Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Shows

A recent report from the research firm Newzoo suggests that the battle royale genre may be facing challenges, yet Fortnite continues to thrive amidst these shifts. 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 is drawn from Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which analyzes 37 markets across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, excluding China and India.

Interestingly, while battle royale games have seen a decrease, shooter games have simultaneously seen an increase in playtime. Together, these genres account for 40% of total playtime. Despite the overall genre's decline, Fortnite has remarkably increased its dominance within the battle royale category, growing its share from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024.

In addition to the shifts in the battle royale genre, role-playing games (RPGs) have also seen significant growth. RPGs now command a 13% share of playtime in 2024, up from 9% in 2021. Newzoo highlighted 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.

The competition for player attention is intense, with games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends maintaining their presence, while others struggle to keep up. Meanwhile, both shooters and RPGs are gaining ground and capturing more of the gaming community's interest. The success of standout titles such as Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 underscores this trend.

Fortnite's resilience can be attributed to its continuous updates, evolving content, and the diverse range of gaming experiences it offers. As the gaming landscape evolves, it's clear that Fortnite has managed to weather the storm effectively. However, as audience preferences continue to evolve, we can expect further shifts in gaming trends in the coming years.