Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Wanes: Report

A recent analysis from research firm Newzoo suggests that the battle royale genre is facing increased competition, yet Fortnite continues to dominate. The Newzoo PC & Console Gaming Report 2025 highlights various shifts and trends within the industry, with a notable decline in the battle royale genre's playtime. According to Newzoo's tracking, the genre's share of total playtime has dropped from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which covers 37 markets (excluding China and India) across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, shows that shooter games and battle royale games together still account for a significant 40% of total playtime. As the battle royale genre's playtime has decreased, there has been a corresponding increase in playtime for shooter games.

Despite the overall decline in the genre, Fortnite's dominance within it has grown dramatically. The game's share of the battle royale market has risen from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024, illustrating Fortnite's resilience and ability to capture a larger slice of the pie even as the genre as a whole contracts.

Role-playing games have also experienced significant growth, increasing from a 9% share of playtime in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo's data indicates 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 gamers' attention is intense, as noted in Newzoo's report. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to thrive, other games struggle to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, genres like shooters and RPGs are gaining ground, with standout titles such as Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 leading the charge.

Fortnite's ability to adapt through constant updates and its expansion into various gaming experiences and genres has likely contributed to its success amidst these shifting trends. As time progresses, it's clear that audience interests will continue to evolve, reshaping the gaming landscape in the years to come.