The 2026 Fortnite April Fools' update is a fun one. Here's everything you need to know, from shoulder riding to the new finger guns!
April 1 is a day when Fortnite typically adds at least some fun skins. However, the 2026 iteration is no introduced an entire game update. Epic Games has added new mechanics in this year’s April Fools’ Fortnite update, including shoulder riding, llama riding, and giant-headed characters.
You can now ride another player’s shoulders in Fortnite
Headlining this update are some truly comical mechanics. First is shoulder riding, which is not the most practical feature, but it’s rather hilarious. Even better is the fact that you can have multiple players riding on your shoulders simultaneously. It’s safe to assume some incredible clips will emerge with the addition of shoulder riding.
Fortnite adds rideable llamas in April Fools’ update
Another equally comical addition is llama riding, which offers the goofiest animation imaginable. Once you locate a llama, you can climb on its back and gallop across the maps as you see fit. Its speed is decent, so it’s a viable rotational option. However, it will be easy for opponents to spot and take shots at you.
FortTory on X also discovered that you can stack players on your shoulders while riding llamas. As we said before, the clips that will emerge from this should be incredible.
Temporary big head mode for the April Fools’ update
In a throwback to the late 90s and early 2000s video games, all Fortnite characters will spawn with a bigger head than normal. This isn’t anything game-breaking by any means, but it will surely make headshots much easier to manage. It’s an interesting feature, but also unlikely to stick around until the end of the season.
New Finger Guns weapon added to Fortnite
Perhaps the coolest inclusion in the April Fool’s update is the Finger Guns weapon. This spawns in all the usual spots with a clear “Pew Pew” indicator, as shown in the clip above from ShiinaBR. Once you have it, it occupies one inventory slot, and you can now go to town on your opponents.
There are 18 rounds per clip, and each shot deals 38 damage while making the precise noise you’d expect, “Pew Pew.” It’s a weapon you will definitely want to try the next time you drop into a match.
One last change worth mentioning is that fall damage will not exist for the duration of the April Fools’ update. Instead, you will hear an appropriately themed splat noise when falling from a high place.
Bug fixes and game improvements
Lastly, here are some bugs that Epic Games fixed and some weapon adjustments per the patch notes:
- Chaos Reloader Shotgun
- Body shot damage has been slightly reduced
- Reload speed is now consistent across all rarities
- Mythic damage now matches Legendary rarity
- Twin Mag SMG
- You’ll now see less spread while firing, jumping, sprinting, and sliding
- Spread has been slightly increased while crouching
- Added Text-To-Speech and Speech-To-Text options in English. Enable these options in the ‘Communication’ Settings tab to have messages read aloud and use your mic to dictate text chats.
- Fixed an issue where Slapperoni Pizza could grant the Slap effect without consuming a slice.
- You’ll no longer get stuck under the terrain when using the Particle Accelerator with the Overdrive Grenade effect.
- Using a Zipline near Latte Landing will no longer send you flying without fall damage immunity.
- The Season X Umbrella no longer causes gray placeholder textures while gliding.
- Equipped Pickaxes will no longer appear with missing textures after a player is revived or rebooted.
- Fixed a visual issue where Axo’s “Midnight” Style could display unintended Outfit elements.
- Hades’ facial expressions now animate correctly when using the Underworld Anger Emote.
- The Overlay Contrail is again available in players’ Lockers.
- [Reload] Morphite weapons no longer display incorrect ammo count on the Quick Bar.
- Fixed an issue where some Gliders could display incorrect Styles or replace equipped Back Blings.