A new report from Newzoo suggests the once-dominant battle royale genre may be on a steady decline, dropping from 19% of global playtime in 2021 to just 12% in 2024. According to the PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, which draws data from 37 global markets via Newzoo’s Game Performance Monitor, battle royale games are slipping while other shooter sub-genres and role-playing games are gaining traction.
Despite this downward trend, Fortnite, Epic Games’ flagship free-to-play shooter, is defying the odds. Instead of falling with the rest of the genre, Fortnite has expanded its dominance—growing from 43% of battle royale playtime in 2021 to an astounding 77% in 2024. This indicates that while fewer players may be engaging with the genre overall, Fortnite is capturing a much larger share of those who still do.
Why Fortnite Is Still Winning
Several factors contribute to Fortnite’s sustained success:
-
Frequent seasonal updates and engaging in-game events
-
Crossovers with celebrities, film franchises, and pop culture icons
-
A games-as-a-platform approach that evolves the experience beyond traditional battle royale gameplay
These strategic moves have helped Fortnite remain relevant and exciting, pulling in returning players and attracting new audiences even as competitors like Apex Legends and PUBG: Battlegrounds struggle to keep up.
Shifting Genre Interests
Interestingly, the Newzoo report also highlights the rise of role-playing games, which have grown from 9% to 13% of total playtime since 2021. Titles like Diablo 4, Hogwarts Legacy, and Baldur’s Gate 3 are leading the charge, suggesting a shift in gamer preferences toward deeper narrative-driven experiences.
The Future of Battle Royale
While the overall genre might be cooling off, Fortnite appears stronger than ever, with a model that adapts and evolves faster than its peers. Whether the genre will rebound or continue to shrink remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain—Fortnite is here to stay.
Stay tuned with us for more gaming and animanga news & updates!