s because it may have been delayed till the start of Fortnite season 5.

The Leviathan LTM is said to feature two teams of 50 players – one that will escort the huge, Godzilla-like creature and the other team will attack it.