Fortnite v18.00 patch notes: Kevin the Cube, all map changes, Carnage crossover and more

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8 has finally arrived and comprises several new features, including the return of Kevin the Cube (and many others), minor changes to the map and a brand-new Marvel character: Carnage! The new season starts on the back of the Fortnite Operation: Sky Fire event, which wrapped up the previous season that had players fend off invaders with alien tech.

The new season is set to go live on the 13th of September following a short period of server downtime. While Epic Games did not offer up the official patch notes right away, we've got you covered with leaks from reputable data miners regarding the new Fortnite v18.00 update. Here's what we know so far.

Fortnite server downtime ahead of Chapter 2 Season 8 launch

According to Epic Games, the Fortnite servers will be offline starting from September 13th at 07:00 BST.  Although there is no indication from Epic Games when server functionality will be restored, it's likely that servers will only be offline for around 3-4 hours.

Cubes are currently taking over Fortnite as a result of Operation: Sky Fire, shaping up the next Season...

Server downtime for Chapter 2 Season 8 (v18.00) begins September 13 at 02:00 AM ET (06:00 UTC). Stay tuned for updates! pic.twitter.com/llldgEjy4E

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) September 12, 2021

During this Cube takeover, you'll be unable to play Fortnite prior to server downtime. Prepare to defend the Island!

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) September 12, 2021

During this time, players will be unable to queue for matches. Epic Games further noted that patch sizes will be larger than usual on the following platforms: Xbox Series X|S  (~21 GB), Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch.

Fortnite v18.00 Season 2 Chapter 8: patch notes

Unfortunately, the official patch notes for Fortnite v18.00 are not yet available. We will update this article with all of the relevant details as soon as the update drops.

In the meantime, here are a few leaks sourced from reputable data miners, HYPEX and iFireMonkey.

Fortnite Season 2 Chapter 8: the return of Cubes

The Fortnite Season 8 trailer was very obvious in revealing the return of Kevin the Cube. The only difference compared to the previous season is that there's a lot more of them. We expect that players will have to interact with Cubes in-game as part of their apparently significant role in the new Fortnite season's central theme.

In a tweet, iFireMonkey leaked text, which infers that Cubes are "spreading corruption" and "creating rifts" in the game. The text hints at monsters that players will have to battle in "the sideways" using special "sideways weapons."

The cube has returned, but now there’s… more of them. From the smoldering wreckage of the mothership a new threat arises. Cubes are waking up, spreading corruption, and creating rifts to “the sideways”. Enter the sideways to take on monsters and find sideways weapons. pic.twitter.com/ETaElgUlQU

— iFireMonkey (@iFireMonkey) September 13, 2021

Fortnite v18.00 Chapter 2 Season 8: all map changes

The new Fortnite map has the same layout as the previous season, albeit with a few minor changes. Slurpy Swamp is now named Sludgy Swamp, whilst Corny Complex is now named  Corny Crops.

There were no changes to POIs, apart from a few new red areas that appear on the map. These may represent sites where Cubes landed.

Fortnite v18.00 Chapter 2 Season 8: Carnage crossover

The new season of Fortnite will also feature Carnage as the latest crossover into the game. Carnage will be available as a "Level 100" reward for all Battle Pass owners. This means that it will take quite a while for players to unlock but we're sure that it will be worth it.

Fortnite Chapter 2 - Season 8: Cubed pic.twitter.com/SWLqg7tawv

— iFireMonkey (@iFireMonkey) September 13, 2021

iFireMonkey revealed that Carnage has a special mythic in Chapter 2 Season 8. Check it out below.

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 8 will end on December 5th 2021.

• Read more: Fortnite Operation Sky Fire live event: Start date and time, how to join and more

In the meantime, check out our dedicated section for everything Fortnite, from news to leaks, guides, drama and more.

Header image via Epic Games.