Every Fortnite season in order is laid out below, chapter by chapter, with release dates, themes and the big changes that defined each one. Fortnite Battle Royale has run continuously since 2017, reinventing itself through numbered chapters and seasons, plus the occasional map-shattering live event. If you have ever tried to remember which season brought the storm, the Marvel crossover or the map flip, this timeline puts them all in sequence.
Fortnite is organized into chapters, each made of several numbered seasons. Chapter 1 ran ten seasons (2017 to 2019), Chapter 2 ran eight, Chapter 3 ran four, Chapter 4 ran four plus the Fortnite OG throwback, and Chapter 5 ran four before rolling into a new chapter. Each new chapter usually arrives after a huge live event that resets the map.
Chapter 1 (2017 to 2019)
The original island. Chapter 1 ran ten seasons and turned Fortnite into a cultural phenomenon, introducing the battle pass, the storm, seasonal map changes and the first live events. It ended with "The End," the black hole event that pulled the entire map into a void in October 2019.
| Season | Started | Theme / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Oct 2017 | The launch season, before the battle pass system arrived. |
| Season 2 | Dec 2017 | First full battle pass; knights and medieval cosmetics. |
| Season 3 | Feb 2018 | Space theme; the meteor foreshadowing began. |
| Season 4 | May 2018 | The meteor strikes; superheroes and Dusty Divot. |
| Season 5 | Jul 2018 | Worlds collide; rifts, Paradise Palms and the desert biome. |
| Season 6 | Sep 2018 | Darkness rises; the cube "Kevin" and Corrupted Areas. |
| Season 7 | Dec 2018 | Ice and snow; the frozen biome and planes. |
| Season 8 | Feb 2019 | Pirates and a volcano; treasure and the Unvaulting event. |
| Season 9 | May 2019 | Neo Tilted and a futuristic look; the Cattus vs robot event. |
| Season X (10) | Aug 2019 | Throwback rifts and mechs; ended with "The End" black hole. |
Chapter 2 (2019 to 2021)
After the black hole, Fortnite returned on a brand new island with swimming, fishing and boats. Chapter 2 ran eight seasons and leaned heavily into big brand crossovers, most famously the Marvel-themed Nexus War.
| Season | Started | Theme / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 2 Season 1 | Oct 2019 | New island debut; swimming, fishing and boats added. |
| Chapter 2 Season 2 | Feb 2020 | Spy theme; secret agents and Deadpool. |
| Chapter 2 Season 3 | Jun 2020 | The flooded map; the storm surge and Aquaman. |
| Chapter 2 Season 4 | Aug 2020 | Marvel Nexus War; Thor, Iron Man and the Galactus event. |
| Chapter 2 Season 5 | Dec 2020 | Zero Point; bounty hunters and The Mandalorian. |
| Chapter 2 Season 6 | Mar 2021 | Primal; crafting, wildlife and a jungle biome. |
| Chapter 2 Season 7 | Jun 2021 | Invasion; aliens, UFOs and Superman. |
| Chapter 2 Season 8 | Sep 2021 | Cubed; multiple cubes and the Operation Sky Fire finale. |
Chapter 3 (2021 to 2022)
Chapter 3 flipped the world literally: "The End" event turned the map upside down to reveal a fresh island. It ran four seasons with sliding, tents and a lighter, more colorful tone.
| Season | Started | Theme / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 3 Season 1 (Flipped) | Dec 2021 | New flipped island; sliding, tents and Spider-Man. |
| Chapter 3 Season 2 (Resistance) | Mar 2022 | No building for a stretch; Doctor Strange and a war theme. |
| Chapter 3 Season 3 (Vibin') | Jun 2022 | A relaxed summer vibe; Reality Tree and Darth Vader. |
| Chapter 3 Season 4 (Paradise) | Sep 2022 | Chrome takeover; ended with the Fracture live event. |
Chapter 4 (2022 to 2023) and Fortnite OG
The Fracture event assembled a new island for Chapter 4, which ran four seasons and added dirt bikes and augments. It closed with a fan-favorite detour: Fortnite OG, a month-long return to the Chapter 1 map.
| Season | Started | Theme / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 4 Season 1 | Dec 2022 | New island; dirt bikes, augments and The Herald. |
| Chapter 4 Season 2 (MEGA) | Mar 2023 | Neon cyberpunk city; grind rails and Eren Jaeger. |
| Chapter 4 Season 3 (WILDS) | Jun 2023 | Jungle overgrowth; Optimus Prime and new biomes. |
| Chapter 4 Season 4 (Last Resort) | Aug 2023 | A heist theme; grapple gloves and a luxury island. |
| Fortnite OG | Nov 2023 | A month-long return to the Chapter 1 map, a huge nostalgia hit. |
Chapter 5 and beyond (2023 onward)
The "Big Bang" live event launched Chapter 5 in December 2023 on another new island, alongside standalone modes like Fortnite Festival, LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing. Chapter 5 ran four seasons, followed by a Chapter 2 Remix event, and then rolled into a new chapter that continues to update roughly every quarter.
| Season | Started | Theme / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 5 Season 1 (Underground) | Dec 2023 | New island via the Big Bang event; weapon mods and a heist tone. |
| Chapter 5 Season 2 (Myths & Mortals) | Mar 2024 | Greek mythology; Zeus, Cerberus and Mount Olympus. |
| Chapter 5 Season 3 (Wrecked) | May 2024 | A wasteland theme; nitro, vehicle combat and Magneto. |
| Chapter 5 Season 4 (Absolute Doom) | Aug 2024 | A Marvel villain arc centered on Doctor Doom. |
After Chapter 5, Fortnite ran a Chapter 2 Remix event and then opened a new chapter in late 2024, continuing its pattern of fresh islands and roughly quarterly seasons. Because Epic updates the game constantly, the very latest season is best confirmed in-game, but the chapter-and-season structure above is how the timeline has always worked.
Fortnite seasons FAQ
How many Fortnite seasons have there been?
Counting by chapter: Chapter 1 had ten seasons, Chapter 2 had eight, Chapter 3 had four, Chapter 4 had four plus the Fortnite OG throwback, and Chapter 5 had four before the next chapter began. That is well over thirty seasons in total.
What is the difference between a chapter and a season?
A chapter is a major era with its own island, usually launched by a big live event. Each chapter contains several numbered seasons, and each season brings a new battle pass, theme and map changes.
Which season flipped the map?
Chapter 3 Season 1 introduced the flipped island after "The End" event turned the world upside down in December 2021.
What was Fortnite OG?
Fortnite OG was a month-long throwback in November 2023 that brought back the original Chapter 1 map and older weapons, drawing record player numbers.
How long does a Fortnite season last?
Seasons typically run around two to three months, though some have been shorter or longer. Chapters change less often and are marked by a map-resetting live event.
My takeaway
Fortnite's timeline is easier to hold in your head once you see it as chapters made of seasons, each chapter opened by a map-shattering event. From the original island to the storm, the Marvel crossover, the flip and Fortnite OG, the pattern of reinvention is what keeps it fresh. Curious about competitive gaming in general? Read our beginner's guide to esports, and if you enjoy list-style deep dives, our roundup of the rarest Fortnite skins and our timeline of every Call of Duty game in order are natural next reads. Want a quick free browser game to fill a break? Try Dino Run. For official details, the Fortnite news hub is the source of record.