Honestly, if you haven't dropped into the Golden Coast today, you're missing out on the weirdest version of Fortnite we’ve seen in years. Everyone is talking about the South Park crossover, but that's just the tip of the iceberg for the new Fortnite patch notes that hit the servers on January 9, 2026. This isn’t just some lazy skin pack. Epic Games basically took the rulebook for Chapter 7, Season 1 and tossed it into a blender.
It's chaotic. It’s messy.
And it’s exactly what the game needed after a somewhat predictable December.
The Professor Chaos Event and Why You Should Care
So, here’s the deal. Yesterday, January 17, the Professor Chaos’ Power Hour officially kicked off. If you’re in North America, you probably saw it go live around 3:30 PM EST. For those of you in Asia or Oceania, you basically had to wait until early this morning, January 18, to see what the fuss was about.
But what is it?
Basically, Butters Stotch—or rather, his alter-ego Professor Chaos—is now a Boss NPC on the island. He's not just standing there looking cute. He’s wielding the Stick of Truth, and he is a total pain to take down. If you manage to bag him, he drops that Stick of Truth as a single-use Mythic. It’s arguably the most broken item in the current loot pool. Why? Because the rift anomaly it creates can shift the tide of a final circle in about two seconds flat.
Expect to see way more of these rifting onto the island throughout the week. Epic is cranking the spawn rate because, well, they named the event "Power Hour" for a reason.
Let’s Talk About the Flex SMG and Weapon Tuning
One of the biggest additions in the new Fortnite patch notes for v39.20 is the Flex SMG. This thing is weirdly versatile. It’s got two distinct firing modes that depend entirely on how you hold your controller or mouse.
- ADS (Aiming Down Sights): The fire rate slows down significantly, but each bullet hits like a truck. It’s almost like a mini-assault rifle.
- Hipfiring: It turns into a total spray-and-pray machine with a massive fire rate.
It’s not just a "hold the trigger and win" gun. You actually have to think about your range. Alongside this, they’ve added Stealth Splash, which is a throwable healing item that hides you and your teammates in a small area. It’s like a Chug Splash had a baby with a Smoke Grenade.
Vaulted and Unvaulted: The 2026 Shuffle
Epic is also playing with the nostalgia of Chapter 7. They’ve unlocked three more Bonus Pages in the Battle Pass, which means you can finally start grinding for those Super Styles for Kingston and the Dark Voyager (Reality Redacted).
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If you're a fan of the older maps, you'll be happy to know that the Asteria Awakened map is back in the Blitz Royale rotation. On the flip side, the Stranger Things map is officially gone for now. It’s a constant trade-off.
The "Born in Chaos" Mini Pass is Actually Free
Usually, when a big collab happens, Epic wants your V-Bucks. Not this time. Well, mostly. There’s a free version of the Born in Chaos Mini Pass that lets you earn 13 different South Park-themed rewards just by playing the game.
- Imaginationland Airship Glider: This is the big prize at the end of the quest line.
- Cheesy Poofs Rocketship Emote: Because of course.
- Backpack of CRED: This one is a bit of a deep cut for fans of the show.
You have until February 5 to finish these quests. After that, the South Park content likely disappears into the vault for a long, long time. Don't wait until the last minute because some of these "Collect Cheesy Poofs" quests are more tedious than they look.
Quints: The New Way to Play Battle Royale
This was a surprise. The v39.20 update quietly added a new mode called Quints.
It's exactly what it sounds like: teams of five.
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Most of us are used to Solos, Duos, or Squads. Adding that fifth person completely changes how you manage resources. You’ll find yourself running out of ammo way faster, and the "Self-revive" items that were introduced earlier this chapter are suddenly much more valuable when you have four people trying to protect you while you get back up.
Looking Ahead: The "Pimlico" Rumors
While we are all busy messing around with Cartmanland (yes, that’s a real POI now), the leakers are already looking at what’s next. Reliable names like Hypex and ShiinaBR are pointing toward January 21 as a massive date.
There’s a new mode codenamed "Pimlico" that is supposedly coming in v39.30 on January 22. Some people think it’s a Fall Guys crossover because of a leaked image showing a bean silhouette holding a basketball. Others are convinced it’s a Space Jam collab. Whatever it is, content creators are already playtesting it, and we’ll see the first gameplay footage in just a few days.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re logging in today, here is how you should prioritize your time to get the most out of these new Fortnite patch notes:
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- Hunt Professor Chaos immediately. He’s the fastest way to get a Stick of Truth. Even if you don't use it, you don't want someone else in the lobby having it.
- Focus on the Mini Pass quests first. February 5th feels far away, but these "Born in Chaos" challenges are specific to the Golden Coast biomes and will get harder as the map gets more crowded.
- Master the Flex SMG toggle. Don't just spray it. Practice the transition from hipfire to ADS mid-fight to take advantage of the damage boost.
- Check the Item Shop for the Stick of Truth Mythic. Wait, actually, you can't buy it—you have to find the Rift Anomaly. Keep your ears open for the distinct "crack" sound in the sky.
The game is in a weird spot right now, but it's a fun kind of weird. Between the driveable Reboot Vans and the fact that gold now resets every single match, you really have to play more aggressively than in previous chapters. Grab a team of five, jump into Quints, and see how the new weapon balance feels.