Every year, Fortnite fans eagerly await the annual updates that transform the game into a festive wonderland. From Easter to Halloween and Christmas, the developers at Epic Games introduce seasonal themes that bring joy to its community. However, the Winterfest festivities steal the show, with the entire game island blanketed in snow, cozy cabins, and delightful free gifts awaiting players.
This year’s Winterfest is packed with excitement, and the latest update has dropped today. Curious about what’s new? We’ve got all the juicy details from the patch notes right here!
Fortnite Winterfest 2025 Update Downtime Details
The Winterfest Update went live after a brief downtime of 3-4 hours, starting at 4 AM ET on December 18, 2025. As servers come back online, make sure to update your game to jump back into the action. You have until January 4, 2026, to enjoy all the festive offerings.
Fortnite Winterfest Update Full Patch Notes for v39.11
Snow Biome Arrives on Chapter 7 Map
This year, the top half of the island has been transformed into a snowy paradise, covering locations like Tiptop Terrace, Sandy Strip, and Lethal Labs. Among the snow, Christmas trees and presents now appear at these points of interest (POIs), offering rare loot. Don’t miss a visit to Crackshot’s Cabin for some extra goodies!
Winterfest Lodge Returns with Free Cosmetics
Just like previous celebrations, the Winterfest Lodge makes a grand return! Lt. Winter is here with 14 presents for you to unwrap throughout the event. Open a present each day, and you can unlock cool items like the Glacial Dummy Outfit after seven presents and the Cheeks Outfit by the time you hit 13. The cabin offers new surprises daily at 9 AM ET!
Santa ‘Brina, Snow Miku, and More Winter Skins Bring the Cheer
New skins have arrived this Winterfest, promising to add flair to your gameplay! A Harry Potter crossover is in the works, featuring 10 magical skins, two back blings, and two pickaxes plus a couple of emotes. This collab is expected to be live soon!
Keep an eye out for a special Christmas-themed version of pop star Sabrina Carpenter called Santa ‘Brina, set to hit the Item Shop this week. Also making a comeback is Hatsune Miku with a festive Snow Miku outfit, which will soon accompany a full set of cosmetics.
Additional original skins, including The Winterfest Bandit, Chilly, and Alpine Lexa, are making their debut. Three new Sidekicks are also on the way — Kitsune, Meowscles, and Llama — offering fresh ways to express your personal style in the game!
Bleach Mythics Hit Blitz
Additionally, the update introduces new files for a Bleach crossover featuring four unique skins and various cosmetic items. Expect two mythic items, Fully-Hollowfied Ichigo Mask and Dual Zangetsu, to be included in Blitz mode this weekend.
New Rift Anomalies
New Rift Anomalies have landed in Fortnite Battle Royale and Zero Build:
- Winter Ball: Hide in Winter Bubble Shields scattered across the map to heal.
- Back to the OG: Discover special chests to loot OG weapons that are back (such as the Pump Shotgun and others).
Yule Trooper Boss Added
The Yule Trooper boss makes an appearance in the snowy region of Chapter 7. Defeating this boss grants you a medallion and a mythic weapon, allowing you to step into their shoes for some epic fun. The medallion’s description states, “Yule Trooper’s Jolly spirit grants increased stamina and vitality. Embrace the cold and slide around the battlefield.”
Drive a DeLorean and Go Back to the OG
One of the most exciting new features is the arrival of the DeLorean from Back to the Future! You can find this mythic vehicle around the island. If you can’t spot one, use a Mr Fusion Vehicle Mod to transform any vehicle into the DeLorean. Drive it straight and hit the boost to enter a time warp and emerge with a Plutonium Chest on top! Interact with the chest for a taste of OG loot.
More Loot Pool Changes
Winter’s chill has ushered back some fan-favorite items to the loot pool:
- Blizzard Grenade
- Snowball Launcher
- Sneaky Snowman
- Presents
This year’s Presents contain high-rarity loot, including classic weapons like the:
- Drum Gun
- Six Shooter
- Hunting Rifle
- Compact SMG
- OG Pump Shotgun
- Infantry Rifle
- Lever Action
- OG Assault Rifle
- Minigun
This update is brimming with fun, new content just in time for the winter festivities! What do you think of this year’s Winterfest? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!