Fortnite update 26.30 patch notes kick off Fortnitemares 2023 event

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Jack Skellington joins the battle royale in Fortnite update 23.30 (Image: Epic Games / Disney)
Jack Skellington joins the battle royale in Fortnite update 23.30 (Image: Epic Games / Disney)

Fortnite is back up and Epic Games has released the Fortnite update 26.30 patch notes, giving us the rundown of the Fortnitemares 2023 event.

Fortnite update 26.30 – and by extension Fortnitemares 2023 – is finally here, and it's officially time to get spooky. Epic Games has released the full batch of Fortnite update 26.30 patch notes following the downtime earlier today, and confirmed everything included in this brand new update. Of course, Fortnitemares 2023 is the star of the show this time around, and it's brought some Halloween-themed items like the returning Witch Broom Mythic which skipped last year's Fortnitemares event entirely, last being seen in 2021.

Also included are three surprising new skins. First off is an Alan Wake skin featuring his appearance from the upcoming Alan Wake 2 (which launches at the end of the month). Next up is Michael Myers (not Shrek, that's Mike Myers), the horror movie legend from the Halloween series. He arrives with an amazing emote that sees him playing the John Carpenter-composed theme song to the series on a keyboard.

Finally – and most surprising – is Jack Skellington from Disney's The Nightmare Before Christmas. While Disney has allowed Marvel and Star Wars characters to join the battle royale in the past, this is the first time a proper Disney character has joined. None of them are in the Item Shop yet, but all three characters are set to show up in the Item Shop later during Fortnitemares 2023.

Fortnite update 26.30 patch notes

The following is the full list of Fortnite update 26.30 patch notes as posted by Epic Games on the Fortnite website:

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Wood Stake Shotgun

Thorne's Vampiric Blade

Pumpkin Launcher

Witch Broom

Sanguine Sweets

Fortnitemares Quests and rewards

The Candy’s not the only treat during Fortnitemares 2023. Complete Fortnitemares Quests for in-game rewards! Completing individual Fortnitemares Quests will earn you XP, while completing certain amounts will earn you new, eerie Locker items:

The Fortnitemares Quests will progressively become available over the course of Fortnitemares, and will remain available to complete until Fortnitemares ends (Nov. 3, 2023, at 2 AM ET). The Quests will challenge you to keep heisting Thorne’s properties, use the new and unvaulted Fortnitemares items, and more. Want a Battle Royale break? There are also Fortnitemares Quests that challenge you to earn XP in creator-made experiences!

Horde Rush returns!

The Horde Rush limited-time experience is back! In a team, go to different locations and survive each one’s Cube Monster horde. Keep surviving until you beat the Final Boss! As you’re taking down monsters, rack up your score by earning combos and collecting score multipliers. Horde Rush will be available until Fortnitemares ends (Nov. 3, 2023, at 2 AM ET) and is accessible via Discover.

Horde Rush Quests and rewards

Horde Rush has its own set of Quests, available until the end of Fortnitemares! Complete individual Horde Rush Quests to earn XP, and complete certain amounts to earn new Locker items:


Show the Cube Monsters they’re nothing but squares — the Horde Rush Quests will challenge you to land Cube Monster headshots, attack Cube Monster spawners, collect score multipliers, and more.

New and returning Outfits

New and returning Outfits will haunt the Item Shop during Fortnitemares 2023. The new Outfits include wrapped rapscallion Seth, muckfish Bogstick, meownstrosity Phantom Meowscles, and nautilus Festival Phaedra

Disney’s Jack Skellington

The 'Pumpkin King' Set items are on their way — look out for the Jack Skellington Outfit in the Item Shop later in Fortnitemares 2023! This Outfit includes the Santa Jack alt Style.

In addition to the Zero Back Bling, Peppermint Parasol Pickaxe, and Jack's Sled Glider, there’ll be two Emotes accompanying Jack Skellington. Scare your squad with the Jack's Scary Face Emote built into the Outfit, and travel on clawfoot with the universal Lock, Shock and Barrel's Tub Emote.

Michael Myers

The Island is not far enough from Haddonfield: 'The Shape' is on his way to the Shop. Watch your back for when the Michael Myers Outfit arrives later in Fortnitemares 2023.

Alan Wake

He’s already haunted by his own twisted tales, and soon he’ll be haunted by Fortnitemares. Best-selling novelist Alan Wake is being written into Fortnite with the Alan Wake Outfit — look out for when his chapter starts in the Item Shop later during Fortnitemares 2023!

More in V26.30: returning Reality Augments

'Quick Weapon' action (beta)

When enabled, Quick Weapon replaces the 'Next Weapon' button. Press Quick Weapon to equip your primary item. Press one of the face buttons while pressing Quick Weapon to switch to one of the other item slots. You can press Quick Weapon and a face button simultaneously to swap to that item instantly, or hold the Quick Weapon button for as long as you like to get used to how the face buttons match up with the items in your inventory.

Additionally when Quick Weapon is enabled, 'Previous Weapon' is replaced by 'Place Marker' to make it easier to communicate with your squad. Or you can replace Previous Weapon with the action of your choice by customizing your controls in the controller customization options.

Ending support for OS9 on Android devices

Starting with v28.00, players will be required to use OS10 or higher to continue playing Fortnite natively on Android in an officially supported manner. Android OS9 will no longer be officially supported in Fortnite, which means that we will no longer actively ensure that it is compatible with Fortnite, and that the service quality may degrade over time and eventually become unplayable.

For players unable to upgrade to OS10, note that Xbox Cloud Gaming, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Amazon Luna are available alternatives. Currently, these services actively support OS9 Android devices so you can continue playing Fortnite (via streaming).

Competitive notes

Bug fixes

And that's everything! Fortnite update 26.30 is expected to last until Tuesday, October 31, although it could be pushed back a day until November 1, 2023 so that Fortnitemares is happening on Halloween.

Scott McCrae

PC Gaming, Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation, Fortnite

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