January 23, 2026
Next Fortnite Update: v39.30 Release Date, Crown Jam Mode, and What’s Coming
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break continues to roll out fresh content, and players won’t have to wait long for the next big update. Epic Games has confirmed new features, performance improvements, and potential collaborations that are set to shake up the island once again.
If you’re planning your grind or just curious about what’s next, here’s a full breakdown of the upcoming Fortnite update and what it means for Chapter 7 Season 1.
🕒 Next Fortnite Update Release Date
The next Fortnite update, v39.30, is scheduled to go live on January 22, 2026, with downtime starting at 4 AM ET.
As with all major Fortnite patches, servers will temporarily go offline during downtime while Epic rolls out the update. Once maintenance is complete, players will be able to download the patch and jump back into the action.
This date comes directly from Epic Games’ official 2026 update schedule, so unless plans change, players can expect the update to arrive right on time.
🏀 New Crown Jam Mode Arrives
One of the biggest highlights of this update is the introduction of Crown Jam, a brand-new game mode.
Crown Jam blends:
- Fall Guys–style party chaos
- Basketball and football-inspired mechanics
- Fast-paced 3v3 team-based gameplay
This new mode is designed to offer a lighter, arcade-style experience while still keeping Fortnite’s competitive edge. It’s expected to be a fun alternative for players looking to mix things up outside of standard Battle Royale.
🛠️ Performance Fixes and Menu Improvements
Epic has also confirmed several quality-of-life improvements coming with v39.30. These include fixes for lag and responsiveness issues in key menus, such as:
- Locker menu delays
- Lobby navigation lag
- Emote activation delays
- Slow screen transitions
These updates should make navigating menus smoother and help reduce frustration when customizing loadouts or switching between game modes.
👕 New Skins and Possible Collaborations
As with most Fortnite updates, new cosmetics are expected to drop alongside v39.30.
Leaks and community speculation suggest a possible collaboration with The Office, with rumored skins for characters like:
- Michael Scott
- Dwight Schrute
While Epic hasn’t officially confirmed these yet, new collaborations are a regular part of Fortnite’s content cycle, making fresh skins and bundles very likely.
🔫 Loot Pool Changes and Gameplay Adjustments
Players can also expect adjustments to the Battle Royale loot pool. Epic frequently rotates weapons and items to keep gameplay feeling fresh and balanced.
Possible changes may include:
- Weapon vaults and unvaults
- Item spawn rate tweaks
- Balance adjustments to current meta weapons
These shifts help ensure no single strategy dominates for too long and keep matches feeling dynamic.
🗓️ Chapter 7 Season 1 Update Schedule
Epic has laid out multiple major updates for Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break. Here’s what’s currently on the schedule:
- January 22, 2026: v39.30
- February 5, 2026: v39.40
- February 19, 2026: v39.50
In addition to these major patches, Epic often deploys smaller hotfixes between updates to prepare files, enable new content, and fine-tune gameplay.
⏳ When Does Chapter 7 Season 1 End?
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break is set to end on March 4, 2026.
This puts the season at roughly three months long, which is standard for a full Fortnite season. Players still have plenty of time to:
- Complete Battle Pass tiers
- Finish quests and challenges
- Unlock seasonal cosmetics and rewards
Epic typically begins teasing the next season during the final two weeks, so expect official reveals closer to the end of Pacific Break.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Fortnite’s v39.30 update is shaping up to be a solid mid-season patch, bringing a brand-new mode, important performance fixes, potential new collaborations, and fresh gameplay tweaks. Whether you’re excited about Crown Jam or just want smoother menus and new cosmetics, January 22 is a date Fortnite fans should mark on their calendars.
With more updates planned throughout the season, Pacific Break still has plenty of surprises in store.