The countdown to Fortnite Winterfest 2025 has officially begun! Here’s when the update will drop and what you can expect!
Fortnite's annual holiday-theme Winterfest event is upon us. Mere days stand between millions of players and several collaborations, a snow-covered map, free in-game gifts, and more. Epic Games has formally announced that Fortnite Winterfest 2025 will begin this week, so the countdown has started.
With the event just a few days away, this article is your guide to everything, including the start date, all leaked collabs, a look at the map, and more.
Fortnite Winterfest 2025 countdown
An official Fortnite social media post confirmed that Winterfest 2025 will begin on Thursday, Dec. 18. These updates usually go live around 9 a.m. EST, so the countdown above reflects that. However, it could start sooner or later. We'll receive confirmation the night before, when Epic Games sends the downtime notice.
Unfortunately, we don't know how long the event will last. The past two years saw Winterfest conclude on Jan. 7 and Jan. 2, respectively. It's safe to say the 2025 iteration will conclude after the new year. Either way, the countdown to Fortnite Winterfest 2025 is on, and the amount of collabs is staggering.
What can I expect during this year's winter event?
Harry Potter, Bleach, Hatsune Miku, and Sabrina Carpenter are just a few of the names involved in this year's Winterfest. The teaser above explicitly depicts Christmas stockings themed to the four Harry Potter houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw.
Some leakers have theorized that free Harry Potter-related cosmetics will be available in this year's Winterfest Cabin, a fan-favorite Winterfest staple that's also returning. Other items that could be free via the cabin are a winter Hatsune Miku skin and a Christmas Sabrina Carpenter skin.
Epic Games has already confirmed that a Fortnite crossover with the popular anime Bleach will arrive during Winterfest 2025. However, that is not necessarily a part of the winter-themed festivities.
One somewhat uncertain collaboration is Fortnite x South Park. Many leakers have linked this crossover to Winterfest, but Epic Games has yet to announce it. If it does happen before the new year, it will feature a new Battle Bus and a Mini Battle Pass.
Lastly, regarding the crossovers, some sources have circulated rumors of a Fortnite x Home Alone collaboration. Although unconfirmed, it wouldn't be a shock to see this happen in the coming weeks.
A sneak peek at the Winterfest map
Epic Games has shared a look at the Winterfest map in the lead-up to this year's event. While not completely covered with snow, a good portion of the map will become a snowy biome. It's unclear whether this will change throughout the event.
Additionally, other Fortnite-related marketing videos have confirmed that the usual holiday decorations will return for Winterfest 2025. Adding to that, we expect the Snowball Launcher, Presents, and more to be available in the loot pool when the event begins on Dec. 18.
