Fortnite countdown sets stage for live event next Friday Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Fortnite countdown sets stage for live event next Friday Grande entrance? News by Tom Phillips Deputy Editor Updated on 27 Jul 2021 2 comments Fortnite will hold its next live event on Friday, 6th August at 11.05pm UK time (that's 6.05pm Eastern, or 3.05pm Pacific). This will be Fortnite's first big live event in quite some time - since last December's big Marvel season finale - and, unusually, it is coming in the middle of the game's current UFO-themed season. What do we expect to happen? Well, leaks and Epic's own legal documentation have pegged an Ariana Grande concert as coming soon - though the current state of the island suggests this will somehow be wrapped into its current alien theme. Watch on YouTube Today, Fortnite received its 17.21 update seemingly designed to prep the game for the event. I'm reminded of how Fortnite slowly got its island ready for the last big concert, for Travis Scott, which entertained 27.7 million people last summer. Spoilers for next week's event are already doing the rounds on social media, which we've chosen not to post here. For now, anyone can load into Fortnite and gaze at a big purple countdown clock in the centre of the map, underneath the big UFO mothership. All eyes will be on that next Friday, as its bottom portal opens... Event countdown! Also visible in the lobby. #fortnite pic.twitter.com/MUggxLTv5T- GNA - Fortnite Leaks & News (@gnanewsco) July 27, 2021 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings In other Fortnite news, today brings a new alien weapon to the game. See the Plasma Cannon in action below: Legendary Plasma Cannon Trailer!It's not in Competitive but the Inflate-A-Bull is back in Competitive! pic.twitter.com/qoex5lx8f3- HYPEX (@HYPEX) July 27, 2021 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 3 Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 7 Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Overwatch 2 suffers another DDoS attack and character roster bugs Mei Mei. 13 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090: a new level in graphics performance The Digital Foundry video review - and how the new GPU champion delivers for 4K 120fps gaming. Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 3 Feature Evercore Heroes wants to wind people up the right way "There's less rage at them, because they didn't end your fun." Genshin Impact Path of Gleaming Jade dates, login event rewards Including other anniversary rewards and how to claim them. Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store