Fortnite fans, brace yourselves: the countdown is on as downtime looms before the thrilling launch of Chapter 5 Season 2, Myths & Mortals. Originally set for March 8, 2024, the season’s start was delayed by emergency maintenance, pushing the servers offline for at least 11 hours. Players can expect the new season to go live around 7 PM PST (10 PM EST), promising fresh Greek mythology-themed adventures and new content to explore across all platforms.
In this Fortnite guide, we’ll break down the planned release times for Chapter 5 Season 2 (based on your timezone) and explain when Fortnite downtime is supposed to end. You’ll also get a summary of what to expect from the new Fortnite season.
What time does Fortnite downtime end and Chapter 5 Season 2 start?
Fortnite downtime for Chapter 5 Season 2 began around 3:00 AM EST, with servers typically offline for several hours to allow Epic Games to implement new content and updates. For this season, downtime lasted approximately 18 hours, with the servers coming back online at about 10:00 PM EST, marking the official start of Chapter 5 Season 2. This downtime period is essential for the smooth rollout of new features, map changes, and gameplay mechanics that define the new season.
Update 2 (March 8, 2024): Following the initial delay of Chapter 5 Season 2, Epic Twitter that downtime would last until approximately 9 p.m. EST, at which point “[p]layers will be able to pre-download an updated version of v29.00 in approximately 5 hours.”
Update (March 8, 2024): Epic has announced that the downtime before Chapter 5 Season 2 is going to be a bit longer than expected. “We’re still working through some updates during downtime and will provide more information once our v29.00 downtime has ended.” According to a subsequent announcement, it looks like the servers will be down until around 5 p.m. EST.
Original story follows.
With a launch date of Friday, March 8 announced, we can make some educated guesses about launch times based on history. Server downtime usually starts around 2 or 3 a.m. EST and typically last about four hours (give or take). That means we can reasonably expect Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2 to go live around:
- 1 a.m. – 4 a.m. PST for the west coast of North America
- 4 a.m. – 7 a.m. EST for the east coast of North America
- 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. GMT for the U.K.
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CET for western Europe/Paris
- 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. JST on Japan/Tokyo
What to expect in Fortnite Myths & Mortals Chapter 5 Season 2
Chapter 5 Season 2 of Fortnite, titled “Myths & Mortals,” immerses players in a Greek mythology-inspired world where legendary gods like Zeus, Hades, and Ares dominate the island. Expect four new myth-themed points of interest: Mount Olympus, Grim Gate, The Underworld, and Brawler’s Battleground, each offering unique challenges and atmospheres. The season introduces new mythic weapons such as Zeus’ Thunderbolt, Gatekeeper Shotgun, Harbinger SMG, Huntress DMR, and Warforged Assault Rifle, along with special abilities like flying with Icarus Wings. The Myths & Mortals Battle Pass features skins of iconic figures like Cerberus, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Medusa, Zeus, Artemis, and Hades, allowing players to embody these gods in battle. This season blends new locations, weapons, and powers to create a fresh and epic Fortnite experience steeped in mythological lore.
Update (March 7): A new NPC has arrived at Ruined Reels. Odyssey has a set of quests all about rebuilding and cataloguing a mysterious mosaic, with tiles found all around the island. When completed, you’ll get a new loading screen of the Cerberus mosaic.
Toward the end of C5S1, an enormous hand erupted from the island not far from Ruined Reels. The Titan’s hand dangled a box from chains that players immediately set to destroying. With Pandora’s box opened, a fiery column (full of screaming souls) shot into the sky, setting up this Greek mythology-themed season.
Based on leaks and official hints, a new way to traverse the island is also expected to arrive with C5S2.
Fortnite C5S2 new skins and mythics
Several Greek gods are expected to have skins in the new chapter, including Zeus and Hades – both of whom have been teased already – and six other Greek gods. Presumably, they’ll all also get mythic weapons to go along with them.
Fortnite C5S2 new weapons
Will Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2 end with a surprise event
Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2 did not conclude with a surprise event or live finale. According to available information, there was no mini-event or special live event marking the end of Season 2, as Epic Games had stated that the full-scale live event would take place at the end of a later season, specifically the Galactic Battle Season, not Chapter 5 Season 2. Historically, some Fortnite seasons end with cinematic or mini-events introducing the next chapter, but Season 2 of Chapter 5 was an exception to this pattern.
Could Fortnite’s end-of-season event be a surprise or just a quiet transition
Fortnite’s end-of-season events have varied between spectacular live spectacles and more subdued transitions, leaving fans wondering what to expect next. While some seasons have featured dramatic, cinematic finales with major in-game happenings, recent trends suggest that not every season concludes with a big event. For example, Chapter 6 Season 2 ended without a mini live event, signaling a quieter transition into the next season, Galactic Battle, which will host the next full-scale live event. Players have expressed mixed feelings about this approach, with some disappointed by the lack of fanfare and others appreciating the focus on gameplay over spectacle. Ultimately, Fortnite’s end-of-season moments can be either surprising or low-key, depending on Epic Games’ evolving storytelling and event strategies.
