Bilder des Jahres 2020, News 08 August News Themen der Woche KW33 News Bilder des Tages August 15, 2020, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia: A child is playing a game on a cellphone with a picture of the Fortnite game on the computer screen in the background. Apple and Google announced their decision to remove Fortnite games from the App Store and Google Play app stores. Makassar Indonesia - ZUMAb223 20200815_zip_b223_003 Copyright: xHerwinxBaharx
Bilder des Jahres 2020, News 08 August News Themen der Woche KW33 News Bilder des Tages August 15, 2020, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia: A child is playing a game on a cellphone with a picture of the Fortnite game on the computer screen in the background. Apple and Google announced their decision to remove Fortnite games from the App Store and Google Play app stores. Makassar Indonesia - ZUMAb223 20200815_zip_b223_003 Copyright: xHerwinxBaharx
For years, gaming publishers scrambled to create the next Fortnite, as battle royals and live-service games took over the gaming scene. In fact, it was Sony chasing that goal that gave us a breakout hit like Hell Divers 2. Yet, that is slowly changing.
According to the PC and Console Gaming Report 2026 by Newzoo, player engagement with battle royale games has dropped significantly in 2025. This is a 27 percent decline from 2024, which signals a significant shift in player habits.
Their decline becomes even clearer when you look at the most popular titles. Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Overwatch all faced playtime declines by 29%, 24%, and 29%, respectively. But Call of Duty and Destiny 2 got hit hard the most, with 33% and 40% less playtime than last year.
The major reason behind this downfall is simply doing the same thing over and over. Historically popular franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield are also struggling to build on thier previous success.
Yes, there were new maps, skins, and seasonal updates. The live-service model also puts players together. However, the core gameplay loop rarely changes, and battle royale titles are no longer king of the hill.
Sandbox games are becoming the new player favorite
The same Newzoo data suggests that players are looking beyond shooters for something different. Instead of intense competitive gameplay, fans are now turning towards games that offer more freedom, diversity, and creativity.
As per the report, sandbox titles saw 36% growth in playtime in 2025 compared to the previous year. Games like Minecraft, Roblox, Terraria, and Project Zomboid are leading the charts.
Single-player titles are seeing a resurgence, too. Games like Crimson Desert, GTA 6, and many more are driving the hype. These games are expected to deliver massive worlds based on pure exploration and player liberty.
Take Resident Evil 9's almost universally positive reception as another example. While shooters like Fortnite or Call of Duty remain a big part of the zeitgeist, their heyday may be behind us.
Read more at Gaming Community by Max Level!
Written by
Nilendu Brahma
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi