Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Wanes: Report

A new analysis from the research firm Newzoo suggests the battle royale genre may be facing headwinds, yet Fortnite continues to show remarkable resilience.

Newzoo's 2025 PC & Console Gaming Report outlines several evolving industry dynamics, including a notable shift within the battle royale category. According to their tracking, the genre's share of total playtime has declined, falling from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Based on data from its Game Performance Monitor— which covers 37 markets (excluding China and India) across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox—Newzoo notes that shooters and battle royale games collectively still command about 40% of playtime. As battle royale engagement has gradually decreased, shooter playtime has correspondingly risen.

Despite the overall 7% drop, the shift *within* the battle royale space is perhaps more striking. Newzoo reports that Fortnite's share of the genre surged from 43% in 2021 to a dominant 77% in 2024. In essence, even as the broader category contracted, Fortnite captured an increasingly larger portion of the remaining audience.

Role-playing games have also experienced significant growth, increasing from a 9% share of playtime in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo highlighted that 18% of all RPG time in 2024 was spent on major 2023 releases, notably Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

As Newzoo emphasized, the competition for player hours is intense. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends endure, other titles struggle to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, shooters and RPGs are capturing more attention and market share. The success of recent hits in these genres, from Marvel Rivals to Baldur's Gate 3, underscores this trend.

Given its relentless schedule of updates, changes, and expanding in-game experiences, Fortnite's ability to navigate the shifting landscape is perhaps unsurprising. Nonetheless, audience preferences will inevitably continue to evolve, ensuring that these industry trends remain in flux for years to come.