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, revealing that while the genre as a whole is experiencing a contraction, Fortnite continues to dominate. According to Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, the battle royale genre has seen a decline in playtime, dropping from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024. This data was gathered from Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which tracks 37 markets across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, excluding China and India.

Interestingly, while battle royale playtime has decreased, shooter games have seen an uptick in playtime, maintaining a combined total of 40% of playtime with battle royale games. This shift highlights a dynamic change within the gaming industry. Despite the overall decline in the genre, Fortnite has significantly increased its dominance, growing from a 43% share of the battle royale market in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This indicates that even as the genre shrinks, Fortnite is capturing a larger portion of the remaining playtime.

In addition to the battle royale genre, role-playing games (RPGs) have also experienced growth, rising from a 9% share in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo's report highlights that 18% of RPG playtime in 2024 was dedicated to major releases from 2023, including titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield. This surge in RPG popularity underscores the diverse interests of gamers and the competitive nature of the industry.

Newzoo's analysis points out the intense competition for gamers' attention, with established titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continuing to thrive, while others struggle to maintain relevance. The growth in both shooter and RPG genres, exemplified by successes like Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3, further illustrates the shifting preferences within the gaming community.

Fortnite's resilience amidst these changes can be attributed to its continuous updates, evolving content, and the integration of various gaming experiences and genres within its platform. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to observe how these trends develop and how audience interests shift over time.