Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Finds

A recent report from the research firm Newzoo sheds light on the evolving landscape of the battle royale genre, with Fortnite continuing to dominate despite a general decline in the category. According to Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, the battle royale genre has seen its playtime decrease from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Utilizing data from its Game Performance Monitor, which covers 37 markets (excluding China and India) on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, Newzoo reports that shooter and battle royale games together consistently make up 40% of gaming playtime. As the battle royale segment experiences a downturn, shooter games are witnessing an uptick in playtime.

Despite a 7% reduction in overall battle royale playtime, Fortnite has impressively increased its share within the genre. From a 43% share in 2021, Fortnite now commands a staggering 77% share in 2024. This indicates that while the genre as a whole is shrinking, Fortnite is capturing an ever-larger portion of the remaining market.

Meanwhile, the role-playing game (RPG) category has seen significant growth, increasing from a 9% share in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo highlights that 18% of RPG playtime in 2024 was dedicated to major 2023 releases, 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, with stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends maintaining their presence, while other titles struggle to keep up. At the same time, shooters and RPGs are gaining ground, as evidenced by the success of games like Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3.

Fortnite's resilience amidst these shifting trends can be attributed to its continuous updates, evolving content, and diverse gaming experiences within its ecosystem. As audience preferences evolve, it will be fascinating to observe how these trends continue to develop in the coming years.