Fortnite Fortnitemares 2023 - Event dates, new content, everything we know

Alan Wake, Michael Myers, and Jack Skellington in Fortnite.
Credit: Epic Games

Alan Wake, Michael Myers, and Jack Skellington in Fortnite.
Credit: Epic Games

Getting ready for Fortnitemares 2023 and want to stay ahead of the game? The Halloween event for Fortnite is almost here. Delve into our comprehensive guide on everything we know about Fortnitemares 2023, including its start date, new weapons and new game mode.

Every year, Fortnitemares returns as a celebration of Halloween, with this year's entry being the seventh in Fortnite's history. With Fortnitemares launching earlier than usual this year, get ready for a bumper event full of new content, as Chapter 4 of Fortnite starts to wind down.

If you want to prepare yourself before the start of Fortnitemares 2023, you ought to check out our Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 4 quest guide. Equally, you should refresh yourself on what weapons are currently in circulation, using our weapons guide for the current season.

When is the Fortnitemares 2023 start date?

Fortnitemares always starts in the run up to Halloween, and this year is no different. This year, Fortnitemares kicked off on October 10, 2023, as confirmed by the Fortnite X account. Fortnitemares 2023 is due to last for around four weeks, and promises to add a wealth of new content to the game.

We've also recently heard that the server downtime for the Fortnitemares event started at 8PM BST from a more recent tweet from FortniteStatus. The account also warned of a larger patch size than usual on some platforms, so be prepared for a hefty update. Alongside the start of Fortnitemares will be the release of patch 26.30 for the game, which is available to download now.

What new content is coming in Fortnitemares 2023?

New weapons and items in Fortnitemares 2023

From the leaker HYPEX, we know that the Vampire Stake Shotgun and the Pumpkin Launcher arrived in Fortnitemares 2023, with the former being a brand new weapon.

Also, Candy consumables made a return, offering the player a temporary stat boost. Each of the stat boosts are broken down below:

  • Candy Corn - Gradually recovers ten health when consumed.
  • Hop Drop - Instantly recovers five health and applies a low gravity effect when consumed. Player starts to generate a glowing effect.
  • Jelly Bean - Instantly recovers ten shield when consumed.
  • Peppermint - Instantly recovers five health and applies a speed boost when consumed. Player starts to generate red streaks from behind.
  • Thermal Taffy - Instantly recovers five health and applied a thermal vision effect.

Additionally, its expected that Vaults will be disabled for the Fortnitemares event. Alternatively, they could be modified in order to thematically link to the event, stowing away Halloween-esque Mythics such as Shadow Midas' Drum Gun, Howler Claws, or the Inkquisitor's Suppressed SMG.

There'll also be a new Mythic Blade added to the game for Fortnitemares, called Thorne's Vampiric Blade. When sapping an enemy's health with the Blade, you actually regain some yourself.

The Witch Broom has also been added in Fortnitemares 2023, which fires you up into the air and slowly lets you glide back down, similar to a launch pad. With a spooky twist, of course.

Will there be a Fortnitemares 2023 Battle Pass?

Rather than how it worked in previous seasons, there isn't a mini Battle Pass for the Fortnitemares 2023 event. Instead you'll get new batches of themed quests every day, with the total of quests completed gradually unlocking new rewards.

After you've completed five themed quests you'll get the Bat Royale Back Bling and Cat Banner Icon. For 15, you get the Sweet! Emote, Phantasmic Fall Contrail, and Hypno-Bat Spray. Lastly, 25 quests completed will net you the Revenant Rider Glider, Within the Sanctum Loading Screen, and Rise of the Revenant Lobby Track.

A spooky Fortnite skin.
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Everything we know about Fortnitemares 2023

Another thing we can expect to see in Fortnitemares that has been revealed in leaks is the new Kado Thorne vampire boss. Wielding the aforementioned Mythic Vampire Kinetic Blade, we don't yet know how to find Vampire Kado Thorne, but we'll be sure to update you when we do.

Also coming in Fortnitemares 2023 is the return of the Horde Rush LTM (Limited Time Mode) in Zero Build mode. Horde Rush is a four-player co-op mode, where players engage in a classic Zombies gam emode, fending off wave after wave of Fiends. Last seen at the end of 2022, now is a fitting time of the year for the game mode to return.

There are also some new themed skins available to purchase in the Item Shop. Look out for Halloween's Michael Myers, Alan Wake, and Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas. No news on when each one will arrive just yet, but they're bound to be very popular.

That's everything we know for now about Fortnitemares 2023. For more Fortnite content, why not check out our best Fortnite parkour codes, or our best deathrun map codes. We've also got a guide on how to get the recent Khaby Lame skin.