Fortnite v36.20 Update Brings Superman Crossover, Blitz Royale, and Extended Downtime — Here’s What You Need to Know!

[July 16, 2025 | Earthtechy Gaming News Desk]

If you’ve been trying to log into Fortnite today and are wondering, “Why is Fortnite not working right now?” — you’re not alone. The v36.20 update officially went live early Tuesday, July 15, and with it came a scheduled server downtime that’s lasted longer than many of us expected.

But hey, don’t worry — while we’re all stuck staring at the matchmaking error screen, I’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about the Fortnite v36.20 patch, including downtime updates, exciting new mythics, and the epic Superman crossover content that’s just landed.

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🕐 When Did Fortnite Go Down and When Will It Be Back?

Epic Games confirmed the Fortnite servers went offline at 4 AM ET / 1 AM PT / 9 AM BST for scheduled maintenance. As usual, matchmaking was disabled about 30 minutes earlier — so if you jumped into a match around 3:30 AM ET, there’s a good chance it didn’t end well.

Normally, Fortnite updates like this take about 2–4 hours to roll out. But this time, Epic threw in a curveball. At 9 AM ET, the official @FortniteStatus account posted that the downtime was being extended due to an issue discovered during offline testing.

“Hey everyone, we’re extending downtime while we work to resolve an issue discovered during offline checks,” said Epic Games. “We’ll do our best to get Fortnite servers online ASAP.”

So if you’re wondering “When will Fortnite be back online?”, the best estimate is sometime between 6–8 AM ET, though that may still shift depending on how quickly Epic can resolve the bug.

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🚨 Why Is Fortnite Not Working Today?

It’s not just you — thousands of players worldwide reported issues connecting to Fortnite this morning. According to Downdetector, the number of complaints surged past 850 reports by 9:30 AM, with most of them related to server connectivity.

Interestingly, this extended maintenance comes hot on the heels of a separate issue the day before. On Monday, Fortnite players also experienced a matchmaking error, which was acknowledged and resolved by Epic within an hour. It seems like the post-summer-break rush is putting the servers through their paces.

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🦸‍♂️ What’s New in Fortnite v36.20? Superman, Blitz Royale & More!

Now to the fun part — what’s actually coming in this Fortnite v36.20 patch update? First up, we’ve got a superhero-sized crossover featuring none other than Superman! This isn’t just a cosmetic addition — we’re talking themed mythics, fresh POIs, and dynamic gameplay elements tied to the Man of Steel.

Here’s what’s confirmed so far:

✅ New Weapons & Items:

• Unstable Thunderclap DMR
• Lightrider’s Surf Cube
• Unstable Bounce Grenade

These aren’t just flashy names — they’re designed to shake up the current meta in both Battle Royale and Creative modes.

✅ Blitz Royale Goes Permanent

The fast-paced limited-time mode is now here to stay! Blitz Royale brings quick matches, smaller zones, and pure chaos — a welcome mode for those of us who love high-octane action.

✅ Utopia City-Themed Content

Expect new prefabs and galleries inspired by the futuristic Utopia City, expanding Creative mode’s possibilities for map builders and roleplayers alike.

And that’s just scratching the surface — leakers like @Shiina are already teasing unreleased collabs (think: Deadmau5, Batmobile, Fantasticar), live event files, and new emotes.

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Fortnite v36.20 Leaks: What Else Might Be Coming?

While Epic has already confirmed some of the update’s highlights, data miners and Fortnite insiders (like @Shiina) have been busy digging through the files — and they’ve uncovered a treasure trove of potential content that could drop in the coming weeks.

Here’s a quick look at the most buzzworthy leaks tied to Fortnite v36.20:

🔮 Possible Upcoming Collaborations

• Deadmau5 crossover (finally?)
• Free collab car — rumored to be the Batmobile or Fantasticar
• New ICON emotes and returning cosmetics from older collabs

Whether you’re a Marvel fan or a DC purist, this season’s shaping up to be a multiverse mashup of epic proportions.

🏰 New POI: Fortress of Solitude

Yes, Superman’s iconic home may be coming to the island as a brand-new point of interest. If true, it could tie directly into themed quests, mythics, or even a mid-season live event.

💎 New Pack: Luminary Hypatia

A fresh cosmetic bundle dubbed the Luminary Hypatia Pack has also appeared in the files. From what I’ve seen, it looks like a sleek futuristic warrior skin with glowing accents — perfect if you’re aiming to stand out in your next Victory Royale.

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🎁 FREE Rewards Just for Logging In

If you love freebies (and let’s be real, who doesn’t?), you’ll want to log into Fortnite as soon as the servers are back online. According to the leaks, you’ll receive a free pickaxe reward just for hopping in after the update goes live.

Plus, if those collab cars and themed items are part of a limited-time promotion, we could be in for more free loot during the Blitz Royale weeks.

Stay alert — I’ll be keeping an eye out for any login bonuses or time-sensitive codes tied to this update and will post them here on Earthtechy as soon as they’re confirmed.

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🛠️ Bug Fixes & Technical Improvements

Beyond the flashier content, Fortnite v36.20 also tackles several backend issues and gameplay bugs. Based on early patch notes and community feedback, here are some of the major fixes expected in this update:

• Matchmaking stability improvements (after Monday’s outage)
• Creative mode asset bugs resolved
• Visual glitches with certain mythic weapons fixed
• Performance boosts on next-gen consoles and high-end PCs

If you’ve experienced lag, long queue times, or weird visual bugs in recent weeks — this patch should bring noticeable improvements.

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⏳ Final Thoughts: When Will Fortnite Be Back Online?

As of the latest update from Epic Games, Fortnite’s v36.20 downtime has been extended due to an unexpected technical issue. While the initial maintenance window was 2–4 hours, the team posted around 9 AM ET that they’re still working on a fix.

“We appreciate your patience,” Fortnite added in a follow-up reply to users wondering how long the servers would remain offline.

Based on typical downtime history, we can reasonably expect the game to return sometime between 10–11 AM ET, barring any major complications.

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💬 Wrapping Up: Let’s Talk Fortnite

Whether you’re hyped about Superman, eager to drop into Blitz Royale, or just want to claim that free pickaxe — Fortnite v36.20 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting updates of Chapter 6 Season 3.

I’ll keep monitoring the server status, and once Fortnite is back online, you can bet I’ll be diving right in (and sharing more first-hand impressions right here).

In the meantime, let me know:
👉 What are YOU most excited about in this update?
👉 Would you main the Unstable Thunderclap DMR or stick with the classics?

Drop your thoughts below — and as always, stay locked to Earthtechy for your latest Fortnite news, leaks, and gaming guides!