A recent report from research firm Newzoo suggests that while the battle royale genre may be losing steam, Fortnite remains resilient. The company’s PC & Console Gaming Report 2025 highlights several industry shifts and trends, one of which involves the declining popularity of battle royale games. According to Newzoo’s data, the battle royale genre’s share of total playtime decreased from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024.
Drawing insights from its Game Performance Monitor, which evaluates 37 markets (excluding China and India), Newzoo noted that shooter and battle royale games together account for 40% of total playtime. As battle royale games saw a gradual decline, the proportion of shooter games increased correspondingly.
Despite the 7% drop in overall battle royale playtime, the internal dynamics of the genre paint a more intriguing picture. Newzoo’s analysis reveals that Fortnite’s market share within the battle royale category surged from 43% in 2021 to 77% in 2024. In essence, even as the battle royale genre contracted, Fortnite managed to capture a larger slice of the remaining pie.
Meanwhile, role-playing games (RPGs) demonstrated notable growth, increasing their share from 9% in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo highlighted that 18% of RPG playtime in 2024 was concentrated in major 2023 releases such as Baldur’s Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.
As stated in the report, competition for player attention and time is intense. While juggernauts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to thrive, other titles struggle to maintain traction. At the same time, shooters and RPGs appear to be expanding their influence and capturing greater mindshare. Success stories like Marvel’s Avengers and Baldur’s Gate 3 underscore this trend.
Fortnite’s ability to weather the storm can largely be attributed to its dynamic updates, evolving content, and diverse range of gaming experiences. However, as player preferences evolve over time, it will be interesting to observe how these trends reshape the gaming landscape in the coming years.
