A recent report from the research firm Newzoo sheds light on the evolving landscape of the battle royale genre, highlighting that while the genre may be facing a contraction, Fortnite remains a dominant force within it. According to the Newzoo PC & Console Gaming Report 2025, the battle royale genre has seen a decline in playtime, dropping from 19% in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor, which tracks 37 markets across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox (excluding China and India), shows that the combined playtime of shooter and battle royale games still accounts for a significant 40% of total playtime. As battle royale playtime has decreased, there's been a corresponding increase in shooter game playtime.

Despite the overall 7% decline in the genre, Fortnite's performance is particularly noteworthy. It has increased its share of the battle royale market from 43% in 2021 to an impressive 77% in 2024. This indicates that while the genre as a whole is shrinking, Fortnite is capturing an increasingly larger slice of the remaining pie.

In addition to the shifts within the battle royale space, role-playing games (RPGs) have also experienced growth, rising 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, including titles like Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

The competition for players' time is intense, as Newzoo points out. While stalwarts like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends continue to hold their ground, other games struggle to maintain relevance. Meanwhile, both shooters and RPGs are gaining ground and capturing more player attention. The success stories of games such as Marvel Rivals and Baldur's Gate 3 are testament to this trend.

Fortnite's ability to adapt and evolve, with its continuous updates and expanding universe of gaming experiences, likely contributes to its resilience amidst these shifting trends. As time progresses, we can expect to see further changes in player preferences and market dynamics, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of the gaming industry.