The DC Summer event is almost here for Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3, and it's bringing a serious haul. Dubbed Hot Bat Summer, the update lands on July 16 and packs in new Sprites, a new gadget, summer-themed DC skins, and more. If you're planning to be online the moment servers come back up, here's exactly when that will be and what's waiting for you.
When does the Hot Bat Summer event start in Fortnite?
The Hot Bat Summer update goes live on Thursday, July 16, following scheduled downtime. Downtime begins at 4 AM ET, and while Epic hasn't pinned an exact end time, servers historically come back online within a couple of hours. Expect to be dropping into the island by around 6 AM ET.
Downloads are available during downtime, so there's no reason to sit at the menu waiting. Queue the update the moment downtime kicks off and you'll be ready to play the second servers return.
Here's the full global breakdown:
Hot Bat Summer update timer
What new Sprites are coming with Hot Bat Summer?
Sprites are one of the defining mechanics of Chapter 7 Season 3, and Hot Bat Summer is adding four new ones to hunt down. The headliner is the Batman Sprite, which fits neatly into the DC theme of the event. Alongside it, players can expect the Air Sprite, the Seven Sprite, and Cube Sprites.
If you want a breakdown of how the Batman Sprite works and when it officially drops, the Batman Sprite release date guide covers the details. For a wider look at how Sprites function across the season, the Fortnite Gone Wild Sprites guide covers every ability and how to unlock them fast.
What new items and weapons arrive with the DC Summer event?
Beyond Sprites, the Batman Grapnel Gun is the standout new item arriving with Hot Bat Summer. It's the kind of mobility tool that tends to reshape rotations and escape options the moment it hits the loot pool, so expect it to show up in a lot of loadouts quickly.
Batman Sprite ability screen
What DC skins and rewards are coming?
Hot Bat Summer delivers a full wave of DC-themed cosmetics. Here's everything confirmed for the event:
Item Shop skins:
- Batman Summer Skin
- Bat Hound Sidekick
- Catwoman Summer Skin
- Poison Ivy Summer Skin
Additional cosmetics:
- Harley Quinn Summer Skin
- Batmobile Car Body (potentially a Quest reward, though this is unconfirmed)
Season progression:
- Part 3 Mastery Milestone Rewards
The Item Shop skins will be available to purchase directly once the update goes live. The Harley Quinn Summer Skin and Batmobile Car Body have less clarity around their unlock methods at this stage, so watch for confirmation once the update drops.
What else is worth knowing before July 16?
Hot Bat Summer is the third major content wave in Chapter 7 Season 3, and it's the most DC-heavy yet. The combination of new Sprites, a mobility weapon, and four or more new cosmetics makes this one of the denser mid-season drops the game has seen.
If you've been collecting DC cosmetics this season, the timing lines up well. The Fortnite Batman Pen & Ink skin guide has full details on that earlier Batman cosmetic if you missed it.
For everything else happening in Season 3, the full Fortnite guides collection keeps all the current event coverage in one place.