Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Finds

A recent report from the renowned research firm Newzoo sheds light on the evolving landscape of the battle royale genre, while highlighting Fortnite's enduring strength. According to Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, the battle royale genre has experienced a decline in playtime, dropping from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024. This data was gathered from Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which analyzes 37 markets across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, excluding China and India.

Interestingly, the report notes that shooter games and battle royale games together still command a significant 40% of total playtime. As battle royale playtime decreases, shooter games have seen an uptick, filling the gap left by the genre's decline. Despite the overall 7% drop in battle royale playtime, Fortnite has remarkably increased its dominance within the genre, growing from a 43% share in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This indicates that while the genre as a whole is shrinking, Fortnite continues to capture a larger portion of the market.

Beyond battle royales, role-playing games (RPGs) have also seen a surge in popularity, rising from a 9% share of playtime in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo's report highlights that 18% of this RPG time in 2024 was dedicated to major releases from the previous year, including titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield. This growth underscores the increasing appeal of RPGs and their ability to captivate gamers.

Newzoo's analysis points to a highly competitive gaming environment where attention and playtime are fiercely contested. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends maintain their presence, other games struggle to keep up. Simultaneously, genres like shooters and RPGs are gaining ground, with standout successes such as Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 leading the charge.

Fortnite's resilience can be attributed to its continual evolution, featuring regular updates, new content, and a diverse array of gaming experiences within its ecosystem. As the gaming industry evolves, it's clear that Fortnite has not only weathered the storm but thrived amidst it. However, as trends shift and audience interests evolve, the future landscape of gaming will undoubtedly continue to transform.