- The Fortnite 39.40 update will arrive on February 5, 2026, at 4 AM ET, after a short downtime.
- The update is expected to bring collaborations like the Honkai Star Rail collab and Chappell Roan as the new Fortnite Festival artist.
- The update is also expected to bring The Foundation back into the Fortnite storyline.
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 has been a roller coaster for a lot of players, with the Golden Coast island providing them with a whole new battleground. Now, it seems like love is in the air in Fortnite as Epic Games is now preparing players for the new 39.40 update.
The 39.40 update will not only bring an end to the Fortnite South Park collaboration but also bring in a new wave of crossovers and even the yearly Valentine’s Day event to Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1. Here’s everything we know so far that’s coming with the Fortnite 39.40 update.
Fortnite Update 39.40 Downtime Details
The 39.40 update in Fortnite will go live after a scheduled downtime of 1-2 hours on February 5, 2026, at 4 AM ET. The Fortnite servers will be taken down for maintenance, with matchmaking services and all playlists being disabled during update downtime.
Fortnite Update Early Patch Notes for 39.40
The 39.40 update is set to be much bigger in scale than the previous Fortnite 39.30 update, which mainly aimed at maintenance and cosmetic additions. Here’s everything that players can expect from the Fortnite 39.40 update:
Fortnite Valentine’s Day Event
The star of the 39.40 update is the 2026 Fortnite Valentine’s Day event, with Epic teasing the event with a social media post along with a tagline: “In February, Fortnite wears pink.” The event is expected to bring a new set of themed challenges and cosmetics for players to acquire for free. However, as of now, there are no signs of any free Fortnite skins being attached to the Valentine’s Day event.
Players can also expect to see Cupid’s Crossbow make its return to the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 loot pool. While the weapon mostly lacks any practical use, it has become a staple of the Valentine’s Day event over the years.
Fortnite x Honkai Star Rail Collab
The Trailblazers are making their way to the Fortnite Island with the 39.40 update. Epic released a cryptic teaser featuring two distinct swords belonging to Kafka and Blade, two beloved Honkai Star Rail characters, confirming their arrival in the Fortnite Honkai Star Rail collab. Players can expect to see Kafka wielding her signature purple katana as a pickaxe and a built-in emote inspired by her “Spirit Whisper ability.” Meanwhile, Blade is expected to wield his Fragmented Sword as a pickaxe, with a potential reactive style.
Additionally, there is also the possibility that Kafka and Blade’s swords will be added to Fortnite as Mythic weapons. Epic might end up relegating these new Mythic weapons to the Blitz Royale mode, just like the Fortnite Bleach collaboration.
Marvel Rivals Wave 2
Epic Games is going all out for gaming collabs this year, with leaks from ShiinaBR suggesting that the 39.40 update will bring another wave of the Fortnite Marvel Rivals collaboration. This new wave is set to feature Luna Snow and Magik, with both skins sporting their iconic looks from the beloved hero shooter instead of their comic book outfits. Players can expect to see a possible Jam Track for one of Luna Snow’s songs and Magik’s Soulsword as a back bling, pickaxe, or maybe both.
K-Pop Demon Hunters Wave 2: Jinu and the Saja Boys
It seems like the Fortnite 39.40 update is the patch for returning collaborations. Recent leaks from reliable leakers like HYPEX and a teaser from the Korean Fortnite X account suggest that Epic Games will be revisiting the Fortnite K-Pop Demon Hunters collab, bringing Jinu and the Saja Boys from the hit Netflix movie to Fortnite Island. The leaks also hint at Derpy joining the game’s roster as a Fortnite Sidekick.
But the second wave of this collaboration doesn’t end here, as leaks also suggest that Epic is going to unvault the K-Pop Demon Hunters Mythics soon, adding them to the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 loot pool.
New Fortnite Festival Artist: Chappell Roan
The Fortnite 39.40 update will also bring the Midwest Princess herself, Chappell Roan, to the Fortnite Island. The artist is slated to be the headliner for the next Fortnite Festival season, replacing the current icon, Lisa. Chappell Roan is expected to receive two distinct outfits, with leaks from ShiinaBR hinting at a style inspired by her iconic Medieval Knight Armor look from the 2024 VMAs and a “Pink Pony” inspired look featuring a cowboy hat.
Players can also expect to see a Pink Pony Club Sidekick and Chappell Roan-themed instruments in the Fortnite Festival Season 13 Music Pass.
Weapon Balance Changes
Epic Games released a hotfix to prepare players for the Fortnite 39.40 update, buffing multiple weapons across the board and evening out the loot pool’s balance. Here are all the weapon balance changes for the Fortnite 39.40 update:
Item Buffs Tactical Assault Rifle Increased damage Enforcer AR Increased damage Holo Rush SMG Increased damage per shot, larger magazine, and faster handling time Flex SMG Increased damage, larger magazine, and faster handling time Dual Micro SMGs Increased damage, larger magazine, and faster handling time Tactical Pistol Increased damage, improved range, and faster ADS time. Soveriegn Shotgun Faster fire rate when aiming down sights. Stealth Splash Increased effect time and able to carry a bigger stack. All-Terrain-Kart Increased health
Vaulted & Unvaulted Items
Another update, another round of vaultings and unvaultings in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1. This new update will make a lot of players happy, as Epic has already confirmed that Shockwave Grenades will be unvaulted with the Fortnite 39.40 update, with Crash Pad Jrs. being vaulted yet again. As mentioned before, the K-Pop Demon Hunters Mythics are also expected to return to the game. Here’s a full list of all of the vaulted and unvaulted items:
Vaulted
- Kenny’s Respawn Token
- Cheesy Poofs
- Stick of Truth
- Crash Pad Jrs.
Unvaulted
- Shockwave Grenades
- Self-Revive Item
The Return of the Seven
Fortnite storyline fans have reason to rejoice as multiple leaks from sources like Egyptian Fortnite Leaker have pointed towards the Seven, the most important faction in the Fortnite story, making a comeback with the 39.40 update. This is because an unvault tag for The Foundation’s MK7 Assault Rifle was added to the game, alongside The Foundation himself returning as an NPC. With The Order already in captivity under the Dark Voyager, it seems like each member will slowly be reintroduced to the Fortnite storyline, which is undoubtedly a big win for lore fans.
End of the Fortnite South Park Mini Pass
The Fortnite 39.40 update will also mark the end of the Fortnite South Park Mini Pass titled “Born in Chaos.” This means that cosmetics like the Imaginationland Airship Glider and Terrance and Phillip Pickaxe will no longer be obtainable. Additionally, the Fortnite South Park skins will also leave the Item Shop with this update. As of now, it isn’t clear if Epic Games will remove the Cartmanland POI from the Chapter 7 Season 1 map.
New Weekly Quests
The 39.40 update will also introduce a set of new weekly quests for Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1. You can complete the quests to progress through the Pacific Break Battle Pass more quickly. The new quests are expected to be tied to Jonesy and the ongoing storyline with the Dark Voyager.
That’s everything we know about the Fortnite 39.40 update. Are you excited about the new wave of collaborations and Fortnite’s Valentine’s Day festivities? Let us know in the comments below!
