A recent report from the research firm Newzoo sheds light on the evolving landscape of the battle royale genre, yet highlights the enduring strength of Fortnite. The Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025 meticulously outlines several industry shifts, with a notable focus on the battle royale sector. According to Newzoo's data, the genre has experienced a decline in playtime, dropping from 19% of total gaming time in 2021 to 12% in 2024.
Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which surveys 37 markets (excluding China and India) across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, reveals that the combination of shooter and battle royale games consistently occupies 40% of playtime. While battle royale playtime has decreased, shooter game playtime has correspondingly increased.
Despite a 7% reduction in overall battle royale playtime, the dominance of Fortnite within the genre is striking. Newzoo reports that Fortnite's share of the battle royale market surged from 43% in 2021 to a commanding 77% in 2024. This indicates that even as the genre faced a downturn, Fortnite's popularity and engagement only intensified.
In parallel, role-playing games (RPGs) have seen significant growth, increasing from 9% of playtime in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Newzoo notes that a substantial 18% of RPG playtime in 2024 was dedicated to major 2023 releases, including titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.
The competition for player attention and playtime remains intense, as noted by Newzoo. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to thrive, other games struggle to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, both shooter and RPG genres are expanding their foothold in the gaming market. The success of standout titles such as Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 underscores this trend.
Fortnite's resilience amidst these shifts can be attributed to its continuous evolution through updates, changes, and an expanding array of gaming experiences and genres. As time progresses, it's clear that gaming trends will continue to evolve in response to shifting audience preferences.
