If you were hoping to play Fortnite today, then you may be in for a disappointment – as the game’s servers are currently down.
Yup, it’s been impossible to play the game today – and it’s unclear when we may have the chance to again.
So what’s going on? Has it fallen victim to a technical hitch, or is it just possible that all those far-fetched ‘is Fortnite shutting down?’ rumours are actually true?
Here’s what you need to know…
Why is Fortnite down?
While it might seem like a calamity there’s actually a very good reason why the Fortnite servers are down at present – because the Chapter 2 Season 2 update is about to be released.
It was confirmed last month that the long-awaited update would be released on 20 February, so it’s entirely understandable that the game is offline at the moment, as Epic Games need time to load up the new update.
Chapter 2’s debut season has already run much longer than previous ones, with fans becoming impatient as they wait to see what’s next for Fortnite.
Epic Games explained the reason for the delay in a post on their website last month – revealing that as of the v11.50 update, Fortnite will be moving over to use Unreal Engine’s Chaos physics engine.
‘At launch, the goal is to ensure that Fortnite still feels like Fortnite,’ the post reads.
‘Along the way there will be some bumps, so we’re starting tests with a small group of players. We’ll also closely monitor feedback and make improvements over time.’
When will Fortnite be back online?
It’s not yet clear when the servers will be back online – the exact time of release for the update has yet to be confirmed.
Usually it doesn’t take more than 12 hours for the game to be back up and running for a new season, but the implementation of the new physics engine may mean there’s a longer wait than usual.
As a clue as to what to expect from the new season, Epic has been preparing for the launch with some unusual real-world phone messages.
Players from around the world have also spotted various video adverts – with one in Brazil featuring the Fortnite logo with a gold handprint plastered over it, complete with words blocked out in gold and a phone number you can ring to hear a mysterious message.
Meanwhile, a phone number seen in the US leads to a message about an oil rig – sparking speculation that it could be a new location in the game.
