Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Shows

According to a recent report from the research firm Newzoo, the battle royale genre is facing a contraction, yet Fortnite continues to dominate. The Newzoo PC & Console Gaming Report 2025 highlights several industry shifts, including a decline in battle royale playtime from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which tracks 37 markets across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox (excluding China and India), shows that shooter and battle royale games together account for 40% of total playtime. As battle royale playtime has decreased, shooter playtime has correspondingly increased.

Despite the genre's overall decline, Fortnite's dominance within it has grown significantly. The game's share of the battle royale genre has surged from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This indicates that while the genre as a whole is shrinking, Fortnite is capturing a larger slice of the remaining market.

Meanwhile, role-playing games (RPGs) have experienced notable growth, increasing from 9% of playtime in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo noted 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 competitive landscape for gaming attention. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends persist, other games struggle to maintain relevance. Both shooter and RPG genres are gaining ground, with standout titles like Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 leading the charge.

Fortnite's resilience can be attributed to its continuous updates, evolving gameplay, and expanding universe of experiences and genres. As player interests evolve, it's clear that Fortnite has successfully navigated the shifting trends. However, as time progresses, we can expect further changes in gaming preferences and market dynamics.