Fortnite server status: How long is Fortnite downtime? Is there an update today? What time

Fortnite servers will be switched off this morning, with matchmaking temporarily disabled and waiting in queue errors likely.

This is so Epic Games can release the new Season 4 update on PS4, PC, Xbox and mobile.

New game updates normally come every two weeks on a Tuesday. New Challenges and Loading screens arrive on Thursday.

Tuesday is typically the day servers go down for updates, but Epic Games yesterday remained silent about any impending downtime.

Many had expected the new 4.5 Patch Notes to be made available on June 26 as Epic Games rolled out the latest update for both Battle Royale and Save the World game modes

This would have been the cause for this week's downtime - which did not take place as usually on Tuesday.

The game would normally go offline at 9am BST, following an announcement on Twitter.

Instead, the game will go offline today in a bizarre twist.

The downtime will take place at "4:00am ET (0800 GMT)" as per most Fortnite updates.

Although Epic has told followers this will be taking place at 8am in the UK, due to the time difference and it now being BST, this will actually occur at 9am.

Players can expect to be booted from servers up to 20 minutes before the start of server downtime.

Once the servers go offline, patch notes should be released for players.

And when the game is switched back online, Fortnite should return with the new Playground Mode LTM.

Released on Sunday, the latest greeting from Fortnite said: "Let your creativity run wild in your own private island!"

The in-game message would suggest a release is imminent.

"Battle and build to your heart's content with an extended period of time to roam around the map as well as increased resource generation," reads the Playground description.

"All treasure chests and ammo crates will be spawned, try droppin’ in different spots and scope out the loot.

"Friendly fire is on so you can scrimmage with your squad (up to 4 friends per match), but fear not you’ll respawn immediately.”

Despite only being a limited game mode, Fortnite fans will likely be looking forward to some stress-free gaming.

When will Playground mode be added?

Typically, new updates will drop on a Tuesday following a period of downtime for the game.

However, after Tuesday came and went with any update, fans were left confused as to when the new update would drop.

The Playground Mode update is expected to drop today at 9am UK time.