The popular game went offline for scheduled maintenance as Epic Games rolls out new South Park characters and five-player squad mode
Fortnite players found themselves unable to access their favorite battle royale game as Epic Games took servers offline for a scheduled maintenance period. The downtime, which began at 9 a.m. UTC, is making way for the highly anticipated v39.20 update that brings an exciting collaboration with the irreverent animated series South Park.
What to expect during the server downtime
The official maintenance window is scheduled to run until 11 a.m. UTC, though players familiar with previous Fortnite updates know that server downtime typically extends three to four hours. Epic Games has not provided a confirmed end time, but based on historical patterns, servers could return online between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. ET, which translates to approximately 6:30 p.m. IST for players in India.
During this maintenance period, players cannot access any matchmaking services or gameplay features. The downtime affects all game modes, and users will be completely unable to log in to Fortnite’s online services until Epic Games completes the update installation and necessary post-maintenance checks.
South Park takes over Fortnite’s island
The v39.20 update represents one of the most ambitious collaborations in Fortnite’s recent history. Players can look forward to new character skins featuring beloved South Park personalities, including 1) Cartman, 2) Stan, 3) Kyle, 4) Kenny, and 5) Butters. Each character will sport special robot-style suits that blend the crude animation aesthetic of South Park with Fortnite’s signature style.
The collaboration extends beyond character skins to include significant map changes. A new location called Cartmanland will be added to the island, complete with hidden surprises that South Park fans will appreciate. Players will also encounter the mythical Stick of Truth item during matches, which can be found and used strategically during gameplay.
Introducing the five-player Quints mode
Perhaps the most significant gameplay change arrives with the new five-player squad mode called Quints. This feature allows teams of five players to compete together, marking a departure from Fortnite’s traditional squad sizes. Many fans anticipated this mode would launch with Chapter 7, but Epic Games strategically decided to introduce it alongside the South Park collaboration instead.
The mechanics of how Quints will function across different game modes remains unclear. Epic Games has not specified whether the five-player format will be available in Battle Royale, Zero Build and Fortnite OG modes, or if it will be limited to specific playlists. The developer may be testing player reception before deciding whether to make the larger team size a permanent fixture.
This limited-time mode will remain active for less than three weeks, staying in the game until February 5. Players interested in experiencing the chaos of five-person squads should take advantage of this window before the feature potentially disappears.
The Born in Chaos pass and character availability
In a surprising move that breaks from recent trends, Epic Games is offering the Born in Chaos pass completely free to all players. This marks a departure from previous mini passes that required purchase, making the South Park event more accessible to the entire player base.
However, the actual South Park character skins won’t be included in the free pass. Players who want to embody Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Kenny or Butters will need to purchase these cosmetics separately from the in-game shop. The event also features Towelie as an available sidekick character.
A trailer that captures South Park’s signature humor
The official announcement trailer embraces South Park’s distinctive animation style and irreverent humor. The clip shows the four main characters leaving Butters alone in a game lobby because he performs poorly at Fortnite. Wearing his Professor Chaos costume, Butters uses the Stick of Truth to transform the South Park school bus into a Battle Bus, bringing everyone into the Fortnite universe. This narrative device introduces the new Quints feature as the group finally adds Butters as their fifth squad member.
What’s being removed from the game
While the update adds exciting new content, it also removes existing features. The remaining Winterfest content will be eliminated from the game, making way for the South Park collaboration. Players who haven’t completed Winterfest challenges or claimed available rewards should act quickly once servers return online.
When players can jump back in
Once maintenance concludes and servers come back online, all v39.20 content will be immediately available across all platforms. Epic Games typically announces server restoration through official Fortnite social media channels, allowing players to know exactly when they can log back in and experience the new content.
