Fortnite is back online after going down for several hours ahead of the launch of its new update, Epic Games has announced.
The multiplayer game originally went offline at 4am on Friday (16 August) as Epic prepared its new season, a Marvel-themed extravaganza titled ‘Absolute Doom’.
The update (version 31.00) became available to download an hour later at 5am, with a larger than normal file size, according to the developer.
How long was Fortnite down for?
Reports of issues with Fortnite began increasing around 6am, according to website disruption tracker, Down Detector.
Epic Games typically takes Fortnite offline ahead of the arrival of a new update. This allows the developer to test the new content and ensure it is running smoothly.
Downtime for the game typically lasts between two to five hours, depending on the size of a new update. This time, Fortnite was unplayable for seven hours.
The longest Fortnite downtime on record occurred during the "The End" event from October 13 to 15, 2019. Lasting a total of 36 hours, this was the first time players were locked out of the game for such an extended period.
There have also been instances in the past where downtimes have been extended due to unforeseen complications, with some lasting for more than 10 hours.
What is Chapter 5 Season 4 about?
In the wake of the blockbuster success of Deadpool and Wolverine, the next iteration of Fortnite will reintroduce players to Marvel’s Victor Von Doom, better known by his menacing sobriquet, Dr Doom.
The game’s latest season will feature characters from the pages of X-Men, the Avengers, and Spider-Man, among other long-running comic books. The trailer features an exhaustive array of heroes and villains, including Cyclops, Jubilee, War Machine, Cable, Rogue, Colossus, Emma Frost, Mysterio and, of course, Dr Doom.
