Gaming News Analyst
Get your gliders ready, Aussie loopers. The most wonderful time of the year is about to hit the Island. Fortnite Winterfest 2025 is confirmed to kick off this week, bringing 14 days of free cosmetic rewards, unvaulted weapons, and potentially the biggest collaboration in the game’s history.
While Epic Games has been secretive, reputable leakers have flooded X (formerly Twitter) with details that have the community buzzing—including a magical crossover that fans have wanted for years.
Here is everything Australian gamers need to know about the launch time and server preparation.
When Does Winterfest 2025 Start in Australia?
Based on previous years and the current Chapter 6 Season 1 update schedule, the Winterfest update (v33.10) is expected to roll out on Wednesday, December 18 (US Time).
For us down under, due to the time difference, the downtime typically begins in the evening or early morning the following day.
Estimated Australian Release Times (AEDT):
- Matchmaking Disabled: Thursday, Dec 18 @ 7:30 PM AEDT (Approx)
- Servers Back Online: Thursday, Dec 18 @ 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM AEDT
Note: Server queues are expected to be massive. If you are stuck in a “Waiting in Queue” screen for more than 20 minutes, do not restart your game, or you will lose your spot.
The Leaks: Harry Potter & Sabrina Carpenter?
The biggest talking point for Winterfest 2025 is the rumoured collaborations.
1. The Boy Who Lived: Multiple data miners have flagged code references that hint at a Harry Potter collaboration. Rumours suggest we could see skins for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, potentially alongside a “Hogwarts Castle” POI (Point of Interest) on the map or a dedicated Creative mode island.
2. Sabrina Carpenter: Following the success of the Eminem and Snoop Dogg events, pop star Sabrina Carpenter is heavily rumoured to be the face of the Winterfest music event, with a dedicated skin and emote bundle.
3. The 14 Free Gifts: As is tradition, Sgt. Winter (or a new host) will likely return with the Winterfest Cabin. Players can visit the lodge daily to unwrap 14 free gifts, which usually include two free skins, gliders, pickaxes, and lobby tracks.
Prepare Your Network for the Update
Winterfest updates are notoriously large (expect a 5GB – 10GB download on PC/PS5). With thousands of Aussies trying to download it simultaneously at 8 PM, local NBN nodes will be congested.
Pro Tip: If you experience slow download speeds on Battle.net or the Epic Launcher, try changing your DNS to Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) to bypass ISP throttling. (Read our full guide on How to Change DNS for Faster Gaming Downloads here)
FAQ: Fortnite Winterfest 2025 in Australia
Q: What time does Fortnite Winterfest 2025 start in Sydney/Melbourne? A: Fortnite Winterfest 2025 is expected to begin after server downtime on Thursday, December 18. Downtime typically concludes around 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM AEDT (Sydney/Melbourne time).
Q: Are Harry Potter skins coming to Fortnite Winterfest 2025? A: While not officially confirmed by Epic Games, prominent leakers and data miners have found strong evidence suggesting a Harry Potter collaboration will be the headline event for Winterfest 2025, potentially featuring skins and a castle map location.
Q: Is Fortnite Winterfest free to play? A: Yes. Winterfest is a free annual event. Players can log in daily to open a present in the Winterfest Lodge, receiving up to 14 free cosmetic rewards (including outfits) without purchasing the Battle Pass.
Q: Why is my Fortnite update downloading slowly in Australia? A: Slow download speeds during major updates like Winterfest are often caused by ISP congestion or throttling. Switching your DNS settings to a public provider like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) can often improve download stability on NBN connections.