Is Fortnite down? Server downtime extended as players await Chapter 5 Season 2

Fortnite is currently down for players worldwide and will remain offline for another eight hours, developer Epic Games has warned.

The multiplayer game’s servers went offline at 8am UK time this morning ahead of the launch of Chapter 5 Season 2, with matchmaking disabled a few minutes prior.

Players are currently being shown an error message when they try to join that reads: “Servers not responding.” Fortnite is an online-only game that requires an internet connection to play.

Epic normally takes Fortnite offline for three to four hours to safely install a major update, but players are in for a longer wait this time round.

How long is Fortnite downtime?

The game will be down for at least another eight hours due to “an unexpected issue during our maintenance,” the developer announced at 2.14 pm today.

“The team is working through this as quickly as possible, and we’ll provide another update when we have more info,” the official Fortnite Status account tweeted.

Based on the current timeline, the game will have been offline for 14 hours by the time of its scheduled opening at 10pm tonight - an unprecedented amount of time.

Taking the game down allows the developers to stress-test the new version of Fortnite and ensure its servers are ready for the surge of players returning once the changes go live.

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 2 details

The update will usher in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2: Myths and Mortals. The new-look Fortnite will allow players to transform into admittedly hot-looking Greek gods. While battles will take place on an overhauled map featuring iconic locations from Greek mythology, including Mount Olympus, the hellish underworld known as Hades, and an arena of war called the Brawler’s Battleground.

Players will be running around cosplaying as a thunderbolt-wielding Zeus, a fiery Cerberus, and the goddess Artemis, among other deities. Instead of bows and arrows, these gods will pack assault rifles and shotguns. They’ll also be granted the power of temporary flight by the Wings of Icarus, allowing them to soar across the map.

With each new season comes a brand new battle pass that can be purchased to unlock new items. These include the skins that allow you to transform into Greek gods. Later in the season, Epic will debut the Avatar Korra from the Nickelodeon animated show The Legend of Korra, and Ares, the god of war.

The Myths and Mortals Battle Pass costs 950 V-Bucks and will be available until the morning of May 24.