Fortnite Valentine’s Day Update 39.40 (March 2026) Complete Guide
Love is in the air at Fortnite Island as Epic Games rolls out the massive Valentine’s Day Update 39.40! This February patch brings an incredible wave of new collaborations, gameplay changes, and seasonal festivities that will transform your Battle Royale experience. As a dedicated Fortnite player who’s been tracking every update since Chapter 1, I’m excited to walk you through everything coming in this game-changing patch.
Quick Overview: What’s New in Update 39.40?
| Feature Category | Major Additions | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Events | Valentine’s Day Event, End of South Park Mini Pass | February 5, 2026 |
| Collaborations | Marvel Rivals Wave 2, K-Pop Demon Hunters Wave 2, Chappell Roan | February 5, 2026 |
| Weapons | Major SMG/AR buffs, Shockwave Grenades unvaulted | February 5, 2026 |
| Story | Return of The Seven faction, New weekly quests | February 5, 2026 |
| Items | Friend Zone Bubble, New Discover tiles | February 5, 2026 |
Valentine’s Day Event: Love Takes Over the Island
The centerpiece of Update 39.40 is Fortnite’s annual Valentine’s Day celebration, and this year’s event is bigger than ever! Epic Games has been teasing the festivities with their social media campaign featuring the tagline “In February, Fortnite wears pink.” Based on my analysis of previous Valentine’s events and current leaks, here’s what to expect:
Free Challenges and Rewards
The Valentine’s Day event will introduce a new set of themed challenges that players can complete for exclusive cosmetic rewards. While Epic hasn’t confirmed free skins this year, historically these events have offered:
- Themed loading screens
- Exclusive wraps and sprays
- Special emotes and gliders
- Battle Pass XP boosts
Friend Zone Bubble Returns
One of the most beloved items from previous Valentine’s events makes its comeback! The Friend Zone Bubble is an Exotic variant of the Shield Bubble that creates an impenetrable barrier for 30 seconds. What makes it special is the low-gravity effect inside, though players cannot use weapons while protected. This item perfectly captures the Valentine’s theme while adding strategic depth to gameplay.
Cupid’s Crossbow
No Valentine’s event would be complete without the return of Cupid’s Crossbow! While not the most practical weapon in competitive play, it has become a fan-favorite tradition that adds festive fun to casual matches.
Epic Collaborations: The Biggest Wave Yet
Update 39.40 brings an unprecedented number of high-profile collaborations that demonstrate Epic’s commitment to keeping Fortnite fresh and exciting. As someone who’s seen countless collabs come and go, I can confidently say this is one of the most diverse and exciting lineups yet.
Marvel Rivals Wave 2: Luna Snow & Magik
Building on the success of the first Marvel Rivals wave, Epic is bringing Luna Snow and Magik to the Island! What makes these skins special is that they’re based on their appearances from the Marvel Rivals hero shooter game, not their traditional comic book looks.
Expected Items:
- Luna Snow skin with potential Jam Track
- Magik skin with Soulsword back bling/pickaxe
- Themed emotes and accessories
K-Pop Demon Hunters Wave 2: Jinu & The Saja Boys
The popular K-Pop Demon Hunters collaboration returns with Jinu and the Saja Boys from the hit Netflix movie. This wave also introduces Derpy as a new Sidekick companion.
Key Features:
- Jinu and Saja Boys skins
- Derpy Sidekick pet
- Unvaulting of K-Pop Demon Hunters Mythic weapons
- Additional cosmetic items
Chappell Roan: New Fortnite Festival Headliner
The “Midwest Princess” herself, Chappell Roan, is taking over Fortnite Festival as the new headliner! This collaboration brings two distinct outfits:
- Roan of Arc – Inspired by her iconic Medieval Knight Armor look from the 2024 VMAs
- Pink Pony – Featuring a cowboy hat and western aesthetic
Fortnite Festival Season 13 Items:
- Chappell Roan and Roan of Arc skins
- Pink Pony Star back bling
- Pink Pony Club & Femininomenon emotes
- Pink Pony Sidekick
- Sword Pickaxe
- Musical instruments (Mic, Keytar, Drumset)
- Pink Pony Club Jam Track
Weapon Balance Changes: SMGs Take Center Stage
Epic Games has implemented significant weapon balance changes in Update 39.40, with a clear focus on making SMGs more viable in the current meta. As someone who primarily uses SMGs in close-quarters combat, I’m particularly excited about these changes.
Major Weapon Buffs
| Weapon | Buffs Applied | Impact on Gameplay |
|---|---|---|
| Holo Rush SMG | +Damage per shot, +Magazine size, +Faster handling | More competitive with other SMGs |
| Flex SMG | +Damage, +Magazine size, +Faster handling | Better close-range effectiveness |
| Dual Micro SMGs | +Damage, +Magazine size, +Slightly faster handling | Improved DPS output |
| Tactical AR | +Damage | Better mid-range performance |
| Enforcer AR | +Damage | Increased lethality |
| Tactical Pistol | +Damage, +Range retention, +Faster ADS | More viable sidearm |
| Sovereign Shotgun | +Faster ADS fire rate | Smoother combat flow |
| Stealth Splash | +Effect duration, +Carry capacity | More strategic utility |
| All-Terrain-Kart | +Health | Increased durability |
Vaulted & Unvaulted Items
Unvaulted:
- Shockwave Grenades – Returns to Unranked Battle Royale
- Self-Revive Item – Back in the loot pool
- Remote Explosives – Strategic demolition tool returns
Vaulted:
- Kenny’s Respawn Token – Removed from gameplay
- Cheesy Poofs – No longer available
- Stick of Truth – South Park item leaves with the collab
- Crash Pad Jrs. – Vaulted again
Storyline Progression: The Seven Return
Fortnite lore fans have reason to celebrate! Multiple reliable leaks indicate that The Seven, the most important faction in Fortnite’s storyline, will make a comeback in Update 39.40. Key developments include:
- The Foundation’s MK7 Assault Rifle unvaulting
- The Foundation returning as an NPC
- Story progression with The Order currently under Dark Voyager’s captivity
- Each member expected to be slowly reintroduced to the storyline
This represents a major storyline development that longtime players like myself have been anticipating for months.
New Features & Quality of Life Updates
Fortnite Discover Tiles Redesign
Epic Games is streamlining the Discover menu to reduce clutter and improve user experience. All variants of Battle Royale, Reload, and OG modes will now be grouped under single parent tiles, making navigation much more intuitive.
New Weekly Quests
Update 39.40 introduces a fresh set of weekly quests tied to Jonesy and the ongoing Dark Voyager storyline. These quests will help players progress through the Pacific Break Battle Pass more quickly.
End of South Park Collaboration
The South Park Mini Pass “Born in Chaos” concludes with this update. This means:
- Imaginationland Airship Glider and Terrance and Phillip Pickaxe will no longer be obtainable
- South Park skins will leave the Item Shop
- Cartmanland POI may be removed from the map (unconfirmed)
Platform-Specific Information
Release Schedule
| Region | Local Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| North America (PT) | 4:00 AM | February 5, 2026 |
| North America (ET) | 7:00 AM | February 5, 2026 |
| United Kingdom (GMT) | 12:00 PM | February 5, 2026 |
| Europe (CET) | 1:00 PM | February 5, 2026 |
| Japan (JST) | 9:00 PM | February 5, 2026 |
| Brazil (BRT) | 9:00 AM | February 5, 2026 |
| Australia (AEDT) | 11:00 PM | February 5, 2026 |
Downtime Information
- Duration: 1-2 hours of scheduled maintenance
- Start Time: 4 AM ET / 1 AM PT
- Affected Modes: Battle Royale, Zero Build, Creative, LEGO Fortnite
- Services Disabled: Matchmaking and all playlists during downtime
Pro Tips for Update 39.40
Based on my experience with previous major updates, here are some strategies to maximize your success:
Early Update Strategies
- Focus on SMGs – With the major buffs, SMGs will dominate early meta
- Stock up on Shockwave Grenades – Newly unvaulted and highly versatile
- Complete Valentine’s Challenges Early – Get exclusive rewards before they expire
- Experiment with New Combinations – Try Friend Zone Bubble with close-range weapons
Long-term Planning
- Save V-Bucks – Multiple high-profile collabs mean lots of desired cosmetics
- Track Story Progress – The Seven’s return may unlock exclusive rewards
- Master New Weapon Meta – Practice with buffed weapons in Creative mode
- Plan Festival Sessions – Chappell Roan content will be time-limited
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Weapon Changes – The meta shift will be significant
- Missing Limited-Time Items – Some cosmetics won’t return
- Overlooking Story Content – Narrative elements may unlock rewards
- Forgetting Platform Maintenance – Plan your gaming schedule around downtime
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does Update 39.40 release?
Update 39.40 goes live on February 5, 2026, at 4 AM ET / 1 AM PT following 1-2 hours of maintenance downtime.
Will the Honkai Star Rail collaboration be in this update?
According to reliable leaker AdiraFNInfo, the Honkai Star Rail collaboration has been delayed and will likely come in a future update (v39.50), not v39.40.
Are the new Marvel Rivals skins based on comics or the game?
The Luna Snow and Magik skins are based on their appearances from the Marvel Rivals hero shooter game, not their traditional comic book designs.
How long will the Valentine’s Day event last?
Based on previous years, the Valentine’s Day event typically runs for 14 days, though Epic hasn’t confirmed the exact duration for this year’s celebration.
Will the South Park content ever return?
While not officially confirmed, most collaboration content eventually returns to the Item Shop for limited periods, though the Mini Pass and exclusive items likely won’t return.
What happens to my progress in the South Park Mini Pass?
All progress and rewards earned in the South Park Mini Pass will remain in your inventory, but no new progress can be made after the update.
Looking Ahead: Chapter 7 Season 1 Timeline
With Update 39.40, we’re entering the final phase of Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break. The season is scheduled to conclude on March 4, 2026, giving players nearly a month to complete remaining challenges and unlock Battle Pass rewards.
The next major update, v39.50, is expected on February 19, 2026, continuing the bi-weekly update pattern and potentially bringing the delayed Honkai Star Rail collaboration.
Conclusion
Fortnite’s Valentine’s Day Update 39.40 represents everything that makes Fortnite great: innovative collaborations, meaningful gameplay changes, and seasonal celebrations that bring the community together. Whether you’re a competitive player focused on the weapon meta, a collector excited about the new cosmetics, or a story enthusiast following The Seven’s return, this update has something for everyone.
As someone who’s been playing since the early days, I can confidently say this is one of the most content-rich updates we’ve seen in recent memory. The combination of major collaborations, significant weapon balance changes, and storyline progression makes this a must-play update for all Fortnite fans.
Don’t forget to bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates as we discover more about what’s coming in Update 39.40. I’ll be updating this guide with the latest information as Epic Games releases more details!