Summary

  • The battle royale genre has seen its playtime shrink from 19% to 12% in 2024, per a Newzoo report.
  • Fortnite's share of battle royale playtime grows to 77% in 2024.
  • The role-playing game genre sees growth, with titles like Baldur's Gate 3 becoming classics.

Despite gamers reportedly losing interest in the battle royale genre, Fortnite continues to dominate much of the video game industry, according to a new report. The new data suggests the battle royale genre's time in the spotlight may be fading, with other genres seeing spikes in popularity. However, Epic Games has maintained a steady ship, with Fortnite continuing to be one of the most popular games.

The gaming community can sometimes be hard to pin down, which is why some games fail while others carve out their own spots in history. While certainly not new anymore, the battle royale genre has been a big one in the industry, with many online multiplayer games launching with this in mind or adopting it post-launch. Fortnite is perhaps the biggest example and one of the most successful, with Epic Games continuing to provide updates for players on a consistent basis. However, new data suggests the battle royale genre is slipping.

Fortnite players can preview pickaxes and wraps in the locker and item shop.
Fortnite Has Made a Major Change to Pickaxes and Wraps

Fortnite surprises its players by making a highly requested change to pickaxes and wraps in Epic Games' popular battle royale.

1
By 

A new report from Newzoo shows that battle royale games may be losing their grip among players, revealing the genre has shrunk in playtime from 19% in 2021 to just 12% in 2024. Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report for 2025 cites its Game Performance Monitor, which looks at 37 different markets for data across both PC and console users. The report reveals that, as a whole, shooter games and battle royale titles make up roughly 40% of playtime. This means shooter games have seen an uptick in popularity, whereas battle royale games have gone downward. However, Fortnite and its battle royale mode show some interesting trends.

Fortnite Sees Increase in Players Despite Decline in Battle Royale Popularity

While this may sound bad for Fortnite, the new report actually paints a different picture for Epic Games' massively popular free-to-play title, with the game moving from 43% of the share of battle royale playtime in 2021 to a whopping 77% in 2024. As battle royale games trend downward, Fortnite remains at the top above other titles like Apex Legends and PUBG: Battlegrounds, likely due to the game's near-constant updates and seasonal changes. Fortnite's popularity also stems from its collaborations, with numerous real-life celebrities and iconic fictional characters all making their way into the game over the years.

Perhaps the most surprising part of the new report shows that other genres, like role-playing games, have seen substantial growth, rising from 9% in 2021 to 13% in 2024. Top games in this category include Diablo 4, Hogwarts Legacy, and the highly-praised Baldur's Gate 3, which has seemingly already been solidified as a classic in the video game industry. It's unknown how much longer the battle royale genre will last, but it seems like Fortnite could be here to stay, and with new seasons coming regularly, it's not surprising why the game remains popular.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Fortnite Tag Page Cover Art

Fortnite
Display card tags widget
Survival
Battle Royale
Shooter
Action
Adventure
Display card system widget
Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 super greyscale 8-bit logo PC-1 phone transparent
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget
Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
Display card main info widget
Released
September 26, 2017
ESRB
T for Teen - Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s)
Epic Games
Publisher(s)
Epic Games
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start
Fortnite Press Image 1
7 Images
Fortnite Press Image 1
Fortnite Press Image 2
Fortnite Press Image 3
Fortnite Press Image 4
Fortnite Press Image 5
Fortnite Press Image 6
Fortnite Press Image 7
Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Play Fortnite your way.

Be the last player standing in Battle Royale, Zero Build, Reload, and Fortnite OG, explore LEGO Fortnite experiences, blast to the finish with Rocket Racing or headline a concert with Fortnite Festival. Play thousands of free creator made islands with friends including deathruns, tycoons, racing, zombie survival and more! Join the creator community and build your own island with Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) or Fortnite Creative tools.

Each Fortnite island has an individual age rating so you can find the one that's right for you and your friends. Find it all in Fortnite!

Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
All platforms (except iOS/Mac)
Cross Save
Via Epic Account
Number of Players
1-4 players (online)
PC Release Date
September 26, 2017
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
November 10, 2020
PS5 Release Date
November 12, 2020
Nintendo Switch Release Date
June 12, 2018
Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
June 5, 2025
Genre(s)
Survival, Battle Royale, Shooter, Action, Adventure
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Local Co-Op Support
1-4 players (certain modes)
X|S Optimized
YES