What Time does the Fortnite Live Event Start?
Epic has set the Zero Hour start for 11 AM Pacific 2 PM Eastern and 7 PM UK on November 29 2025. In Central Europe it begins at 8 PM and in India it is 12.30 AM on Sunday November 30 so players in Asia will be playing late at night.
The event lobby opens roughly 40 minutes before the show so you can join the special playlist early and sit in the waiting room. If you load in near the start time the playlist can fill up so it is safer to be online and queued well before the countdown hits zero.
Servers often get busy around these finales so expect longer logins or queues around the start window. It helps to update the game and log in at least an hour before the event so you only need to switch into the event playlist when it appears.
What Time will the Fortnite Live Event End?
Epic has not posted an exact runtime for Zero Hour but past chapter ending events usually last between 15 and 30 minutes. If Zero Hour follows the same pattern it should finish somewhere between 2.15 PM and 2.30 PM
Eastern Time with the story sequence flowing straight through without breaks. Once the event wraps up Fortnite goes into downtime so the servers will shut off normal matches while Epic pushes files for the next chapter.
Most reports suggest a gap of a few hours before Chapter 7 goes live so expect the game to be offline for a while after the final cutscene ends.
You cannot replay the event once it is over so there is only one live showing that progresses the world story.
If you drop out or disconnect there is no second run so staying in the match from start to finish is important if you care about story lore.
What Happens in the Zero Hour Event?
Zero Hour is built around a huge crossover showdown with characters from across Fortnite and other series meeting in one final battle on the island.
Teasers show Godzilla King Kong Star Wars ships and other returning threats all clashing while the storm and sky look much more dramatic than usual.
The focus this time is a gigantic Homer Simpson who has grown after taking in a shard connected to the Zero Point which is the core energy for the island.
This shard is needed to beat a new Demon Master level enemy so Homer becomes a strange kind of weapon with players trying to control the chaos around him.
The Simpsons team up with loopers during the event so you will likely see them in the sky or on the ground leading phases of the fight.
Epic usually mixes cutscenes with short bits of player control so you might be moved through different arenas during the event as the story escalates.
At some point the shard grows in power and a Dark Presence or new villain emerges which then sets up the main enemy for Chapter 7.
The event is expected to end on a big cliffhanger that hides most of the new map and mechanics until the servers come back.
How to Prepare for the Event?
You only need Fortnite installed and updated plus a stable connection but a few steps help avoid problems. Log in early check your settings and make sure your system will not force updates or restarts while the event runs.
Epic usually turns off most regular modes shortly before the event and highlights the live playlist in the menu. Join that playlist as soon as it opens and then wait through the countdown until the event takes control and starts the first cutscene.
If you play with friends set up your party earlier on voice so you are not trying to join each other when servers are busy.
Crossplay should work like normal which means squads on different platforms can watch the same event together.
What Happens After Zero Hour?
After Zero Hour finishes the game shifts to a downtime screen and you will not be able to play matches or rewatch the event from inside the client.
This downtime gives Epic time to switch the island to the Chapter 7 layout and enable new weapons systems and quests.
Chapter 7 is expected to launch a few hours after the event though exact timing can change if Epic needs more maintenance. When servers return you will likely see a new intro sequence that picks up from the Zero Hour cliffhanger and drops your character into the fresh map.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about the Fortnite Zero Hour live event, including start times and expected content. Official event timings and in-game details are subject to change as per Epic Games’ announcements. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to the official Fortnite channels on the day of the event.
