Fortnite Leads as Battle Royale Popularity Wanes

A recent Newzoo industry report suggests the battle royale genre may be facing headwinds, though Fortnite continues to dominate the space.

The research firm's 2025 PC & Console Gaming Report highlights significant shifts across the gaming landscape, particularly concerning battle royale titles. According to Newzoo's data tracking, battle royale playtime has declined from 19% of total gaming hours in 2021 to just 12% in 2024.

By analyzing data from its Game Performance Monitor - which covers 37 markets (excluding China and India) across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms - Newzoo found that shooters and battle royale titles collectively account for approximately 40% of all playtime. Interestingly, while battle royale engagement has softened, shooter games have seen corresponding growth.

Despite the 7% category decline, Fortnite's evolving market position reveals another dimension of the story. The report shows Fortnite's share within the battle royale genre has skyrocketed from 43% in 2021 to 77% in 2024. Essentially, while interest in battle royale games has waned overall, Fortnite has captured an increasingly dominant position within the shrinking category.

The report also highlights significant growth in role-playing games, with RPGs increasing from 9% of total playtime in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo notes that nearly one-fifth (18%) of all RPG time in 2024 was dedicated to major 2023 releases like Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

As Newzoo's analysis suggests, the competition for player attention remains intense. While established franchises like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue performing well, other titles struggle to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, both shooter and role-playing genres appear to be gaining traction and player engagement.

Given Fortnite's continual content updates and its expansion into multiple gaming formats, the platform's resilience comes as no surprise. However, as gaming preferences inevitably evolve, industry observers expect these trends to keep shifting in the coming years.