How battle royales changed the industry: From the outset, this analysis invites you to explore the origins, impact, and reasons why battle royales transformed the creation, distribution, and consumption of video games.

In summary: We explore its origins, market impact and development, the challenges and opportunities of 2025, and conclude with conclusions and frequently asked questions.

The origin of an unexpected phenomenon

When an indie studio first integrated a mechanic of over 100 players randomly dropped onto a large map, chased by a closing circle, a dynamic was born that revolutionized player expectations: survival, exploration, tension, and massive competition.

That formula was quickly popularized by titles like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) and then by Fortnite in its battle royale mode, expanding the concept beyond what was expected.

The key was combining several elements: free access (freemium), relatively short matches, visible progression (skins, battle passes), and an open and social multiplayer nature.

In fact, a recent study projects that the battle royale gaming market was valued at $10.13 billion in 2024 and could reach $22.42 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 10.54% between 2025 and 2032.

This explosion is comparable to when radio became television: the medium remained entertainment, but the format changed the audience's relationship with that entertainment.

Structural impact on the video game market

Changes in business model

The question is: why did studios embrace this genre so quickly? Because the business model proved powerful.

Battle royales enabled free or low-cost access, with monetization focused on cosmetics, season passes, and live events.

Data shows that the adoption of the free-to-play model dominated the battle royale segment, with monetization levels through in-game purchases transforming the genre's profitability.

Disruption of the development and marketing cycle

In terms of development, battle royale games required innovation in server infrastructure, networking technologies, streaming integrations, and ongoing support.

Marketing has also changed: championships, streamers, and collaborative events with brands and celebrities generate media attention and traffic from new players.

Resources previously dedicated to single launch campaigns are now distributed across seasons, ongoing updates, and social engagement.

Diversification of platforms and audiences

The impact was not only economic or technical.

The genre captured a wide audience, including casual gamers who had previously been uninterested in traditional shooters.

Furthermore, the proliferation of mobile devices accelerated adoption: in emerging markets, a cheap smartphone was enough to participate in the experience.

For example, according to market analysis, the mobile segment already represented more than 60% of the audience in some battle royale reports.

Original examples

• Example 1: A studio launches a battle royale set in a dynamic tropical forest where the map changes every ten minutes and players can build temporary shelters.
• Success comes not just from shooting, but from adapting to changing terrain.
• Example 2: A fashion platform collaborates with a battle royale game to launch a "fashion runway" mode where players compete for unique, limited-edition skins; this transcends the game itself and enters pop culture.

Why does this change matter?

When you consider How battle royales changed the industry, you are analyzing a paradigm shift:

Video games have ceased to be just a product and have become a service, a community, a spectacle, and an ecosystem.

This transformation has profound implications:

• Experience as a ServicePlayers no longer just buy a “game,” but subscribe to seasons, updates, and new content.
• Identity monetization: Skins, emotes, and battle passes allow the player to express style, not just function.
• Open and social competition: The massive, free-to-play multiplayer experience changed the barrier to entry and allowed for a more open, social, and persistent relationship with the game.
• Globalized marketThanks to mobile, the Internet, and freemium models, consumer locations expanded, and new emerging players entered the ecosystem.

A useful analogy is to compare the battle royale genre to an urban transformation of a city: previously, each neighborhood had specific functions, fixed buildings, and planned services.

Now, with technology, urban spaces become hybrid, multifunctional, and dynamic.

The genre has similarly adapted: it's no longer a fixed map, a single mode, a single release; it's a living ecosystem.

Challenges and opportunities in 2025

Although battle royale games were hugely successful, in 2025 they face new contexts that test their ability to adapt.

Opportunities

• There is still room for expansion in the global market.
• Studies predict that the battle royale market will grow to very high levels in the next decade.
• The integration of new technologies (augmented reality, cross-play, streaming platforms, UGC) opens up new creative and monetization avenues.
• The culture of community and streaming is still alive and well: viewers don't just play, they also watch, participate, and generate value.

Challenges

• Saturation: The genre is already showing signs of audience fatigue.
• For example, one report indicates that the proportion of game time spent on battle royale dropped from 19 % in 2021 to 12 % in 2024.
• Differentiation: When every studio is releasing a “bigger and better” battle royale, it becomes difficult to stand out without real innovation.
• Ethics of monetization and service exploitation: The continuous service model requires balancing community, game integrity, and player expectations.
• Community and healthy gaming culture: Massiveness increases the challenges of moderation, toxicity, and retaining good players.

The future will require developers to not only repeat successful formulas, but also revisit the gaming experience from new angles.

Read more: Soccer games: the passion for sports in digital format

What's next for the genre?

Looking ahead, when you observe How battle royales changed the industry, you can identify several possible trajectories:

• Full mobility: Toward more diverse devices, toward “anywhere” experiences, including integrated AR/VR.
• Genre hybrids: Battle royale can merge RPG elements, open world gameplay, strong narrative, co-op modes, and more.
• Community building and user-generated content (UGC): Players don't just participate, they also produce.
• Spectacle + competition: Esports, live events, and brand collaborations continue to grow, and the genre has an advantage in the spectacle format.
• Personalization and digital culture: gamers seek identity, style, and belonging; battle royales have already incorporated this and will continue to do so.

In short: the answer is not “will gender disappear?”

But rather, “how will it evolve to remain relevant and connected with audiences?”

Conclusion

When reviewing How battle royales changed the industry, it is clear that it was not just a change of format, but a reworking of the entire video game ecosystem:

Business model, player experiences, technologies, communities, production and content.

That change had a global reach, opened up new audiences, created new expectations, and shaped a new relationship between developers and players.

Now, as a player, developer, analyst, or curious person, you can identify the keys to that change and anticipate what's coming next.

Because understanding this phenomenon isn't just about watching games, it's about understanding a segment of the cultural and technological fabric that continues to expand.

Read more: Action and shooting games: evolution of the shooter genre

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called “battle royale”?
The term comes from the idea of “everyone against everyone until one remains,” inspired by films and concepts of mass survival.

In video games, it translated into more players on a map, progressive elimination, and increasing tension.

Do all battle royale games make money?
Not necessarily.

While the genre has proven it can generate high revenue (e.g., through skins and season passes), the market is also saturated, and retaining new players is a challenge.

The market report indicates that the entry of new titles must have a differential to compete.

To what extent are other genres changing because of battle royales?
Several traditional genres have adopted “battle royale” mechanics or season passes, sparking debates about innovation versus repetition.

In this sense, gender has had a transversal influence on the industry.

Do mobile games dominate the battle royale genre?

Yes, mobile adoption has been a key factor. A report indicates that on mobile platforms, the genre surpassed 60% of revenue in some analyses.

Does gender have a future?
Yes, but it will depend on innovation, adaptation, and how the challenges of saturation, quality, community, and diversification are addressed.

Understanding its roots and impact allows you to anticipate where it's going.