Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Finds

According to a recent analysis from the esteemed research firm Newzoo, the battle royale genre is facing a contraction, but amidst this, Fortnite continues to thrive robustly. Newzoo's comprehensive PC & Console Gaming Report 2025 sheds light on several evolving trends within the gaming industry, with a particular focus on the battle royale segment. The report shows that the genre's share of total playtime has decreased from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Leveraging data from their Game Performance Monitor, which surveys 37 markets across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox (excluding China and India), Newzoo notes that shooter games and battle royale games together make up 40% of overall playtime. As battle royale games see a decline, shooter games are experiencing a corresponding increase in playtime.

Despite the genre's overall downturn by 7%, Fortnite's dominance within the battle royale category is noteworthy. The game's share of the genre's playtime has surged from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This indicates that while the battle royale genre as a whole is shrinking, Fortnite is capturing a larger portion of the remaining playtime.

Simultaneously, role-playing games are gaining ground, with their share of playtime increasing from 9% in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo highlights that in 2024, 18% of RPG playtime was devoted to major titles released in 2023, such as Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

Newzoo's report underscores the intense competition for gamers' attention. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to hold strong, other games struggle to maintain relevance. Both shooter and role-playing games are expanding their influence, with standout titles like Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 exemplifying this trend.

Fortnite's ability to adapt through constant updates, changes, and an ever-expanding array of gaming experiences and genres within its ecosystem likely explains its resilience against the genre's overall decline. As gaming trends evolve and audience preferences shift over time, the landscape will undoubtedly continue to change.