April 1, 2025 – Fortnite is back with a bang! Epic Games has completed the scheduled downtime for the v34.21 update, and servers are now live as of April 1, 2025. The update, which began at 4 AM ET, introduces a slew of new content, including the Scorpion Mythic, a Mortal Kombat Limited Time Mode (LTM), and new Points of Interest (POIs), delighting fans worldwide.
The downtime was announced by Fortnite Status on March 31, 2025, with matchmaking ending shortly before 4 AM ET, as shared in an official announcement on X. “Choose your fighter! Downtime for v34.21 begins at 4 AM ET with matchmaking ending shortly beforehand,” the post read, featuring an image of a ringing alarm clock. On April 1, Fortnite Status confirmed the servers were back online, stating, “Downtime has ended and v34.21 is now live! Jump in and check out the new content,” in a subsequent update.
The v34.21 update, detailed on the Epic Games status page, brings a variety of new features. Players can now use the Scorpion Mythic with its “GET OVER HERE” ability and the Scorpion Medallion, which makes the first bullet explosive. New POIs include The Pit, Living Forest, and Dead Pool, alongside a Scorpion Boss and a Mortal Kombat LTM offering 180,000 XP quests. The update also includes The Walking Dead’s Negan character arriving on April 4, a new Reload Map on April 15, and the Nyangelica Crew Pack, as reported in a breakdown of the update.
While the downtime proceeded smoothly, some players reported login issues, as tracked on Downdetector. This comes after a previous server outage on March 29, 2025, which disrupted login and matchmaking, according to a report on server challenges. Epic Games has also introduced a controversial policy to unban some previously banned cheaters starting in April, offering a one-year matchmaking ban for first offenses but a lifetime ban for repeat offenders, as noted in a policy update.
In the U.S., where Fortnite has a massive following—over 230 million active players globally as of 2024, per Epic Games data—the update has sparked excitement. American gamers, especially in tech-savvy cities like San Francisco and Seattle, are eager to explore the Mortal Kombat crossover, which taps into nostalgia for the iconic fighting game. The update reflects Fortnite’s ongoing use of tech-driven gaming trends, such as crossovers and LTMs, to keep players engaged, a strategy that has solidified its place in the battle royale genre since 2017.
As players dive into the v34.21 update, the new content offers fresh challenges and experiences, from battling the Scorpion Boss to exploring new POIs. Fortnite continues to evolve, blending gaming with pop culture in ways that keep its community hooked. For more on gaming and tech trends, explore our coverage of smart tech innovations or decentralized apps. Stay updated with Technocodex.
