Fortnite Dominates as Battle Royale Interest Declines, Report Finds

A recent report from research firm Newzoo suggests that while the battle royale genre may be facing some challenges, Fortnite remains a dominant force within it.

According to Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, the battle royale genre has experienced a decline in playtime, dropping from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024. This data was gathered from Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which tracks 37 markets (excluding China and India) across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Despite the overall genre's downturn, shooter games and battle royale games together still account for 40% of playtime, with shooter games seeing an increase as battle royale playtime decreases.

Interestingly, Fortnite has significantly increased its share within the battle royale genre, rising from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This growth indicates that while the genre as a whole may be contracting, Fortnite is capturing a larger portion of the remaining market.

In addition to shifts within the battle royale genre, role-playing games (RPGs) have seen notable growth, increasing from a 9% share 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.

The competition for gamers' attention is intense, with games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continuing to hold strong, while other titles struggle to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, both shooters and RPGs are gaining ground and capturing more of the gaming audience. The success of standout titles in these genres, such as Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3, underscores this trend.

Fortnite's ability to adapt and evolve through continuous updates and a diverse range of gaming experiences and genres has likely contributed to its resilience against the broader market shifts. As gaming trends continue to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how Fortnite and other major titles navigate the changing landscape of player interests.