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.
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.
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.
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Source: https://gamerant.com/battle-royale-genre-popularity-decline-fortnite-success-report/
