Fortnite fans around the world woke up on January 9, 2026, to find their favorite battle royale game temporarily offline—a familiar occurrence whenever Epic Games drops a major update. But this time, the buzz was palpable: the long-rumored South Park collaboration had finally arrived, bringing with it a deluge of new content, game-changing mechanics, and plenty of reasons for players to dive back in.
According to The Economic Times, the v39.20 update kicked off at 4:00 AM Eastern Time, with Epic Games disabling matchmaking and taking servers offline for maintenance. This global pause, impacting players across North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and South America, typically signals something big is on the horizon. And big it was. Maintenance was expected to last around two hours, with servers likely returning by 6:00 AM ET, though some outlets, like Insider Gaming, advised players to keep an eye on social media for real-time updates and possible delays.
The centerpiece of the update was, without a doubt, the South Park collaboration. As reported by Beebom, the collab introduced a suite of new Item Shop skins featuring the iconic characters Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, and Butters Stotch. In a clever design twist, these characters were placed in mech suits—much like the earlier Simpsons crossover—to make their cartoonish proportions fit Fortnite’s gameplay and hitbox requirements.
But the South Park event wasn’t just about skins. A free Born in Chaos Mini Pass was rolled out, letting players earn 13 South Park-themed rewards without spending any V-Bucks. To progress through the Mini Pass, players must collect a new currency, Cred, by completing South Park quests. Rewards include quirky items like the Imaginationland Airship Glider and a Cheesy Poofs Rocketship Emote, along with Level Up Tokens and more. As Beebom notes, "Players will have to earn Cred, a new currency, by completing South Park quests in order to progress through the Pass and claim the free rewards."
The map itself saw a significant overhaul. Wonkeeland, a familiar point of interest (POI) on the Chapter 7 map, was transformed into Cartmanland—a fully functional amusement park complete with rides, directly referencing the infamous South Park episode where Cartman buys his own theme park. The snow that had blanketed the Chapter 7 map during Winterfest 2025 was removed everywhere except around Cartmanland, signaling the official end of the holiday festivities.
Adding to the immersion, the Battle Bus received a South Park makeover. Modeled after Butters’ school bus from the show, this custom bus will remain in play until the South Park event concludes on February 5, 2026. As for the loot pool, players were treated to several new and innovative items. Chief among them is the Stick of Truth Mythic, inspired by the ‘South Park: The Stick of Truth’ RPG. This single-use item allows players to control the storm’s final circle—a potentially game-winning advantage. The Stick of Truth spawns via a new Rift Anomaly, prompting fierce battles for its possession.
Another notable addition is Kenny’s Respawn Token, a Mythic item exclusive to Unranked Battle Royale lobbies. Much like a self-revive kit, it automatically reboots a player upon elimination, bypassing the need for manual activation. The Cheesy Poofs consumable, also only available in unranked mode, lets players heal while sprinting—a small change with big implications for fast-paced rotations and aggressive play.
Weapon enthusiasts found plenty to experiment with. The Flex SMG joined the arsenal, boasting two firing modes: a slower, harder-hitting shot when aiming down sights, and a rapid-fire option when hipfiring. The Stealth Splash, a new throwable healing item, not only restores health to all players in its radius but also temporarily cloaks them, making them nearly invisible—a mechanic sure to shake up squad tactics and late-game scenarios.
Perhaps the most unexpected feature in the update was the introduction of Quints, a limited-time Battle Royale mode allowing teams of five. This mode, teased in South Park promotional images, offers a fresh twist on the classic squad experience. Epic Games plans to run Quints until February 5, 2026, but if community feedback is positive, the mode could return—or even become a permanent fixture, much like Trios before it.
Longtime players also have new goals to chase. Three Bonus Pages in the Chapter 7 Season 1 Battle Pass have been unlocked, making Super Styles for skins like Kingston and Dark Voyager (Reality Redacted) available. Super Styles for OG Season 7 Pass skins, such as Lt. Winter, are also up for grabs, offering veterans a chance to show off their dedication.
The update didn’t stop there. Blitz Royale, a fast-paced variant of the core game, saw the return of the Asteria Awakened map and the removal of the Stranger Things map from rotation. Golden Llamas in Blitz now contain the coveted Shockwave Hammer, adding another layer of excitement. Meanwhile, several items were vaulted, including the Self-Revive Device, Holiday Presents!, Blizzard Grenade, Icy Feet, Shield Keg, and the Sneaky Snowman, streamlining the loot pool and making room for the new additions.
Weekly quests for Week 6 and Week 7 have also been introduced, giving players more ways to progress through the Pacific Break Battle Pass. These quests range from damaging enemies disguised as bosses to scouting shooting locations for the character Kingston, ensuring there’s always something new to tackle.
For those who follow Fortnite’s broader ecosystem, Epic Games has continued its tradition of providing real-time updates during downtime via the Fortnite Status account and official social media channels. Players were reminded to avoid logging in during maintenance and to download the v39.20 patch once servers came back online. As The Economic Times explained, "Players can then explore the latest content, unlock new cosmetics, and test the updated game modes introduced in the patch."
With so many sweeping changes, it’s clear Epic Games is doubling down on its strategy of high-profile collaborations and innovative gameplay tweaks to keep Fortnite at the forefront of the gaming world. Whether you’re here for the South Park nostalgia, the new weapons and items, or the thrill of Quints mode, there’s never been a better time to jump back onto the Battle Bus. As the Born in Chaos event unfolds, the only question left is: will you be dropping into Cartmanland as Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Kenny, or Butters?