Epic Games has launched Fortnite update v40.10, a substantial patch delivering a blend of lighthearted April Fools’ Day gameplay modifiers, critical weapon balancing, significant accessibility features, and a major new questline for the LEGO Fortnite Odyssey mode. The update, identified as version 1.000.217 on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, addresses a wide array of bugs and performance issues across all game modes while introducing quality-of-life improvements, particularly for mobile players.
April Fools’ Day Brings Whimsical Chaos to Battle Royale
In keeping with tradition, the v40.10 update injects a series of playful, temporary gameplay changes into Unranked Battle Royale and Zero Build modes to celebrate April Fools’ Day. These features are designed to subvert expectations and create memorable, chaotic matches. The headline addition is the Big Head Mode, which dramatically increases the headshot hitbox size for certain characters, making for both comical visuals and a unique combat challenge. Players can also find the Finger Gun item, a non-lethal tool that allows them to mimic shooting with their fingers, adding a layer of social fun.
Further enhancing the silly social dynamics is the new Shoulder Riding feature, enabling teammates to stack on top of each other without restriction, potentially creating towering human columns traversing the island. The world itself gets a twist with Rideable Llamas spawning across the map, offering a new, unpredictable method of traversal. Even the consequences of failure are softened, as fall damage is replaced with a comical “splash” sound effect upon impact, removing the penalty for missed jumps or misjudged builds. All features except Big Head Mode are also available in Unranked Ranked playlists.
Weapon Meta Receives Targeted Balance Adjustments
Moving beyond the festivities, Epic Games has implemented precise balancing changes for two prominent weapons in the current loot pool, aiming to refine the competitive landscape. The Chaos Reloader Shotgun has seen a slight reduction in body shot damage, encouraging more skillful aim for maximum effectiveness. Additionally, its reload timing has been standardized across all rarity tiers, creating more consistent weapon handling. The Mythic variant’s damage has now been brought in line with the Legendary tier, closing a previous power gap.
The Twin Mag SMG has also been adjusted to improve its controllability. Weapon spread (bloom) has been reduced while firing, jumping, dashing, and sliding, making the weapon more accurate during aggressive, movement-focused engagements. Conversely, spread is slightly increased while crouching, a nuanced change that subtly differentiates playstyles and rewards strategic positioning.
Accessibility and Mobile Interface Upgrades
The update marks a significant step forward in inclusivity with the introduction of Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Text options for English. These features, configurable within the Communication tab, allow players to have on-screen text read aloud or to convert voice chat into text messages. This addition provides crucial tools for players with hearing or speech impairments, fostering better communication and a more accessible social environment within squads.
Fortnite Mobile receives dedicated attention with interface enhancements aimed at improving the user experience. Players can now save up to twelve custom HUD layouts, offering unprecedented flexibility to tailor control schemes for different scenarios or playstyles. Furthermore, the display size for the Rival Rank indicator has been increased across devices, making critical competitive information easier to read at a glance during intense matches.
Sweeping Bug Fixes and Quality-of-Life Refinements
A core component of the v40.10 patch is a comprehensive list of bug fixes addressing longstanding community complaints and glitches. Gameplay issues have been resolved, such as players getting stuck under terrain when combining a Particle Accelerator with an Overdrive Grenade, and zip lines near Lazy Landing launching players unexpectedly. Visual inconsistencies have been cleaned up, ensuring the Season X Umbrella displays correct textures while gliding and that pickaxes maintain their proper appearance after a player is rebooted or revived.
Specific cosmetic items, like Axo’s Midnight Style, have received visual corrections, and Hades’ facial animations now work correctly with the Underworld’s Wrath emote. The Overlay Contrail has been restored to the player Locker. Functionality bugs have been squashed, including an issue where Morphite weapons displayed incorrect ammo counts in reload mode and a problem where some Gliders would incorrectly show styles or replace Back Blings.
Additional Polish Across All Modes
The patch notes detail further refinements: text chat has been restored in Fortnite Original matches; the vehicle radio button can be re-added to the HUD after removal; Aim Assist no longer activates without input when Auto Fire is enabled; and the storm surge threshold indicator now displays correctly in competitive matches. For the Blitz mode, specific improvements include making the Slap Juice item directly usable from the quick bar and repositioning Accolade, Quest, and XP notifications to prevent UI clutter.
LEGO Fortnite Odyssey Unleashes “The Thing From Beneath”
The most substantial new content arrives in LEGO Fortnite with the introduction of a limited-time Odyssey quest, available until April 27. The narrative begins with a new prompt in the Odyssey menu, hinting at mysterious creature sightings beneath Ninjago Island. Players who accept the quest are guided to the Airship Docks along the coast, where they meet Captain Flintlock, who sets the stage for a journey to a fog-shrouded island. This island leads directly to an arena housing a powerful new boss: The Thing From Beneath.
Adjacent to the arena is an altar requiring specific Ninjago resources. Players can offer Unknowable Energy to summon the formidable enemy or contribute even more to unleash a far more powerful variant. Upon entering the arena, the battle commences. The encounter resets every 18 hours, allowing for repeated challenges. Defeating the more potent version of the boss rewards players with a unique trophy denoting their mastery. The overarching goal is to face the creature from below, collect powerful tomes, and unlock parts for a new Zeppelin Balloon build.
New LEGO Gameplay Mechanics and Builds
Coinciding with the quest is the introduction of the Guided Build “Zeppelin Balloon,” a first look at the next device in the Odyssey. Its flight mechanics have been revamped for a smoother experience: lift is adjusted using controller bumpers or the Shift and Space keys on a keyboard, with holding the input increasing lift and tapping allowing for precise altitude control. Piloting has been overhauled to use familiar vehicle controls (WASD or standard controller inputs) instead of the previous channel-based system. Thrusters now only respond while the input is held, making long-distance flight smoother and more responsive.
A new weapon, the Katana, arrives for melee combat, allowing players to slice through enemies, parry attacks, and master ninja techniques. The resource economy sees a change as Unknowable Energy now depletes more easily and in larger quantities. For builders, vehicle physics have been rebuilt: drag force calculations are updated for greater accuracy, resulting in smoother, more responsive handling, improved maneuverability, and potentially higher speeds for existing creations.
LEGO Fortnite-Specific Bug Fixes and Balancing
The update also brings numerous fixes to the LEGO mode. AI behavior has been improved for obstacle avoidance, and Horde enemies will now cross paths and fight hostile AI. The Storm King can now be properly targeted with Geokinesis powers. Enemy Ninjas accurately target players with drill attacks, and issues with the Spinjitzu consuming too much stamina and ground-based Fire Dragons becoming immobile have been resolved. Numerous crash and performance issues across platforms have been addressed, and a bug preventing players from returning to the mainland from Ninjago Island has been fixed. Visual glitches, such as trees flickering for some players and persistent village boundaries after removal, have been corrected.
With the v40.10 update, Epic Games demonstrates a commitment to maintaining Fortnite’s vitality through a multi-faceted approach. It successfully marries temporary, community-driven fun with permanent, meaningful improvements to gameplay balance, accessibility, and technical stability. The significant injection of new content and mechanics into LEGO Fortnite underscores the mode’s evolving role as a persistent adventure platform within the larger Fortnite ecosystem. This patch ensures the game remains a polished, engaging, and ever-surprising experience for its massive player base, setting a solid foundation for the ongoing season.
