Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Finds

A recent report from research firm Newzoo sheds light on the evolving landscape of the battle royale genre, suggesting a tightening market, yet Fortnite remains a dominant force. 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 tracks 37 markets (excluding China and India) across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Despite the genre's overall decline, the report highlights a significant shift within it. While battle royale playtime has decreased, shooter games have seen an increase in playtime, with both categories together still accounting for 40% of total playtime. Remarkably, Fortnite's dominance within the battle royale genre has surged, increasing its share from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This growth demonstrates Fortnite's resilience and ability to capture a larger portion of the genre's dwindling market.

In addition to the battle royale genre, role-playing games (RPGs) have also seen a notable rise in popularity, growing from a 9% share in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo's data shows 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 underscores the increasing appeal of RPGs to gamers.

Newzoo's report emphasizes the intense competition for gamers' attention, with standout titles in both the shooter and RPG genres, such as Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3, gaining significant traction. While battle royale stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to thrive, other games struggle to maintain relevance.

Fortnite's ability to adapt and expand its offerings, including a variety of gaming experiences and genres within its platform, has been key to its enduring success. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how these trends shift with changing audience preferences in the coming years.