- The Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 update will release on March 19, 2026, at 2 AM ET.
- The update will bring a new Battle Pass, major map changes, and an entirely refreshed loot pool.
- The Chapter 7 Season 2 will also add a new movement mechanic, currently only known as Skyzips.
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 is less than 48 hours away, and the community is teeming with excitement about the brand new season. After Epic Games revealed that the season will feature the return of beloved storyline characters like The Foundation and Ice King, players have been waiting to see what this rivalry-themed season will do to switch up the gameplay loop.
If you are wondering about everything being added with the next Fortnite update for Chapter 7 Season 2, we have compiled detailed patch notes telling you what to expect.
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 Update 40.00 Downtime Details
The Fortnite Update 40.00 will go live after an extended scheduled downtime of 8-10 hours on March 19, 2026, at 2 AM ET.
That said, you can expect the downtime to begin at around 6 PM ET right after the Fortnite live event ends.
The Fortnite servers will be taken down for maintenance, with matchmaking services and all playlists being disabled during the downtime. Since this is a seasonal update, it is likely that Epic Games will extend downtime to implement the changes properly on the day of the update.
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 Full Early Patch Notes
Since the 40.00 update will usher in a brand new season with Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2, the patch will greatly impact the Golden Coast island while also removing a lot of content that is exclusive to Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1.
Showdown Battle Pass
Much like any other new Fortnite season release, one of the most exciting aspects is the Battle Pass, bringing a wave of brand new cosmetics for players to grind for. The Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 Battle Pass, titled the Showdown Pass, features new designs for some of the fan-favourite characters in Fortnite’s library. Here are all the skins featured in the Chapter 7 Season 2 Showdown Pass:
- The Foundation Remixed
- The Ice King Remixed
- The Order Remixed
- Jules Remixed
- New Fishstick skin (Cthulu)
- Bugs Bunny
- Cat-themed Skin
- Frost Queen Skin
The Foundation vs Ice King Rivalry
The main theme of Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 is the Foundation and the Ice King going head-to-head with each other, with their allies by their side. These two characters have been incredibly important to the Fortnite storyline in the past, and with the Dark Voyager seemingly manipulating the conflict, it will be interesting to see how this rivalry impacts the gameplay.
So far, we only know of a Rivals screen in the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 lobby, which will function like the ‘Choose a Side’ screen from Chapter 2 Season 2 and have players side with either the Foundation or the Ice King. This could lead to unique, exclusive rewards for players, depending on the side they pick.
Map Changes
The release of a brand new season brings a ton of new map changes, and Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 is no different. For starters, players will be able to land at Frigid Fortress, the Ice King’s castle, which seems like a grander version of the Polar Peak POI from the Chapter 1 map. Apart from Frigid Fortress, players will also see at least 2 new POIs.
While one of these will be an Atlantis-inspired POI that we first saw in the Chapter 7 Season 2 cinematic trailer, the other POI remains shrouded in mystery.
Revamped Loot Pool & New Weapons
Fortnite design director Ted Timmins had revealed earlier that Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 will feature major gameplay changes, including a completely refreshed loot pool. This means that most weapons that are currently in Chapter 7 Season 1 are likely to be vaulted with the release of Season 2. This would make way for new weapons like the brand-new Scoped AR seen in the Fortnite Google Play Store announcement gameplay video, along with other weapons that reflect the season’s theme.
Additionally, the revealed key art for Chapter 7 Season 2 also features Jules, in her new remixed look, wielding what looks like a new revolver, which will likely be a part of the new season’s loot pool at launch.
The Seven Weapons: Foundation’s Rift Rifle and Seven Cluster Cannon
With the Foundation and the Seven returning to the Fortnite storyline with Chapter 7 Season 2, Epic is going all out with the weapons themed around the faction. The Fortnite Seven Cluster Cannon, which was made available for a short while during a recent Power Hour, will be the first Seven-themed weapon in Chapter 7 Season 2. The Cannon features a charge mechanic and shoots out an explosive projectile, which then deploys six other smaller projectiles around it, making it a great area denial option.
Another weapon is the Foundation’s Rift Rifle, which was first seen in a cinematic during the Chapter 2 finale Fortnite live event. The weapon, as its name suggests, features Rift mechanics, as seen in its debut cinematic. As of now, it is not clear whether the Rifle will function as it did in the cinematic or if Epic Games will tweak the weapon around to make it more balanced for the loot pool. Additionally, the Foundation’s Rift Rifle will likely be added to the game mid-season, and not at launch.
Looney Tunes Collab
The Bugs Bunny skin in the Chapter 7 Season 2 Battle Pass will not be the only addition players can expect to see from the beloved cartoon in the Fortnite Looney Tunes crossover. According to the official teaser posted by the Looney Tunes social media, players will be able to get their hands on Daffy Duck and Lola Bunny in the Fortnite Item Shop shortly after Chapter 7 Season 2 releases. Furthermore, there is speculation that other characters from the Looney Tunes franchise will also make their way to the game down the line.
New Movement Mechanic: Skyzips
In his traditional one-word teaser for Chapter 7 Season 2, Fortnite chief and Epic Games co-founder Mark Rein hinted at something called “Skyzips.” While this could mean many things, the most probable outcome is a new movement mechanic. This will likely be an aerial zipline network connecting different parts of the map, allowing players to traverse the Golden Coast island quickly, much like the Splitstreams from Chapter 1 Season 9.
New Currency
The release of Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 will also introduce a brand new collectible currency for players, which will likely function like Gold. It is currently unknown what this new currency will be used for, but it is likely to tie into the rivalry theme of the season in some form.
New Global Leaderboard
According to the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 patch notes, the rivalry theme of the new season is expanding past the game itself, as Epic Games will be introducing a new global ranking system where players can pick a side and compete for ranks on a leaderboard. Players can choose to play for one of two teams and compete for prizes like GPUs and consoles, along with exclusive in-game rewards.
That’s everything new being added with the 40.00 update for Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2. What do you expect to see from the new Showdown season? Tell us in the comments below!
