A brand new report from analysis firm Newzoo signifies the storm could also be tightening on the battle royale style, however Fortnite is nonetheless holding sturdy.
Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025 has detailed a quantity of shifts and developments throughout the industry, and one of these shifting developments is the battle royale style. Newzoo's monitoring signifies the battle royale style has shrunk in playtime, going from 19% of playtime in 2021 to 12% in 2024.
Citing its Game Performance Monitor which seems to be at 37 markets (excluding China and India) throughout PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, Newzoo indicated that as a pair, shooter video games and battle royale video games routinely account for 40% of playtime. So as battle royale playtime has steadily shifted down, shooter playtime has been going up.
Despite the 7% shift, the distinction inside the style is likely to be the more stunning quantity. Per Newzoo, Fortnite went from a 43% share of the battle royale style in 2021 to a 77% share in 2024. Essentially, at the same time as battle royale video games trended down, Fortnite ate up more and more of the space inside the style.
Role-playing video games have additionally seen some noticeable growth, up to 13% in 2024 over their 9% share in 2021. Newzoo reported that 18% of RPG time in 2024 was spent in main releases from 2023, spotlighting Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.
As Newzoo said in its report, the fight for consideration in playtime and hours is fierce. While video games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends keep it up, different video games fall by the wayside. Meanwhile, shooters and role-playing video games appear to be encroaching on more territory and mindshare. Looking on the success of standouts in these genres, be they Marvel Rivals or Baldur's Gate 3, it's exhausting to argue.
With its fixed slate of adjustments, updates, and rising library of gaming experiences and genres contained inside it, it may not be stunning that Fortnite has weathered the storm. Still, time passes, and we'll doubtlessly see developments proceed to shift as broad viewers pursuits change because the years roll on.
Eric is a freelance author for IGN.