Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 launch live: our coverage of downtime and the release of the new Superman season
It means hope
Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 is now just hours away. The game is currently in downtime, and will come back online after maintenance. The last season just concluded with an epic Star Wars live event, which then showed Superman as the theme for the new season.
Epic Games has been busy teasing the next season of Fortnite over the last week or so, but so far we've only seen a brief teaser following the conclusion of the Death Star Sabotage live event.
Personally, I really enjoyed Fortnite Galactic Battle, with the blaster-only weapon pool being a refreshing change from the norm. I've been dropping in as the Star Wars updates have released, checking out the new Battle Pass skins and testing the new Star Destroyer portals. In my opinion, the recent changes have absolutely been good enough to keep Fortnite in TechRadar's best free games list.
Here's TechRadar's coverage of the launch of Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, including info on when Fortnite will go back online. Once it does, I'll provide some early impressions of the new superhero-themed season.
Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 - cut to the chase
Only have time for the basics? Here are the most important things to know about Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3:
- Start time: June 7 at 7PM PT / 10PM ET / 1AM BST (June 8)
- Theme: Superman / superheroes
- Downtime is currently in effect
Fortnite Death Star Sabotage live event - now ended
Fortnite Death Star Sabotage live event happened earlier today (June 7) at 11AM PT / 2PM ET / 7PM BST.
- US (West Coast): 9AM PT
- US (East Coast): 12AM ET
- United Kingdom: 5PM BST
- Europe: 6PM CEST
Fortnite next season release date and time
Epic Games is yet to detail the next season of Fortnite, but we know it'll arrive following downtime now that the live event has ended. Here's when it's back online:
- US (West Coast): 7PM PT
- US (East Coast): 10PM ET
- United Kingdom: 1AM BST (June 8)
- Europe: 2AM CEST (June 8)
Fortnite next season downtime
Epic Games has now taken Fortnite offline. It'll come back for Chapter 6 Season 3 on June 7 at 7PM PT / 10PM ET / 1AM BST (June 8).
Of course, this is just an estimation based on the time shown at the end of the live event, and times may slip, as they have in the past. Follow the live section of this article for updates on when you can jump back in.
What to expect from the next Fortnite Season
Hey Fortnite, eyes up here 👀 pic.twitter.com/U8v2SAxBNfJune 7, 2025
Official details on the next season of Fortnite are scarce currently, but we do now know that Superman will be involved. This lines up with recent rumors that revealed the new season's theme to be "Super". I'd expect other heroes to be part of the battle pass, and some Superman-related map changes like the addition of the Fortress of Solitude.
Fortnite Death Star Sabotage trailer
The full cinematic trailer for Fortnite Death Star Sabotage debuted during The Game Awards on June 6. This shows some space battle-action, as players pilot X-Wings and TIE Fighters in a bid to stop the Death Star from destroying Battle Royale Island. It's embedded above so be sure to check it out.
As a freelance games writer, it's my job to stay up to date with the latest games, especially live service titles like Fortnite. I've put hundreds of hours into the game at this point, having jumped on during Fortnite Vibing. Since then, I've particularly enjoyed the Fortnite OG seasons, which gave me the opportunity to experience older seasons of Fortnite that I missed the first time around. Hopefully, this upcoming Star Wars live event will be a great send off for what I've found to be a brilliant Season. As for what comes next, I'm interested to see if the rumors of a superhero Season hold true.
Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 live coverage as it happens
Time for a short break
Now that we're in downtime, it'll be five hours until the game is back online and playable. I'm headed off for a break, but I'll be back in the hours leading up to the launch of Chapter 6 Season 3 to cover any news that's revealed.
An update for Fortnite is available to download
Before the new season launches, you'll want to head onto your platform of choice and check for an update. I just got one on PS5, which is 20.147GB in total
What do we know about Chapter 6 Season 3?
So far, we don't know much about the next season of Fortnite, only that it'll arrive later today. Superman has been revealed, so it looks like the rumors of a "Super" season theme are correct.
Is Fortnite down?
Fortnite is currently down. This follows the epic Death Star Sabotage live event, which ended with an estimate on when Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 will arrive. If things pan out, you'll be able to jump back online at 7PM PT / 10PM ET / 1AM BST (June 8).
Superman confirmed for next season of Fortnite
After an intervention from Hope, we rifted away as the Death Star exploded. Then, the camera panned out, showing Superman overseeing the battle. An end screen shows that Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 will go live in just under six hours.
A battle with the Emperor
The Emperor has arrived to battle. And has immediately taken away our guns. Ultimate power indeed.
Gear up
We're now armed with blasters, and have encountered the first enemy resistance as X-Wings battle overhead.
Sabotage
Now we're inside, the goal is to smash generators with pickaxes. In true Fortnite style, it's all running smoothly so far.
The event is live
And I'm in! looks like we'll be posing as TIE Fighter pilots to start the mission from within. Things are kicking off with choosing a Stormtrooper disguise.
Death Star Sabotage begins in five minutes
Alright, last call. Head into the Death Star Sabotage lobby now if you want to get in for the live event. Just five minutes to go now.
Just fifteen minutes to go
The main Death Star Sabotage event will start in just fifteen minutes. Make sure you've loaded into the lobby if you haven't already.
Fortnite Death Star Sabotage matchmaking error
We're aware some players may be seeing matchmaking errors when trying to enter the early Death Star Sabotage fight and are actively investigating. In the meantime, entering another game mode and switching back to Death Star Sabotage may help resolve this. pic.twitter.com/mSsnaKKAgAJune 7, 2025
There's reports of players having matchmaking issues when trying to join Death Star Sabotage. Epic Games recommends switching to another mode, then switching back to Death Star Sabotage.
We broke through the shields!
We actually destroyed both shield generators, and most of the bridge. It seems the trick is to shoot small asteroids to reveal powerups. The blue boxes grant shields, and the red boxes seriously boost your damage.
New event teaser
You’ve prepared all season and now it’s time to take on the Empire in Death Star Sabotage, event starts TODAY at 2PM ET! Queue up early, you won’t want to miss this. pic.twitter.com/Szrxp1YTAnJune 7, 2025
A new event teaser just dropped on the Epic Games Twitter account. It shows iconic Star Wars characters gearing up for a big battle. A little over an hour to go now!
The Rebellion is...underpowered
Playing as an X-Wing in this mini game sure is difficult. At present, it all feels very weighted against the Rebellion, with teams rarely making it past the first stages of Star Destroyer defenses. Maybe this is the point? Hopefully to make the event feel like a bigger victory later on (assuming the good guys win, of course).
There's a TIE Fighter vs X-Wing mini game to play while you wait
You can now join the Death Star Sabotage playlist, and better yet, there's a pre-event mini game to try out too. It tasks TIE Fighters with eliminating X-Wings while protecting a Star Destroyer. X-Wings on the other team have to race to blow it up before losing too many ships.
You can now access Death Star Sabotage in-game
Death Star Sabotage just appeared in the Discover menu in Fortnite. This allows you to secure your spot before things start in two hours. It's highly recommended you do so, so you don't miss out on the action.
Death Star Sabotage should lead into the new season
It’s almost time. Text the group chat, prep that mobile download, and arrive early for our live event. Death Star Sabotage begins TOMORROW at 2PM ET. 📲 : https://t.co/HQu3pYCXFm pic.twitter.com/sbwkrzpig2June 6, 2025
Epic Games is keeping quiet on Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3, presumably because it’ll arrive shortly after the Star Wars live event ends. In previous seasons, there’s been a few hours of downtime between the end of a live event and the start of a new update. I’ll be sure to update you live as Epic details downtime, and how long it’s expected to last.
The Battle Pass comes to an end soon
There’s just a few hours left to redeem Battle Pass rewards. The final section gives you an Emperor Palpatine skin, as well as a Force Lightning emote.
There’s still time to check out Galactic Battle
Fortnite Galactic Battle comes to an end later today, but there’s still a few hours left for you to play. Currently, a Star Destroyer portal will spawn once per match, allowing you to take control of the hulking spacecraft’s turbo-lasers. This gives you a bird’s eye view of the map, marking nearby enemies and giving you time to blast them from above. This is a seriously powerful bonus to have, setting you up nicely for the final couple of circles.
Prepare for sabotage!
Before Death Star Sabotage, the Star Wars season approaches its end with special log-in rewards for all players. Log into Fortnite between June 3 at 9 AM ET and June 10 at 9 AM ET to immediately receive the Assault on the Death Star Loading Screen and Captain Phasma’s personal melee weapon: the Quicksilver Baton Spear Pickaxe.
Death Star Sabotage trailer aired during The Game Awards
A brand new trailer for Death Star Sabotage aired last night (June 6) at The Game Awards. It sets the stage for an epic space battle, as players race to destroy the Death Star. Primarily, it looks as though this will be a vehicle-based fight, though there's a tease in the trailer showing that you and your squad might kick off the event imprisoned somewhere inside the Death Star.
Just 2 hours until you can queue for Death Star Sabotage!
While you’ll need to wait a little longer to actually jump into Death Star Sabotage, the queue will open at 9AM PT / 12PM ET / 5PM BST. I recommend joining this as soon as you can after it goes live, as queues have been long enough in the past that it’s been possible to miss the event completely.
Hello and welcome
And so begins my live coverage of the upcoming Fortnite live event, the following downtime, and the launch of a brand new Season. Death Star Sabotage starts at 11AM PT / 2PM ET / BST, so not long now to wait.