Fortnite Servers Down Right Now [Update: Back Online With New Patch]

Update 2: Fortnite is back online, and the 2.4.2 update is now available. The new Crossbow weapon is now available in Battle Royale, among other things.

Update: Fortnite's servers are currently down to prepare for its upcoming update. We'll update when the game is back online. Original story follows.

Epic Games is bringing down Fortnite's servers soon ahead of the release of a new patch coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The studio announced on Twitter today that matchmaking for Battle Royale will go down starting at 4:25 AM ET / 7:25 AM PT on February 8. Total downtime across the game will then begin at 4:50 AM ET / 7:50 AM PT.

The developer did not say how long it anticipates the downtime will run for, but we'll report back with more details as they become available.

The downtime comes just ahead of the launch of Fortnite's 2.4.2 update. As announced previously, this update will add Valentine's Day-themed skins, as well as a Crossbow that fires arrows with unlimited supply. Bug fixes are also included in the new patch, while shotgun headshot damage will be 200 percent instead of 150 percent.

For lots more on the new Fortnite patch, check out GameSpot's previous report that covers more of what to expect in the new update.

Epic Games has also announced the next two Fortnite updates. 2.5.0 will see the launch of its Valentine's Day event, which includes a new questline described as "a love story, told the Fortnite way." After that, update 3.0.0 will bring an overhaul to the game's music, while patch 3.1.0 will bring another week of Sprint It On content, improvements to the quest map, and more.

In other news, Epic Games recently announced that its MOBA Paragon is shutting down. For more on this, check out GameSpot's new video feature, "The Death Of Paragon And The Rise Of Fortnite."