Updated: May 14, 2026 
The biggest update of Chapter 7 Season 2 is almost here. Fortnite v40.40 update is dropping soon, and it is going to give us the long-awaited Overwatch collaboration, a full Zero Build rework, new Showdown Rivalries milestones, and a whole lot more. If you have been waiting for something to pull you back into the game, this might be the one.
Fortnite v40.40 Update Release Time
Servers go down on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 1 AM PT. Matchmaking will be disabled around 30 minutes before that. So, expect the servers to be back up by around 4 AM PT. Here is the maintenance time in different time zones:
| Time Zone | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| PT (Pacific) | Thursday, May 14 – 1:00 AM |
| ET (Eastern) | Thursday, May 14 – 4:00 AM |
| CEST (Central Europe) | Thursday, May 14 – 11:00 AM |
| IST (India) | Thursday, May 14 – 1:30 PM |
| JST (Japan) | Thursday, May 14 – 5:00 PM |
| AEST (Australia) | Thursday, May 14 – 6:00 PM |
Fortnite v40.40 Update Patch Notes
Overwatch Collab: Skins, Weapons, and More
After months of leaks and rumors, the Fortnite x Overwatch crossover is finally happening with this update. Four skins are confirmed for the collab:
- D.Va
- Genji
- Mercy
- Tracer
On top of the skins, there will be backblings and pickaxes for each of the characters, emotes, glider, wrap, and even a loading screen! Two Overwatch-themed weapons could also be entering the mix. The Pulse Pistols and the Dragonblade Mythic are both expected.
Showdown Rivalries Act 3
Act 2 of the Showdown Rivalries is wrapping up, and Act 3 kicks off with this update. Apparently, the Overwatch characters are now joining the Foundation Team. Both Team Ice King and Team Foundation get three new milestones to chase, with new weapons, items, and gameplay mechanics tied to Overwatch.
Team Ice King Milestones
| Milestone | Reward | Image |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overwatch Payload Anomaly |  |
| 2 | Overwatch Caches Containing Loot |  |
| 3 | Overwatch Spray |  |
Team Foundation Milestones
| Milestone | Reward | Image |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overwatch Dropship |  |
| 2 | Overwatch Caches Containing Loot | |
| 3 | Overwatch Spray |  |
Both teams share the middle and final milestones, but have different first objectives. Completing your faction's milestones pushes the Rivalries event forward and could play into how the season's epilogue unfolds. There are also rumors that the update could set up The Paradigm being alive
New Map Landmarks and POIs
Act 3 adds several new named landmarks to the island, all pulling from the Overwatch universe:
| New Landmark | Image |
|---|---|
| Hanamura |  |
| Busan Drum Pavilion |  |
| King's Row |  |
| Watchpoints |  |
These are iconic locations from Overwatch, so fans of both games will recognize them immediately. They are worth dropping on just to see what the team has built, and they likely come with unique loot spawns and points of interest tied to the Rivalries storyline.
Zero Build Overhaul
Zero Build has always been about pure gunplay. With Act 3, Epic is running a full-scale experiment on the mode for the rest of Season 2, and they want your feedback to shape where it goes in Season 3.
Pocket Items Replace the Build Button
The biggest change is Pocket Items. The old Build button is gone. In its place is a dedicated utility slot with an unlimited-use item that has a cooldown. You start every match with one already equipped, and you can swap yours out at Vending Machines across the map.
Three Pocket Items are available at launch:
- Shockwave Grenade
- Med Mist Grenade
- Shield Bubble
Starting Loadout
Every player now begins a match with a Pistol, a Small Shield Potion, and their Pocket Item already in hand. You can spend the first moments of a drop hunting for a strong primary rather than scrambling to find anything at all.
Glider Redeploy Is Back
The Glider Redeploy returns, letting you pull your glider from elevated positions for cleaner rotations. On top of that, you can now manually cut your glider during the initial Bus drop and free-fall the last stretch to the ground.
Plus, now there will be no more lethal fall damage. Instead, a dangerous drop leaves you at low HP rather than eliminating you.
Unlimited Stamina With Your Pickaxe
Hold your pickaxe, and your Stamina bar stops draining entirely. You can sprint across the map indefinitely as long as your Pickaxe is out. The moment you switch to a weapon, normal stamina rules kick back in. It is a simple change that keeps the pace of Zero Build matches fast without breaking combat balance.
Eliminations Restore Your Overshield
Getting a kill now recharges your Overshield. The more you fight, the better shape you are in heading into the next engagement. It rewards aggression and keeps high-kill players in strong condition throughout a match.
Other Collabs Coming With v40.40
Here are some other collaborations that might come within v40.40:
- EsDeeKid Icon Series Skin
- The Boys
- LEGO Fortnite Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu
With the Zero Point now complete in the story, Epic is expected to start laying the groundwork for the end-of-season live event with this update. The Dark Voyager has been collecting Zero Point shards across the season, and the final confrontation is approaching. Are you ready to see the final battle for Team Foundation and Team Ice King during the Fortnite v40.40 update?
