Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Finds

A recent report from research firm Newzoo sheds light on the evolving landscape of the battle royale genre, yet underscores Fortnite's enduring dominance. According to Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, the battle royale genre has experienced a noticeable decline in playtime, dropping from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024. This data, gathered through Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor across 37 markets (excluding China and India) on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, reveals a significant shift.

While the battle royale genre has seen a reduction, the report highlights that shooter games and battle royale games together still command a substantial 40% of total playtime. Intriguingly, as battle royale playtime has decreased, there has been a corresponding increase in shooter game playtime.

Despite the genre's overall decline, Fortnite has not only maintained its position but has significantly increased its market share within the battle royale category. Newzoo's data indicates Fortnite's share skyrocketed from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This suggests that while the genre may be contracting, Fortnite is capturing a larger slice of the remaining pie.

In parallel, role-playing games (RPGs) have also seen a surge in popularity, growing from a 9% share in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo notes that 18% of RPG playtime in 2024 was dedicated to major releases from 2023, such as Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

Newzoo's analysis emphasizes the intense competition for gamers' time and attention. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to thrive, other titles struggle to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, the growth of shooters and RPGs indicates a broadening of player interests, with standout titles like Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 making significant impacts.

Fortnite's resilience can be attributed to its continuous updates, evolving content, and its ability to integrate various gaming experiences and genres within its platform. As trends evolve and audience preferences shift over time, it will be interesting to see how Fortnite and other leading titles adapt to maintain their appeal.