Fortnite has set sail on a new adventure. The Treasure Hunters mini-season launched on November 1, 2026 with update 43.00, bringing a One Piece crossover, a brand-new skull-and-crossbones island called Crossbones Isle, and a rotating cast of pirate captains. Epic Games is billing it as "The Greatest Adventure of All Time," and it sits between Chapter 7 Season 4 and the start of Chapter 8.
The season trades Fortnite's usual map for a smaller treasure-hunting island, adds powers inspired by One Piece's Devil Fruits and brings in music stars as weekly captains. Here is a clear guide to what is new, how the schedule works, what remains unconfirmed and why it matters for the wider games industry.
Key Takeaways
- Launch: November 1, 2026, at 6 a.m. ET after update 43.00 downtime.
- New map: Crossbones Isle, built for up to 80 players, with One Piece locations such as Arlong Park and Windmill Village.
- Crossover: One Piece, with Devil Fruit powers and signature weapons arriving as Mythic items.
- Weekly captains: The Straw Hat Pirates and A$AP Rocky first, followed by Lil Uzi Vert, Cap'n Hatsune Miku and Kasane Teto.
- Unconfirmed: The season's end date and the start of Chapter 8 have not been announced.
Treasure Hunters at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Season | Treasure Hunters mini-season |
| Launch | November 1, 2026 (update 43.00) |
| Follows | Chapter 7 Season 4, which ended October 31 |
| Leads into | Chapter 8 Season 1 (date not announced) |
| Typical length | Mini-seasons usually run about 28 to 30 days |
| Map | Crossbones Isle, a skull-and-crossbones island for up to 80 players |
| Headline crossover | One Piece |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and mobile |
Crossbones Isle: A New Treasure-Hunting Map
Treasure Hunters replaces the standard Battle Royale map with Crossbones Isle, an island shaped like a Jolly Roger. The map is designed around exploration and loot hunting:
- One Piece locations: Landmarks include Arlong Park and Windmill Village, with other named spots such as Foosha Village and Marigold appearing in the trailer and early patch notes.
- Cannon travel: Players can launch themselves into the air with cannons to move around the island quickly.
- Hidden treasure: The core loop is hunting for buried treasure and for loot inside the island's treasure chest, which belongs to a mystery figure known as Captain X.
- Smaller scale: The island supports up to 80 players, rather than the usual full-size battle royale lobby.
One Piece Powers and Weapons
Combat borrows directly from the anime. Several signature abilities appear as Mythic items:
| Item | Inspired by |
|---|---|
| Gum-Gum Fruit | Luffy's rubber powers |
| Flame-Flame Fruit | Ace's fire powers |
| Three Sword Style | Zoro's swordsmanship |
| Slingshot | Usopp's ranged weapon |
| Shock Rocket | Dropped by A$AP Rocky's battleship boss; rains rockets from the air |
Players can obtain the Shock Rocket by challenging A$AP Rocky aboard his new battleship, one of the island's headline encounters.
Weekly Captains and Crews
Instead of a fixed set of bosses, Treasure Hunters rotates new captains and crews through key locations each week:
- The Straw Hat Pirates and A$AP Rocky (launch)
- Lil Uzi Vert
- Cap'n Hatsune Miku, a virtual singer turned pirate captain
- Kasane Teto, another Japanese virtual singer
This drip-feed approach gives players a reason to return each week, and gives Epic repeated moments to promote each new collaboration.
Battle Pass and Cosmetics
- One Piece characters: Portgas D. Ace and Nico Robin are in the Battle Pass from launch, with more One Piece cosmetics expected to roll out during the season.
- Anime-style outfits: Jonesy, Cuddle Team Leader and Charlotte receive new anime-styled looks.
- Sprites: New Sprites are part of the season's rewards.
Events and Schedule
| Event | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Captain's Day | November 1, then November 7, 12, 14 and 21 (Eastern Time) | Introduces new weapons, Sprites and other content in Battle Royale |
| Mastery Mondays | Every Monday | Perks such as starting a match with a Captain's weapon |
| Treasure Hours Sundays | Every Sunday | Increased drop rates |
What Is Still Unknown
- End date. Epic has not said when Treasure Hunters ends. At a typical length, it could run to around the end of November.
- Chapter 8. Neither the start date nor the details of the next chapter have been confirmed, and leaks disagree on timing.
- Full cosmetic lineup. The remaining One Piece items and their release dates are still being revealed.
- Long-term map plans. It is unclear how Crossbones Isle will be used after the mini-season ends.
Why It Matters for the Games Industry
This section is ASOWorld's editorial analysis, not a statement from Epic Games.
Treasure Hunters shows a few live-service tactics that apply well beyond Fortnite:
- Mini-seasons as bridges. A short, themed season keeps players engaged between major chapters, filling what would otherwise be a quiet period.
- Licensed IP as a hook. A large anime brand brings its own audience, creating cross-over interest from fans who may not normally play the game.
- Weekly drip content. Rotating captains and scheduled events turn one launch into several marketing moments.
- Cross-platform presence. Appearing on console, PC and mobile at once multiplies the reach of each announcement.
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What to Watch Next
- Weekly captain reveals. Each new captain brings new items, locations and promotional moments.
- Captain's Day events. The next ones are scheduled for November 7, 12, 14 and 21.
- Season end and Chapter 8. An announcement of the end date will likely come with details on what follows.
- Remaining One Piece content. More characters and items are expected as the season goes on.
Quick Answers: Fortnite Treasure Hunters
When did Fortnite Treasure Hunters start?
November 1, 2026, at 6 a.m. ET after update 43.00 downtime.
What is Treasure Hunters?
A mini-season that bridges Chapter 7 Season 4 and Chapter 8 Season 1, themed around pirates, treasure hunting and a One Piece crossover.
Which One Piece characters are in the Battle Pass?
Portgas D. Ace and Nico Robin are available from launch, with more One Piece content arriving during the season.
What is the new map?
Crossbones Isle, a skull-and-crossbones island for up to 80 players, with locations including Arlong Park and Windmill Village.
When does Treasure Hunters end?
Epic has not announced an end date. Mini-seasons typically last around 28 to 30 days.
When does Chapter 8 start?
Not announced. Leaks suggest late November or early December, but that is unconfirmed.
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