Fortnite Chapter 3, Season 7 is already considered one of the best in recent times—but the developers aren’t stopping there. This Thursday, July 16, the “Hot Bat DC Summer” event kicks off, bringing a fresh wave of DC-themed content to the game: skins, vehicles, a Sidekick dog, and—most importantly—three new Sprites. Here’s when it all arrives, what each Sprite can do, and how to get the legendary Batman Sprite.
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When does the DC Summer event start in Fortnite on July 16?
The “Hot Bat DC Summer” event officially launches on Thursday, July 16, immediately following scheduled maintenance. Maintenance for patch v41.20 begins at 4:00 AM ET and, as usual, will last for several hours. While there is no fixed end time, past updates suggest servers usually come back online between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM ET. For players in Moscow, this means it is best to log in no earlier than 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM. For those who prefer to check against local time, here is the schedule for key regions at launch:
Batman Sprite in Fortnite: How to get it and where to look
The Batman Sprite is a Mythic companion making its game debut with this update. It does not exist in the build prior to July 16; any claims that someone has already “caught” it should be dismissed as fake.
Where to find the Batman Sprite?
Acquisition methods are standard for all Sprites in Fortnite:
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Sprite Chests — scattered across the map. This is the most reliable source.
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Vault Chests — these often contain multiple Sprite Chests, making them excellent targets for an aggressive play.
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Eliminating opponents — if an enemy is already carrying a Sprite, you can claim it after defeating them. This way, you get an upgraded version rather than the base one.
What does the Batman Sprite do? Abilities and effects
As of now, Epic Games has not officially revealed exactly what buff the Batman Sprite provides. Insiders and the community are speculating based on the Dark Knight’s arsenal: the grappling hook, Batarangs, and detective vision. Popular theories include a movement buff (akin to the grapple) or an enemy-detection ability. Another hypothesis involves a post-respawn boost: a player who respawens or restarts receives a temporary increase in speed or shield regeneration. We await official patch notes and fresh leaks from dataminers.
All Batman Sprite Variants: Gummy, Galaxy, and Holofoil
The standard Batman Sprite is far from the only one. Epic has confirmed at least four rare variations:
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Gold
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Gummy
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Galaxy
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Holofoil
These variants differ solely in appearance; there is currently no information suggesting they provide any additional ability bonuses.
The Return of the Air Sprite: Abilities and Differences from the Batman Sprite
Along with the Batman Sprite, the Air Sprite—familiar to players from Chapter 6—is returning to the game. Unlike the Batman Sprite, its abilities have already been officially confirmed. This companion provides three passive buffs:
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Increased sprint speed
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Increased jump height (the jump gets higher with each Sprite level)
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Complete immunity to fall damage
The Air Sprite is perfect for aggressive play: it allows you to quickly take the high ground, escape pursuers, and not worry about falling from great heights. The variants are the same: Gold, Gummy, Galaxy, and Holofoil.
The Seven Sprite: The Third Newcomer in the Update
The third Sprite being added on July 16 is the Seven Sprite. Its function is tracking: it displays enemy players’ footprints on the map for your entire team. The duration for which the footprints remain visible increases with the Sprite’s level:
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Level 1 — 10 seconds
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Level 2 — 15 seconds
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Level 3 — 20 seconds
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Level 4 — 25 seconds
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Level 5 — 30 seconds
It is a highly useful tool for perimeter control and clearing out buildings.
What else the DC Summer event brings: skins, vehicles, and rewards
Beyond the Sprites, the “Hot Bat DC Summer” event marks Act 2 of the season, bringing a massive collection of cosmetics:
New summer-themed skins in the Item Shop:
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Summer Batman
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Summer Catwoman
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Summer Poison Ivy
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Summer Harley Quinn
Sidekick:
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Ace the Bat-Hound — Batman’s canine companion that follows the player across the map.
Vehicle:
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Buggy-style Batmobile — an open-top version with a summer design, replacing the standard armored body.
Unconfirmed item:
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Batman Grapnel Gun — rumored, but not yet officially confirmed.
All skins and vehicles will likely appear in the Item Shop following the patch release. Prices have not yet been announced.
The “Hot Bat DC Summer” event in Fortnite kicks off on July 16 alongside patch v41.20. Key daily objectives include finding the Batman Sprite (ideally the rare variant), grabbing the Aerial Sprite for mobility, and trying out the tracker from the Seven Sprite. The official abilities of the Batman Sprite remain a secret for now—keep an eye on the patch notes and Epic’s official social media channels. See you on the Island.
