Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Finds

According to the latest insights from Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, the battle royale genre is experiencing a contraction, yet Fortnite remains a dominant force within it. Newzoo's data reveals a significant decline in the genre's overall playtime, dropping from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024. This information comes from Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which analyzes 37 markets across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, excluding China and India.

Interestingly, while the battle royale genre's playtime has decreased, the playtime for shooter games has risen, maintaining a combined total of 40% with battle royale games. Despite a 7% drop in the genre's overall playtime, Fortnite's dominance has only grown stronger, increasing its share from 43% in 2021 to a staggering 77% in 2024. This indicates that even as the genre faces a downturn, Fortnite has captured an increasingly larger portion of the battle royale market.

In addition to the shifts within the battle royale space, role-playing games (RPGs) have also seen a notable uptick in playtime, rising from 9% in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo highlighted that 18% of RPG playtime in 2024 was dedicated to major releases from 2023, including titles such as Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield. This growth underscores the increasing popularity and engagement with RPGs.

Newzoo's report emphasizes the intense competition for gamers' attention and playtime. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to hold strong, other games struggle to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, both shooters and RPGs are expanding their influence, with standout titles like Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 exemplifying the success within these genres.

Fortnite's ability to adapt and evolve through constant updates and a diverse range of gaming experiences likely contributes to its resilience amidst these shifting trends. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to observe how these trends develop and how player interests shift in the coming years.