Battle Royale Interest is Declining But Fortnite Continues To Dominate, New Report Says

A recent analysis from the esteemed research firm Newzoo suggests that while the battle royale genre may be facing a contraction, Fortnite remains a dominant force within it. According to Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, the battle royale genre has experienced a significant decline in playtime, dropping from 19% of total playtime in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

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

Despite a 7% overall decline in the genre's playtime, Fortnite's performance is particularly noteworthy. The game's share within the battle royale category has surged from 43% in 2021 to a commanding 77% in 2024. This indicates that even as the genre as a whole shrinks, Fortnite is capturing a larger portion of the remaining market.

Meanwhile, role-playing games (RPGs) are on the rise, increasing their share of playtime from 9% in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo highlighted that 18% of RPG playtime in 2024 was dedicated to major 2023 releases, including titles such as Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

The competition for players' time and attention remains intense, as noted by Newzoo. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to hold their ground, other titles are losing traction. Concurrently, shooters and RPGs are gaining more ground and capturing more of the gaming community's focus. The success stories of games like Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 underscore this trend.

Fortnite's ability to adapt and evolve through continuous updates and a broadening array of gaming experiences may explain its resilience amidst these shifting trends. As time progresses, it will be fascinating to observe how audience preferences continue to evolve and reshape the gaming landscape.