In 2024, video game publisher and software developer Epic Games is projected to generate approximately 5.8 billion U.S. dollars in gross revenues, up from 5.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.

How does Epic Games make money? Epic Games' gross does not only include game revenue from the company battle royale hit Fortnite, but also engine revenue derived from game licenses and royalties, as well as Unreal Engine assets. Epic is the developer of the gaming engine Unreal Engine, which is currently monetized under a royalty model, meaning that is can be downloaded for free and Epic claims a percentage of sales revenue. Currently, Epic is not claiming a fee for developers that publish their games on the Epic Games Store. The Epic Games Store (EGS) was launched in December 2018. In May 2020, Epic announced that their share of royalties for games developed in Unreal Engine are waived until developers have earned their first 1 million U.S. dollars in revenue. Other income streams of the company include Epic Games Store revenue, and Merchandise and other revenue. Epic Games Store upsetting the industry standard One of the biggest headlines regarding the launch of Epic’s own digital storefront was the company’s attitude to developer / store revenue split. Gaming stores and app platforms including Valve’s Steam, the Apple App Store, or Google Play, usually take a 30 percent commission cut from game sales and in-game revenues. The Epic Games Store was released with the announcement that the EGS would only claim 12 percent of revenue, leaving 88 percent to the developers. This approach, as well as Epic’s attempt to circumvent Apple’s monetization strategies in the iOS app of Fortnite, has made many headlines, led to Apple removing the app from its App Store, and resulted in the still ongoing lawsuit Epic vs. Apple.

In 2022, the multi-platform free-to-play (F2P) gaming title Fortnite generated an estimated 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in annual revenues. This figure decreased from the previous year when the battle royale title made about 4.8 billion U.S. dollars in revenues.

In 2024, Epic Games had an estimated 4,358 employees worldwide, which represents a significant reduction from 2022 after a round of layoffs in September 2023. These layoffs affected 830 employees, which translated to about 16 percent of Epic’s workforce. How many people work on Fortnite? While it is hard to say how many of Epic Games’ employees work on the battle royale hit, it is safe to say that it is a significant number of employees. Most of the video game publisher and software developer's employees were working in the gaming segment, accounting for nearly 900 employees in 2019 when the company last revealed the figures publicly. For scale, these figures pale compared to Ubisoft, the gaming industry leader based on workforce. The French-headquartered company currently employs about 20,000 people. Video game industry layoffs The gaming company has also been affected by the wider tech industry layoffs that started rolling in at the beginning of 2023. Although the exact figures remain unclear, it is estimated that more than 11,000 video game industry workers were laid off in 2023. Additionally, 2024 is not shaping up to be much kinder, as already nearly 6,000 game developers lost their jobs during industry layoffs until the end of January.

Epic Games’ layoff of 830 employees is one of the largest of the 2023-24 industry shakeup , ranking fourth behind Unity Technologies (2,900 employees laid off in 3 rounds so far), Microsoft Gaming (close to 2,000 layoffs), Electronic Arts, and Sony Interactive Entertainment (both other 1,000 game devs laid off).

In 2024, video game publisher and software developer Epic Games is projected to generate approximately 907 million U.S. dollars in gross income, down from 1.83 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. In the most recently ended year, the company's gross revenue was estimated to be5.6 billion U.S. dollars.

In 2024, gaming company Fortnite reported that only seven developers or creators in Fortnite’s creator ecosystem were rewarded over 10 million U.S. dollars. In comparison, approximately 12,000 Fortnite games developers or creators had earned more than 100 U.S. dollars.

In 2023, video game publisher and software developer Epic Games is estimated to generate approximately 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in losses before interest and taxes with the company's gross income declining while cost of sales goes up.

Over the past decade, the Chinese technology group Tencent Holdings has invested heavily in developing its gaming business. In 2024, its online games grossed *** billion yuan – a considerable increase compared to the previous year. This made up almost ** percent of the Chinese tech giant’s annual revenue. Tencent’s gaming empire The entertainment giant has remained as the world’s top game publisher by revenue, leading the industry with ** million U.S. dollars in quarterly earning more than the second placeholder, Sony. Tencent's mobile games Peacekeeper Elite and Honor of Kings have been well-received in the Chinese market. In fact, the Chinese conglomerate controls stakes in some of the world’s popular games, such as League of Legends, Fortnite, and Clash of Clans. Its battle-royale game PUBG Mobile has gained immense popularity in overseas markets. The goldmine of online gaming in China In a country with over *** million gamers, the gaming market in China is massive and lucrative. Since 2017, the revenue of China’s video game industry has surpassed *** billion yuan and continued to grow steadily. Undoubtedly, Chinese consumers are highly engaged in mobile gaming. Role-playing, real-time strategy, shooter, and fighting games are the most popular genres. Besides mobile games, eSports is another booming game sector in China with role-playing games (RPG) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) being the major revenue powerhouse. Having scoped out the market potential of eSports, Tencent invested in the eSports streaming platform Douyu and acquired Douyu’s biggest domestic rival Huya in **********. It is quite unlikely for other market players to shake Tencent’s dominating status in the next few years.

The market size of PC gaming in the Netherlands was slightly above 250 million euros in 2018, well behind revenues made in console gaming or app-based gaming. It is expected, however, that gaming on consoles will increase the most. The main driver behind this could be the success of Battle Royal games (a genre of video games where up to 100 players are pitted against each other in a fight for survival until only one player is left standing). PUBG (PlayerUnknown's BattleGrounds), Apex Legends and especially Fortnite are the big frontrunners of this genre. Based on a ranking on the prize money earned by the leading eSporters in Fortnite from the Netherlands, 21-year-old Rojo (the gamer tag of Dave Jong) outperformed all other eSporters. This because of his second place on the Fortnite World Cup in July 2019, which won him one million U.S. dollars.

First released at the start of 2017, PUBG: Battlegrounds (previously known as PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds) is one of the most popular games on Steam and had 861,598 peak concurrent players in the last recorded month, April 2025. The highest number of concurrent players was recorded in January 2018 at 3.24 million. One of the biggest games on Steam PUBG gained a devoted legion of fans in a short space of time after its release, and cumulative unit sales of the game hit 75 million in December 2021. The game has also been critically acclaimed — it won the Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards in 2017 and its free-to-play mobile version for Android and iOS, released in 2018, was nominated for Best Mobile Game at The 2018 Game Awards. This critical success has also translated into commercial success, as the game generated millions of U.S. dollars of revenue, most successfully in the United States. On January 12, 2022, the game has become free to play. Battle of the Battle Royale games PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is an online battle royale game in which up to 100 hundred players battle it out until there is only one player or one team left standing. This format of game has become very popular in recent years. While PUBG has a strong following, especially on Steam, it has come under pressure from rival battle royale game, Fortnite. First released just several months after PUBG, Fortnite has since become a cultural phenomenon, amassing 500 million registered users in just six years. As of 2025, both PUB and Fortnite are still going strong with their loyal audiences.

Battle Royale Games Market Outlook

The global battle royale games market size was valued at approximately USD 8.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 22.4 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% during the forecast period. This remarkable growth is primarily driven by increasing internet penetration, rapid advancements in gaming technology, and the rising popularity of eSports, which have collectively expanded the reach and appeal of battle royale games globally.

One of the key growth factors in the battle royale games market is the increasing availability and affordability of high-speed internet. As more regions around the world gain access to reliable internet connections, the potential player base for online multiplayer games, including battle royale games, expands significantly. Improved broadband infrastructure enables seamless gameplay experiences, thereby attracting more players to the genre. Additionally, the growing adoption of 5G technology is expected to further enhance the gaming experience by reducing latency and enabling faster data transfer, which could drive the popularity of battle royale games even further.

Another major factor contributing to the growth of the battle royale games market is the continuous development and integration of advanced gaming technologies. Innovations such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI) are being increasingly incorporated into game design and development. These technologies enhance the immersive experience, making battle royale games more engaging and realistic. For instance, AI can be used to create more intelligent non-player characters (NPCs) and dynamic environments, while VR and AR can provide players with a more immersive and interactive gaming experience.

The rise of eSports has also played a significant role in the growth of the battle royale games market. The competitive nature of battle royale games makes them well-suited for eSports tournaments, which have gained immense popularity in recent years. Major tournaments such as the Fortnite World Cup and PUBG Global Championship attract millions of viewers worldwide, boosting the visibility and appeal of battle royale games. The increasing investment in eSports by sponsors, advertisers, and media companies further fuels the market growth, as it provides additional revenue streams and promotes the genre to a wider audience.

In the context of modern warfare and gaming, the concept of the Digital Battlefield has emerged as a significant trend. This term refers to the integration of digital technologies in both military operations and gaming environments, creating a seamless blend of virtual and real-world experiences. In the gaming industry, particularly within the battle royale genre, the Digital Battlefield is manifested through advanced graphics, real-time data analytics, and immersive gameplay that mirrors real-life combat scenarios. This evolution not only enhances the gaming experience but also attracts a diverse player base seeking realistic and strategic gameplay. As the line between digital and physical realms continues to blur, the Digital Battlefield concept is expected to further influence the development and popularity of battle royale games, offering players new levels of engagement and interaction.

From a regional perspective, North America and Asia Pacific are the leading markets for battle royale games. North America, with its advanced gaming infrastructure and high disposable income, represents a significant share of the market. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific, particularly countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, is witnessing rapid growth due to the large population of young gamers, increasing smartphone penetration, and the popularity of mobile gaming. Europe also holds a substantial share of the market, driven by the strong gaming culture and high internet penetration in the region. Other regions like Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are showing promising growth prospects as internet connectivity and gaming infrastructure continue to improve.

Platform Analysis

The battle royale games market is segmented by platform into PC, console, and mobile. Each platform offers unique advantages and has a distinct player base, contributing to the overall growth and diversity of the market. The PC segment continues to hold a significant share of the market, driven by the superior graphics, processing power, and customizable gaming

The eSports game with the greatest tournament prize pool between January and June 2025 was Dota 2, recording a cumulative prize pool valued at 6.84 million U.S. dollars. This cumulative prize pool was significantly higher than the runner-up, Counter-Strike 2, which had a cumulative prize pool of 4.9 million U.S. dollars during this period. Dota 2 Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena video game (MOBA) developed by Valve Software as a follow-up to 'Defense of the Ancients,' a community-created mod for the game 'Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.' In an effort to grow the popularity of DOTA 2 amongst ‘Defense of the Ancients’ players and to further promote the release of DOTA 2, the development company invited 16 of the world’s leading ‘Defense of the Ancients’ players to participate in a ‘DOTA 2’ tournament, an event that would eventually be held annually. It is this annual event, now referred to as ‘The International’, that offers such a substantial tournament prize pool and results in DOTA 2 consistently offering the greatest cumulative prize pool of any eSports game. eSports overview Whilst competitions have long since been a component of the video gaming industry, it wasn’t until relatively recently that eSports as a professional form of competitive video game play grew in popularity, with video game developers often organizing and funding many of the most popular eSport tournaments, which involve games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike, Valorant, Overwatch, Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros., and StarCraft. These tournaments often incorporate either multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), combat, card, battle royale, and real-time strategy (RTS) games. The most prominent types of video games associated with eSport tournaments include multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), fighting, card, battle royale and real-time strategy (RTS) games.