Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1: Expected start date, leaked map, LEGO mode, more

Nathan Warby
Fortnite character next to Baller

Fortnite OG is coming to an end, and players are starting to look ahead at what Chapter 5 could have in store for them. Here’s everything we know about Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 so far, including the expected start date and what leaks have revealed about the map.

After almost a full calendar year, Fortnite Chapter 4 is coming to an end and the devs are committed to finishing this era in the strongest possible way. Season OG has been running since November 3, and has instantly become the most popular season in the game’s history, with many hoping the mode will stick around long-term.

But Season OG is nearing its conclusion, with The Big Bang live event set to bring Chapter 4 to an end and start Chapter 5. While Epic Games have remained tight-lipped about what’s to come in the next major update, a few details have emerged ahead of time.

Here’s everything we know about Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1.

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 expected start date

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 is expected to begin on Sunday, December 3, 2023, although this hasn’t been officially revealed. This is based on The Big Bang live event taking place on December 2, with downtime scheduled for 11.30 PM ET.

The servers are likely to remain offline for a few hours while the Chapter 5 update is prepared, before coming back on the next day. However, past live events, such as the iconic Blackout, took the game down for closer to 36 hours, so it’s possible that the new chapter could begin on Monday, December 4, instead.

The Big Bang artwork in Fortnite
The Big Bang live event will end Chapter 4 and start Chapter 5.

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 map leaked

Epic are yet to show off the Fortnite Chapter 5 map, but a leak may have given their first glimpse at what it will look like. A post from ‘FNAssist’ showed what the layout of the new island could be, although the names of the locations were missing.

The image revealed that the south side of the map is made up of mountains and valleys, while part of the northern section is broken off into its own smaller island, connected by just two roads.

It’s with keeping in mind that this all just a leak for now and we’ll have to wait for Fortnite Chapter 5 to go live to see exactly what the new map will be.

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 LEGO mode leaked

The official LEGO X (formerly Twitter) account has been teasing a crossover in Fortnite Chapter 5, and leaks have revealed that it could bring a brand-new mode. According to HYPEX, the Fortnite LEGO mode will play a bit like Minecraft, letting players mine and build their own items.

There will reportedly be an “energy system,” which can be refilled by sleeping in beds found around the map. Just like Mojang’s popular sandbox game, there will also be AI enemies that will pose a threat, so they’ll need to be fought off.

Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 racing mode leaked

Based on leaks, a Fortnite racing mode will be joining the LEGO mode in Chapter 5 Season 1. There aren’t too many details on the feature just yet, but Shiina claimed that it will feature 12 different tracks and allow players to unlock their own cars.

There is also expected to be a separate Battle Pass to grind through, as well as a standalone Ranked mode for those who want to test their skills against the very best racers.

There you have it! That was everything we know about Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 so far. We’ll be sure to update this page with more details as soon as they’re available.

In the meantime, take a look at our other Fortnite guides:

All Fortnite Weekly Quests | How to land at Hot Spots in Fortnite | What does Siphon mean in Fortnite? | What are account levels in Fortnite? | Best Fortnite keybinds and settings for mouse & keyboard | Best Fortnite controller settings

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].