A new report from research firm Newzoo suggests the battle royale genre may be losing momentum, but Fortnite continues to dominate.

Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025 highlights several key shifts and emerging trends across the industry, with the battle royale genre among the most notable. According to Newzoo’s data, time spent playing battle royale games has declined, dropping from 19% of total playtime in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Using its Game Performance Monitor—which tracks activity across 37 markets (excluding China and India) on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox—Newzoo found that shooter and battle royale games together still account for 40% of total playtime. As battle royale engagement has slowly decreased, shooter games have seen a corresponding rise in playtime.

Despite the 7% overall decline, the most striking development lies within the genre itself. Newzoo reports that Fortnite’s share of the battle royale market surged from 43% in 2021 to 77% in 2024. In essence, while the broader battle royale category has contracted, Fortnite has absorbed nearly all of its remaining audience.

As Newzoo emphasized in its report, competition for player attention and hours is intensifying. While titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends remain strong, others are fading. Meanwhile, shooters and role-playing games are expanding their reach and capturing greater mindshare. The success of standout titles in these genres—whether Marvel Rivals or Baldur’s Gate 3—makes the trend difficult to ignore.

With its relentless stream of updates, evolving content, and expanding range of experiences, Fortnite’s resilience isn’t unexpected. Yet time moves forward, and as player interests evolve over the years, we can expect these trends to keep shifting.