Matchmaking Disabled 30 Minutes Early
Fortnite players are getting ready for the v40.10 update, and Epic has now confirmed when downtime will begin. According to the latest in-game notice, downtime for Fortnite v40.10 starts at 4 AM ET (08:00 UTC), with matchmaking being disabled 30 minutes before the servers go offline.
That means players who want to get in a few final matches before the update will need to queue earlier than usual. Once matchmaking is turned off, no new games will be able to start, even before full downtime begins. For players grinding levels, chasing wins, or trying to finish up quests, the timing matters.
The message itself uses the phrase “Fingers Go Pew Pew”, giving the announcement a more playful Fortnite-style tone. While the wording is lighthearted, the actual update could still be significant depending on what Epic includes in v40.10. As always, downtime announcements tend to build anticipation, especially when the update is tied to map changes, returning content, balance adjustments, or new seasonal features.
For many Fortnite fans, the most important part of the announcement is the timing. A 4 AM ET downtime means the update rollout starts early in North America, while players in Europe and other regions will likely be checking for the patch later in the morning. Since matchmaking shuts down 30 minutes before downtime, players should consider 3:30 AM ET the real cutoff point for jumping into a final match.
At this stage, the notice confirms the start of maintenance but does not explain how long the downtime will last. That usually depends on the size of the patch and whether Epic is making larger changes behind the scenes. Some updates are relatively quick, while others can keep the game offline for several hours.
Even so, the announcement is enough to put the community on alert. Whenever Epic posts an official downtime warning, players know an update is close — and that often means fresh content, bug fixes, or gameplay changes are right around the corner.
