Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Finds

A recent report from the renowned research firm Newzoo suggests that while the battle royale genre may be facing a squeeze, Fortnite remains a dominant force. The 2025 Newzoo PC & Console Gaming Report has shed light on various shifts and trends within the gaming industry, with a particular focus on the battle royale genre. According to Newzoo's data, the playtime for battle royale games has decreased from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which tracks 37 markets (excluding China and India) across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, reveals that shooter games and battle royale games together consistently make up 40% of total playtime. As the playtime for battle royale games has declined, there has been a corresponding increase in shooter game playtime.

Despite the overall genre's 7% drop in playtime, the internal dynamics within the battle royale genre are particularly noteworthy. Newzoo's data shows that Fortnite's share of the battle royale market has surged from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This indicates that while the genre as a whole is contracting, Fortnite is capturing an ever-increasing portion of the remaining market.

In addition to the shifts in the battle royale space, role-playing games (RPGs) have seen a significant uptick, growing from a 9% share of playtime in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo highlighted that 18% of RPG playtime in 2024 was dedicated to major releases from 2023, including standout titles 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 and playtime. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to thrive, other games struggle to maintain their foothold. Meanwhile, both shooters and RPGs are expanding their presence and capturing more of the gaming audience's interest. The success of titles like Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 exemplifies this trend.

Fortnite's resilience amidst these shifts can be attributed to its continuous updates, evolving gameplay, and the wide array of experiences it offers across different genres. As time progresses and player preferences evolve, it will be fascinating to observe how these trends continue to develop and shape the gaming landscape.