Fortnite v42.40 Patch Notes: Honey & Obsession Sprites, Obsession Collab, Squid Grounds Return
Fortnite update v42.40 is live today, October 15, 2026 — the final major update of Chapter 7 Season 4: Override and the last big content drop of Fortnitemares 2026. Epic Games took servers offline at 4:00 AM ET for scheduled maintenance lasting roughly two hours, with matchmaking expected back around 6:00 AM ET (3:00 PM PKT). Headlining the patch: the season's final two Sprites — Honey and Obsession — the Fortnite x Obsession collaboration, new Match Overrides and Loot Hacks, and the limited-time return of Squid Grounds in Reload.
Here's everything confirmed in the v42.40 patch notes, plus what's still rumor — clearly labeled.
v42.40 Downtime and Server Status
Epic confirmed downtime beginning at 4:00 AM ET on October 15, covering Battle Royale, Reload, and the Horde Rush limited-time mode. Maintenance was scheduled for about two hours, putting servers back online around 6:00 AM ET. If you're reading this after 3:00 PM PKT, you should be able to jump in — though expect a client update to download first, as v42.40 is a full content patch rather than a hotfix.
Two Final Sprites: Honey and Obsession
The biggest gameplay addition is the arrival of the last two Sprites of the season, completing the Fortnitemares 2026 sprite set:
- Honey Sprite: Sends a swarm of bees after enemies who damage you — a nasty surprise for anyone who opens fire on you first.
- Obsession Sprite: Lets One Wish Willow help you collect other Sprites, making it easier to complete your collection before the season ends.
Like the earlier Fortnitemares Sprites, both should come with their own variants, and both release today, October 15. You'll have until the season ends to track them down — check Pumpkin Chests or use Trick or Treat cheat codes to find them faster, and remember that collecting a Sprite via cheat code also grants a bonus reward in-match.
Fortnite x Obsession Collaboration
The Fortnite x Obsession collab arrives today alongside the update. The Obsession Sprite is directly tied to it, with the character One Wish Willow assisting players in collecting Sprites. Whether the collaboration extends to full Item Shop skins is still unconfirmed — early reporting suggests the sprite itself is the confirmed centerpiece, so treat any skin rumors with caution until Epic shows them in the shop.
New Match Overrides and Loot Hacks
Fortnitemares 2026's signature systems get one more injection of content:
- At least three new Match Overrides are expected during the rest of the event. Epic hasn't named them yet, but based on the season's pattern, expect a mix of squad-only boosts and lobby-wide effects chosen via Match Override Cartridges.
- Six new Loot Hacks join the loot pool, continuing the Fortnitemares theme from v42.30. New base weapons are not confirmed — with only two weeks left in the season, Epic appears to be holding the core loot pool steady.
One outlet's early notes point to returning favorites like the Gatekeeper Shotgun appearing among the Loot Hack unlocks, but treat specific weapon lists as unconfirmed until the patch is live and datamined.
Squid Grounds Returns to Reload (October 15–19)
Reload players get a treat: Squid Grounds, the Squid Game-inspired map, returns to the rotation from October 15 through October 19, replacing Surf City. The neon playground battleground was a hit when it debuted, and its five-day return gives ranked grinders a fresh map to master. If you missed it the first time, this is your window — it leaves the rotation again on October 19.
What Comes Next: End-of-Season Roadmap (Leaks — Unconfirmed)
Looking beyond v42.40, datamined roadmaps shared by leakers in September point to the following schedule — none of these dates are confirmed by Epic:
- October 31: Chapter 7 Season 4: Override ends
- November 1: Fortnitemares ends; a short mini-season begins
- December 5: Chapter 8 Season 1 launches
Earlier leaks have linked a One Piece collaboration to the November mini-season window. Separately, multiple outlets expect Hazbin Hotel outfits (Charlie, Vaggie, Alastor) to arrive during Fortnitemares, but Epic has not dated them — label that one "expected, not confirmed." One thing to watch in-game: the storm above the Geno's Machine landmark keeps growing in size and intensity, and it looks like it's opening a portal to another dimension — classic end-of-season event teasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Fortnite v42.40 go live?
October 15, 2026. Downtime began at 4:00 AM ET and servers were expected back around 6:00 AM ET (3:00 PM PKT).
What are the new Sprites in v42.40?
The Honey Sprite, which sends bees after enemies who damage you, and the Obsession Sprite, which has One Wish Willow help you collect other Sprites. They're the final two Sprites of Chapter 7 Season 4.
What is the Fortnite x Obsession collaboration?
A new Fortnitemares 2026 collab launching with v42.40 on October 15, centered on the Obsession Sprite and the character One Wish Willow. Item Shop skins are not yet confirmed.
Is Squid Grounds back in Fortnite?
Yes — Squid Grounds returns to Reload from October 15 through October 19, replacing Surf City in the map rotation.
When does Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 end?
Leaked roadmaps point to October 31, 2026, followed by a mini-season on November 1 and Chapter 8 Season 1 on December 5 — but Epic hasn't confirmed any of these dates.
For this week's Item Shop additions, check our Fortnite Yeat Icon Series skin guide. More Fortnite coverage on Nexorift.
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