Fortnite fans were buzzing with excitement as the Winterfest 2025 update rolled out yesterday, the biggest update of the year! This festive season kicks off with the new patch v39.11, bringing a warm holiday spirit to the snowy Battle Royale island. You can now spot charming Christmas trees and decorations adorning familiar POIs.
One exciting feature returning this year is Crackshot’s Cabin, plus there’s a DeLorean vehicle that lets players travel through time to snag some OG loot. While this year’s Winterfest may lack some of the collaborative events from previous years, the new Chapter 7 content surely packs a punch.
But fans always look forward to the Winterfest Lodge, where daily presents await them—cosmetics that make each day of Winterfest special! You might remember the joy of hoarding those presents to open them all at once. This year, however, Epic Games has thrown in a twist that has left many players disappointed.
Change to Winterfest Presents: Players Left Disappointed
The Winterfest Lodge is back, and players can enjoy 14 gifts set to be unlocked one each day from December 18, 2025, until January 5, 2026. In past years, the fun was in saving those presents until Christmas or the last day—a simple pleasure that allowed everyone to celebrate in their own way. However, this year the fun is lost. Epic has made it clear in the patch notes: you can only open one present per day, and they don’t stack.
This means if you miss a day, that day’s present goes bye-bye. Many players are now seeing this beloved tradition morph into a daily obligation instead of a joyous experience. It’s like trading the magic of unwrapping gifts at your own pace for a strict holiday schedule.
Many players took to social media to express their disappointment. One user stated, “What’s with them ruining every free cosmetic opportunity this Chapter? First, they change the Ranked rewards, and now this.” Another shared, “Daily presents only? That’s painful holiday discipline.” It’s clear that the community feels this decision lacks the input of the player base, and the excitement surrounding daily logins is diminished.
Epic Games may aim to boost daily engagement with all the new gameplay content, but it feels like they’ve turned a joyful tradition into a task. From my own time playing Fortnite, I believe that free rewards should be flexible and accessible. After all, a holiday is supposed to be about joy, not strict schedules like a mobile game.
Are daily presents still worthwhile during Winterfest?
While having daily presents might encourage engagement, many players argue that the excitement of the holidays has faded. Being forced to log in daily just to keep up can feel more like a chore than a joy.
Can players retrieve missed presents during Winterfest?
No, if you miss claiming a present on a given day, it disappears. This unfortunate change has upset many players who enjoyed saving their gifts to open later.
How is the community reacting to the Winterfest changes?
The community is vocal about their dissatisfaction with these changes. Many online comments reflect a sense of betrayal, as players feel the joy of Winterfest has been diluted into a daily grind.
Will there be any other features added to Winterfest 2025?
While the Winterfest update does feature some cool gameplay content, many fans are disheartened by the lack of collaborations that have typically made these updates exciting each year.
What do you think about this shift in Winterfest 2025? Do you find the new daily present system adds to the excitement, or does it turn the festive cheer into a daily chore? Share your thoughts in the comments below!