Fortnite 39.20 Update (March 2026) South Park Collab Guide

Updated by Nikhil Desai
January 9, 2026
FortniteGaming

Get ready for chaos, Fortnite fans! The Fortnite 39.20 update has arrived, bringing one of the most unexpected yet exciting collaborations to Chapter 7 Season 1. The South Park: Born in Chaos event is here, and I’m breaking down everything you need to know about this massive update that’s transforming the island.

Quick Overview: Fortnite 39.20 Update Details

Feature	Details	Duration
Event Name	South Park: Born in Chaos	January 9 – February 5, 2026
Downtime	January 9, 4 AM ET (1-2 hours)	Completed
New POI	Cartmanland (replaces Wonkeeland)	Permanent
New Mode	Quints (5-player Battle Royale)	January 9 – February 5
Free Pass	Born in Chaos Pass (13 rewards)	January 9 – February 5
New Mythics	Stick of Truth, Kenny’s Respawn Token, Cheesy Poofs	Event duration

South Park Collaboration: The Complete Breakdown

Character Skins and Designs

The Fortnite x South Park collaboration brings five iconic characters to the island, each with unique mech suit designs that stay true to their personalities:

Eric Cartman: Rocking his AWESOM-O 4000-inspired cardboard and tube mech suit
Stan Marsh: Clean-cut design with blue and red accents matching his signature hat
Kyle Broflovski: Green-themed mech suit with his iconic ushanka elements
Kenny McCormick: Orange and brown mech suit made from “garbage” including an old toilet seat
Butters Stotch: Professor Chaos-themed mech suit with tinfoil hat elements

These mech suits follow the same design philosophy as previous animated crossovers like Rick and Morty and The Simpsons, ensuring the characters fit properly within Fortnite’s hitbox system while maintaining their recognizable appearances.

The Animated Short: Lore Connection

Epic Games went above and beyond with a custom South Park animated short that explains the crossover. The story shows Butters feeling left out when the other boys don’t want to play Fortnite with him. In true South Park fashion, Butters retrieves the Stick of Truth from Starks Pond (where it ended up in the 2014 game) and wishes for the boys to play with him.

The wish transforms everyone into their mech suit variants, turns the South Park school bus into a Battle Bus, and transports them to the Fortnite island. This authentic storytelling makes the collaboration feel natural rather than forced.

New Mythic Items: Game-Changing Additions

The Stick of Truth Mythic

The Stick of Truth Mythic is arguably the most game-changing item added in the 39.20 update. Here’s what makes it special:

Rarity: Mythic (single-use)
Spawn Location: Cartmanland POI (on a pedestal)
Ability: Controls the Storm by making it immediately shrink to surround the user
Strategic Value: Perfect for forcing final circle engagements on your terms

This revolutionary mechanic allows players to manipulate the most dangerous element in Battle Royale, potentially changing how endgame scenarios play out entirely.

Kenny’s Respawn Token

Kenny’s Respawn Token offers a unique twist on self-revival:

Type: Single-use Mythic consumable
Effect: Automatically reboots you upon elimination
Advantage: No manual activation required, unlike standard Self-Revive kits
Strategic Use: Save for crucial moments in tournaments or high-stakes matches

This item references Kenny’s recurring deaths and resurrections throughout South Park’s history, making it both mechanically interesting and thematically perfect.

Cheesy Poofs Consumable

The Cheesy Poofs bring South Park’s favorite snack to Fortnite with unique mechanics:

Function: Rapid health restoration consumable
Special Ability: Can be consumed while sprinting
Dual Purpose: Can be thrown to heal allies or damage enemies
Meta Impact: Allows for aggressive playstyles without sacrificing healing opportunities

This item could significantly impact the Chapter 7 meta, enabling more dynamic rotations and combat scenarios.

Cartmanland POI: The New Theme Park

Wonkeeland has been completely transformed into Cartmanland, featuring rides and attractions straight from South Park:

Key Attractions:

CHAOS BLAST: A high-intensity ride perfect for ambush points
Voyage to the Center of the Planet: Underground areas with unique loot
Pi Pi’s Lazy River: Water-based navigation and combat opportunities

The POI maintains the theme park structure while incorporating South Park’s signature humor and aesthetic. Expect plenty of Easter eggs and references to classic episodes throughout the area.

Quints Mode: 5-Player Battle Royale

Perhaps the most significant gameplay addition is the Quints playlist, allowing 5-player squads for the first time in Fortnite’s history:

Quints Mode Details:

Team Size: 5 players per squad
Availability: January 9 – February 5, 2026
Future Potential: Could become permanent if popular enough
Strategic Impact: Changes squad dynamics and composition possibilities

This mode addresses long-standing community requests for larger team sizes and could fundamentally change how competitive Fortnite is played. The mode was cleverly hinted at in the South Park collaboration teaser, showing Butters waiting in a lobby with 4 empty slots.

Born in Chaos Pass: Free Rewards

The Born in Chaos Pass offers 13 South Park-themed rewards completely free of charge:

Pass Rewards Include:

Backpack of CRED Back Bling: Reference to Cartman’s credibility schemes
Terrance and Phillip Pickaxe: Featuring the iconic Canadian duo
Cheesy Poofs Rocketship Emote: Animated emote with the snack brand
Imaginationland Airship Glider: Ultimate reward for completing all quests

How to Unlock Rewards:

Navigate to the “Born in Chaos” tab in the lobby
Complete South Park-themed quests
Progress through 13 reward tiers
No V-Bucks required (unlike previous mini passes)

This represents a significant departure from previous collaboration mini passes that typically required payment, making South Park content accessible to all players.

New Rift Anomaly: Everyone Kills Kenny

Adding to the chaos is a new Rift Anomaly called “Everyone Kills Kenny,” which pays homage to South Park’s running gag:

Effect: All players receive a Self-Revive kit when active
Thematic Reference: Kenny’s repeated deaths throughout the series
Impact: Creates unique competitive scenarios with increased survivability
Frequency: Appears randomly during matches

This anomaly adds an extra layer of unpredictability to matches while perfectly capturing South Park’s dark humor.

Shop Items and Purchasable Content

While the Born in Chaos Pass is free, the main South Park character skins must be purchased from the Item Shop:

Available Shop Items:

Individual Character Skins: Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Butters
Towelie Sidekick: The iconic talking towel companion
Additional Cosmetics: Pickaxes, gliders, and emotes
Bundles: Potential discounted packages for multiple items

Pricing follows standard Fortnite cosmetic rates, with individual skins likely costing 1,500 V-Bucks each.

Battle Pass Updates and Super Styles

The 39.20 update also unlocks three Bonus Pages in the Chapter 7 Season 1 Battle Pass:

Unlocked Content:

Super Styles for Kingston: New variants for the Battle Pass skin
Dark Voyager (Reality Redacted) Styles: Additional customization options
OG Season 7 Pass Super Styles: New looks for remixed OG skins like Lt. Winter

This provides additional value for Battle Pass owners and fresh customization options for dedicated players.

Potential Future Content: Leaks and Rumors

Based on reliable leaker information and game file discoveries, several additional features might arrive:

Chainsaw Man Collaboration

Evidence: “Iris Out” Jam Track found in game files
Status: Unconfirmed but likely for 39.20 or 39.30 update
Content: Potential skins and items from the popular anime

The Seven-Themed Weapons

Items: Foundation Rift Rifle and Seven Cannon
Purpose: Possible tease for The Seven’s return to the storyline
Availability: Could be added to loot pool with 39.20

James Bond Content

Item: Aston Martin Valhalla Car Body
Connection: Related to upcoming “007: First Light” game
Potential: Full collaboration possibility

Strategic Tips for the South Park Event

Maximizing Your Event Experience

Prioritize Cartmanland: This new POI contains the Stick of Truth Mythic and exclusive South Park-themed loot
Master Cheesy Poofs: Learn to use these while sprinting for maximum mobility and healing efficiency
Form Quints Squads: Take advantage of the 5-player mode while it’s available
Complete Daily Quests: Focus on South Park quests to progress through the Born in Chaos Pass quickly
Save Kenny’s Respawn Token: Use this strategically in crucial endgame situations

Competitive Considerations

Stick of Truth: Game-changing for tournament play, expect high-tier players to contest Cartmanland heavily
Everyone Kills Kenny Anomaly: Alters the reviving meta significantly when active
Quints Mode: May require new strategies for larger team compositions
Cheesy Poofs: Could replace some traditional healing items in competitive loadouts

Technical Details and Performance

Update Information

Version: 39.20
Downtime: January 9, 4 AM ET (1-2 hours)
File Size: Approximately 15-20 GB (varies by platform)
Compatibility: Available on all supported Fortnite platforms

Performance Considerations

Cartmanland POI: More detailed than previous Wonkeeland, may impact performance on lower-end devices
New Effects: Stick of Truth storm control effects are visually intensive
Recommended Settings: Consider lowering effects if experiencing frame drops in Cartmanland

Comparison with Previous Collaborations

The South Park collaboration follows the template established by previous animated crossovers but with several key differences:

Similarities to Previous Collabs:

Mech Suit Design: Follows Rick and Morty/Simpsons approach
Free Mini Pass: Continues the trend of event-specific progression systems
Animated Short: Maintains the high-quality storytelling approach
POI Transformation: Major map changes like previous events

Unique Elements:

5-Player Mode: First time Quints has been available
Storm Control: Stick of Truth introduces unprecedented gameplay mechanics
Free Pass (No Cost): Unlike previous mini passes that required payment
R-Rated Source Material: Careful adaptation of adult content for T-rated game

Community Response and Reception

The Fortnite community has responded positively to the South Park collaboration:

Positive Reactions:

Authenticity: Praise for the faithful character designs and animated short
Innovation: Excitement about the Stick of Truth’s storm control mechanic
Quints Mode: Long-requested feature finally implemented
Free Content: Appreciation for the no-cost Born in Chaos Pass

Concerns:

Balance: Questions about Stick of Truth’s impact on competitive play
Content Appropriateness: Some concerns about adapting R-rated material
Duration: Limited-time nature of popular features like Quints mode

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the South Park event last?

The South Park: Born in Chaos event runs from January 9 to February 5, 2026, giving players approximately one month to enjoy all the content.

Are the South Park skins free?

While the Born in Chaos Pass is free with 13 reward items, the main character skins (Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Butters) must be purchased from the Item Shop with V-Bucks.

How do I get the Stick of Truth Mythic?

The Stick of Truth Mythic spawns on a pedestal in the new Cartmanland POI. It’s a single-use item that allows you to control the Storm.

Will Quints mode become permanent?

Epic Games hasn’t confirmed permanent status for Quints mode. It’s currently available until February 5, but could return if popular enough, similar to how Trios became permanent.

What happens to Cartmanland after the event?

Based on previous collaborations, Cartmanland will likely remain as a permanent POI on the map, similar to how other collaboration locations have stayed in the game.

Can I still get Born in Chaos Pass rewards after February 5?

No, the Born in Chaos Pass and its quests are only available during the event period (January 9 – February 5, 2026).

Conclusion

As someone who’s followed Fortnite’s collaborations since the beginning, I can confidently say that the South Park: Born in Chaos event represents one of Epic Games’ most ambitious and well-executed crossovers to date.

What Makes This Special:

Innovative Gameplay: Stick of Truth’s storm control mechanic is genuinely game-changing
Authentic Adaptation: Perfect balance of South Park’s humor with Fortnite’s accessibility
Generous Free Content: 13 free rewards without requiring V-Bucks
Community-Requested Features: Quints mode addresses long-standing player requests

Should You Dive In?

Absolutely! Whether you’re a South Park fan, a competitive Fortnite player, or just someone looking for fresh content, the 39.20 update offers something for everyone. The combination of innovative mechanics, authentic collaboration, and limited-time exclusives makes this a can’t-miss event.

Pro Tip: Make sure to complete your Born in Chaos Pass quests early and experiment with the new Mythic items while you have the chance – these unique gameplay experiences won’t be around forever!