Fortnite v10.40 Update patch notes – The Combine, Starry Suburbs, more

Fortnite‘s v10.40 Update is now live, with developers Epic Games releasing the patch on PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. 

The 10.40 Update is expected to be the last major update for the popular battle royale game in Season 10, with Season 11 expected to kick off in early October, amid rumblings that we’ll see a brand-new map unveiled as part of the leaked “The End” in-game event. 

The patch introduces a brand new location in the form of Starry Suburbs, significant changes to how aim assist works for players who use a controller, plus a host of bug fixes and quality of life improvements designed to help gameplay and remove any glitches that have been affecting players’ experiences. 

The Combine

The headline addition in the v10.40 Patch is the introduction of The Combine, a brand-new game mode designed to test players as they race through the course as they race through the playlist. 

The playlist has been created to allow players the chance to “get familiar with the controlling settings improvements” included in this patch, although it can be played using keyboard and mouse too. The goal in the mode is to reach the end of the level as fast as possible while eliminating targets, with players able to compare their times against their friends using the leaderboards. 

The Combine lets players practice with the new aim assist settings.

The Combine

Put your skill and muscle memory to the test! In this new playlist, your goal is to reach the end as fast as possible while eliminating all targets along the way. Compete against friends or other players for the fastest time on the leaderboard. Share your best time using #FortniteCombine!

• This new playlist is a great way to get familiar with the controller setting improvements mentioned above! 
  • Though The Combine is useful for this purpose, it can also be played using “Legacy” controls, mouse + keyboard, or touch.
• The goal in this playlist is to reach the end as fast as possible while eliminating all targets along the way.
  • There are leaderboards that allow you to compete for the fastest time with friends or other players.
    • Each leaderboard provides options to sort times by your preferred input device.

Starry Suburbs

Fortnite fans have a brand new Point-of-Interest to explore, with Starry Suburbs popping up in the v10.40 update. The location can be found near Pleasant Park, and originally appeared on the map as a set of broken houses before they disappeared. Now, they’re back and have undergone significant repairs, with fans who played the early seasons of the battle royale title likely to remember the loot they could find here. 

Not only that, but shooting stars are falling out of the sky in the location, dropping powerful loot, and a “never-before-seen” weapon according to Epic Games. 

Starry Suburbs is hiding a “never-before-seen” weapon.

Starry SuburbsHave you ever wished upon a star for great loot? Come to this new Rift Zone to make your wishes come true — shooting stars with powerful loot are landing here!

• A Rift Zone has brought back the ruined neighborhood near Pleasant Park. However, the Rift Zone has given it a homeowners’ association — it’s a nice place to live now! 
  • The neighborhood is actually so nice that shooting stars make it their destination. Crush the stars to access powerful items, including a never-before-seen weapon!

Aim assist changes

Epic Games also made significant changes to the way that the game’s aiming system works, specifically for those who use controllers. Players who preferred the peripheral over keyboard and mouse, or who play exclusively on console, have long been able to repeatedly tap their ADS button, with aim assist pulling the crosshairs onto opponents.

Starting with the v10.40 Update, this trick is no longer possible, with Epic claiming that by making improvements to the overall aim assist system meaning that the developers “no longer feel it’s necessary.”

• Read more: Tfue destroys Fortnite pros off spawn with incredible aim

The crosshairs also received an update in this patch, as they will now turn red when on an enemy who is in “effective range,” meaning that no damage drop-off will be applied by the game to your bullet if it connects with them. 

The v10.40 patch also includes information on the new Zone Wars LTM, the return of the Bouncer from the game’s vault, and a host of bug fixes intended to improve the experience of playing Fortnite. You can view the remaining patch notes below. 

Remaining Fortnite Battle Royale v10.40 Update patch notes:

LIMITED TIME MODES: 

ZONE WARS

Team Type: Solo | Respawning: Off

A simulation of the end-game scenario in Battle Royale — but with a condensed moving zone! Eliminate the competition as you avoid the Storm closing in. Randomized spawns and inventory items make each round unique.

You can queue with up to 15 friends. 

• Zone Wars: Colosseum
  • Created by Jesgran.
  • Become the ultimate gladiator in a Colosseum-like island. This open-style island demands quick building.
• Zone Wars: Desert
  • Created by JotaPeGame.
  • Make your way through a small desert town to the final circle. A diverse set of weapons and mobility allow for unique gameplay and lots of replayability.
• Zone Wars: Downhill River
  • Created by Enigma.
  • Stay out of the storm as you move downhill through a river in this original-style Zone Wars island. Community launch pads and a consistent Storm path allow for familiarity after a few rounds.
• Zone Wars: Vortex
  • Created by Zeroyahero.
  • This island puts a unique twist on Zone Wars with its mountainous terrain to traverse. The elevation change from zone to zone can be quite drastic!

WEAPONS + ITEMS

• Explosive Batarang
  • Added an audio visualizer icon for proximity beeping.
• Shield Bubble 
  • Shield Bubbles will bounce off other players when thrown at them.
• Unvaulted
  • Bouncer
    • Rare trap.
    • Drops in stacks of 3.
    • Found from Supply Drops, Vending Machines, Llamas, and Floor Loot.
    • Can be placed on floors, walls, or ramps/stairs.
    • Provides a jump boost in a direction perpendicular to its placement.
• Enabled the Batman Grapnel Gun and Explosive Batarang in Arena and Tournament playlists.

Bug Fixes

• Resolved an issue in which the Health bars of vehicles would not display.
• When a Junk Rift object hits a player wearing a Bush, it will no longer damage the player instead of the Bush.
• Using a Grapnel Gun to enter a Rift Zone will no longer prevent players from moving around while skydiving.
• Resolved an issue in which players could deploy a Glider while in prop form.
• Being in prop form no longer prevents players from being affected by the Explosive Batarang’s homing.
• Explosive Batarangs will no longer float in the air after the object they are on is destroyed.
• Resolved an issue in which the Zapper Trap would not deploy at the location of the placement preview.
• Shield Bubbles attached to a Supply Drop will no longer disappear after the Supply Drop is destroyed.
• Shield Bubbles can no longer prevent fall damage.
• Shield Bubbles can no longer become stuck in the air.
• Resolved an issue in which Shield Bubbles would not attach to a vehicle when thrown by a player riding the vehicle.

GAMEPLAY

• Double XP Weekend!
  • Make this weekend double the fun. From Friday, September 27 at 9 AM ET to Monday, September 30 at 9 AM ET, you’ll earn double the XP for the matches you play.
• Matchmaking
  • We’ve introduced improved matchmaking logic to core modes. 
    • Players are now more likely to match with those of similar skill.
    • As players get better, so should their opponents.
    • We will slowly roll this out to core modes in all regions as we test and monitor how it performs.
    • Please see our blog post for more details. 
• New Sensitivity and Aim Assist settings on controllers.
  • For the details of these settings, please refer to our blog post. 
  • Note: When using these settings, crosshairs turn red while pointed at a target that is within effective range, which is anytime before damage drop-off is applied.
• Starry Suburbs
  • A Rift Zone has brought back the ruined neighborhood near Pleasant Park. However, the Rift Zone has given it a homeowners’ association — it’s a nice place to live now! 
    • The neighborhood is actually so nice that shooting stars make it their destination. Crush the stars to access powerful items, including a never-before-seen weapon!
• Moisty Palms
  • Players can now use the crouch input to exit prop form.
• Hitmarkers no longer display on teammates.
• Removed the Reset Camera control bind.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where players could use infinite sprays while in a Rift Zone.
• The building piece choice no longer resets to the wall option when players using a controller have the Reset Building option turned off.

AUDIO

Bug Fixes

• Resolved an issue in which the sound of a Chest would continue after a player opened the Chest. 
• The “Where is Matt” Emote music no longer restarts after every loop.

UI

• The Controls Help option, a menu option meant only for mobile platforms, is no longer present on other platforms.
• The Building Edit option is now located in the Building section of the Input settings rather than the Misc section.

Bug Fixes

• Match stats no longer clip off-screen during a Victory Royale celebration.

REPLAY

Bug Fixes

• The “You are in the Storm” warning no longer displays multiple times when switching spectated players.
• The Shield Bubble’s sound effects no longer behave improperly when players scrub a replay.

MOBILE

• Added a 2x multiplier for the Edit/Building sensitivity settings.
• Clarified Look Acceleration Strength tool tip.
• Toggle Targeting is set to on by default.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a crash when exiting the Battle Bus on lower-end iOS devices.
• Fixed a crash when switching to Presets with Custom Fire selected in the Fire Mode selection screen.
• The Fire Mode button in the Settings menu will reflect the currently selected Fire Mode.
• Scoped Assault Rifle crosshair now loads on first ADS.
• Players will be able to edit or destroy a floor piece when placed in a 1×1 pre-structured building.
• Players won’t be shot through player-built stairs when crouched beneath them.
• Friend Requests menu won’t display duplicate confirmations.
• Players will now be able to lock in place as a prop in Moisty Palms without HUD Layout alteration.
• Vending Machines will grant the currently displayed item using the dedicated button.
• The Edit with Touch function will now reset when pressing Reset in the settings.
• Push-to-Talk button won’t display a white square when pushed.
• Blueprint will be visible when deploying a Prefab or Gallery with the Retro filter active.
• Selecting Block and Report won’t result in a duplicate blocked user in the Blocked list.
• We’ve made graphical improvements to the following: 
  •  Bunnymoon Outfit 
  •  Axiom Outfit 
  •  Neo Versa Outfit 
  •  Infinity Outfit cape 
  •  Outfits with Jonesy as base model
  •  Standard Issue Back Bling
  •  Full Tilt Emote
  •  Barrels in Dusty Divot
  •  Floating Island

RECAP

• From server on September 19
  • Improved Storm logic to better avoid Final Storm Circles occurring at the POIs specificed in the v10.31 Patch Notes.
• From hotfix on September 19
  • Reduced the dance duration of Taco Time by half.
• From server on September 20
  • Resolved an issue involving the “Deal combined damage with your squad or duo” Team Spirit objective not tracking progress in Team Rumble.