Over the past decade, battle royale games have surged in popularity, transforming the landscape of the gaming industry. With their intense, last-man-standing gameplay, immersive environments, and emphasis on survival, the genre has captivated millions of players worldwide. This meteoric rise in popularity was not an overnight phenomenon; rather, it was the result of a gradual evolution of game design, technical innovation, and cultural shifts that created the perfect storm for battle royale games to dominate the gaming scene.
In this article, we’ll explore the history of the battle royale genre, its key milestones, and how it came to revolutionize the gaming world.
Origins of Battle Royale
The origins of the battle royale genre can be traced back to a combination of influences from different forms of entertainment and video games. The genre’s name, “battle royale,” is borrowed from the 1999 Japanese novel and its 2000 film adaptation, Battle Royale, where a group of students is stranded on an island and forced to fight to the death. The concept of a shrinking safe zone and only one victor surviving was central to this narrative and laid the groundwork for what would later be implemented in video games.
Early Influences
While Battle Royale served as a cultural touchstone, the actual mechanics of what we now know as battle royale gameplay first began to emerge in other gaming genres. One of the key inspirations came from open-world survival games like DayZ and Minecraft Hunger Games, which emphasized large-scale maps, resource gathering, and survival mechanics. These games weren’t fully-fledged battle royales, but they contained the core concept of players being dropped into a vast environment with limited resources, where survival required both skill and strategy.
DayZ Mod and playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
The early 2010s saw the first significant step toward the battle royale genre as we know it today, thanks to mods like DayZ, a mod for the military simulation game ARMA 2. DayZ was a survival game where players had to scavenge for supplies in a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested world. While it wasn’t a battle royale, the game introduced key elements such as large, open maps, player-versus-player (PvP) combat, and an overarching emphasis on survival.
The next major development came from Brendan Greene, better known by his online handle “PlayerUnknown,” who built upon the concept of DayZ with his own ARMA mod called PlayerUnknown’s Battle Royale. Greene designed this mod specifically around the last-man-standing concept, where up to 100 players were dropped into a massive map, and the playable area would gradually shrink, forcing players into increasingly intense encounters. This mod became so popular that it spawned its own standalone game, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), which launched in early access in 2017.
PUBG quickly became a global sensation, selling millions of copies within its first few months. The game’s appeal lay in its tension-filled gameplay, where players had to navigate a huge map, loot for weapons and equipment, and outlast their opponents while a shrinking safe zone kept everyone on the move. PUBG became the first major success in the battle royale genre, paving the way for other games to follow.
The Fortnite Revolution
While PUBG was the first major hit, it was Fortnite that truly catapulted the battle royale genre into the mainstream. Initially, Fortnite was a cooperative survival game developed by Epic Games, focused on base-building and fighting off waves of enemies. However, after seeing the success of PUBG, Epic Games decided to pivot and create a battle royale mode for Fortnite, which was released as a free-to-play game in September 2017.
Fortnite Battle Royale took the core mechanics of PUBG—a large map, a shrinking play area, and survival-based combat—but added a few unique twists, such as the ability to build structures and its vibrant, cartoonish aesthetic. These elements made the game more accessible to a wider audience, particularly younger players, and gave it a distinct identity within the battle royale genre. Its free-to-play model, combined with frequent updates, in-game events, and cross-platform play, allowed Fortnite to dominate the market.
By the end of 2018, Fortnite had over 200 million registered players, making it not just a gaming sensation but a cultural phenomenon. Celebrities, professional athletes, and streamers all flocked to the game, and it became a common sight on Twitch and YouTube. Epic Games’ use of seasonal content updates and in-game events, such as the famous live rocket launch and the Travis Scott concert, kept players engaged and invested in the game’s evolving world.
Fortnite’s Impact on Pop Culture
One of the key reasons for Fortnite’s unprecedented success was its ability to transcend gaming and become a major player in popular culture. The game’s vibrant aesthetic, emote dances, and creative collaborations with brands and celebrities ensured its presence in mainstream media. High-profile players like Drake, Travis Scott, and Ninja brought Fortnite to the attention of millions of non-gamers, and the game soon became synonymous with youth culture.
The influence of Fortnite also stretched into other sectors. Its virtual economy, driven by microtransactions for cosmetic items, earned Epic Games billions of dollars. The battle pass system, which allows players to earn rewards through gameplay, became a standard feature in many games after Fortnite’s success.
The Rise of Competitors: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Beyond
While Fortnite was dominating the battle royale space, other developers were quick to capitalize on the genre’s popularity. In February 2019, Apex Legends, developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by EA, launched as a free-to-play battle royale game. Apex Legends introduced several innovations to the genre, including a fast-paced movement system, team-based gameplay, and unique characters with special abilities, known as “Legends.” The game was praised for its polished mechanics, and within its first week, it amassed over 25 million players.
Another major contender emerged in March 2020 with the release of Call of Duty: Warzone. Leveraging the Call of Duty franchise’s large player base and familiar gameplay, Warzone offered a battle royale experience that retained the fast-paced gunplay of traditional Call of Duty games. It also introduced features such as the Gulag—a second chance mechanic where eliminated players could fight one-on-one for a chance to return to the game.
Both Apex Legends and Warzone demonstrated that there was room for innovation within the battle royale genre. The success of these games further solidified the genre’s staying power, attracting both casual gamers and dedicated fans.
The Battle Royale Ecosystem: Esports, Streaming, and Communities
As battle royale games grew in popularity, they began to carve out significant space in the world of esports and streaming. Competitive Fortnite, PUBG, and Apex Legends tournaments drew massive audiences, with prize pools reaching millions of dollars. The 2019 Fortnite World Cup, for instance, had a prize pool of $30 million, with 16-year-old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf taking home $3 million for his solo victory.
Streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube have also been integral to the rise of battle royale games. Games like Fortnite and Warzone consistently rank among the most-watched games on these platforms, and many streamers have built their careers on the back of battle royale titles. The genre’s unpredictable, high-stakes nature makes it perfect for streaming, as no two matches are ever the same.
Communities surrounding battle royale games have also flourished, with players forming squads, creating fan content, and participating in fan events. The genre’s social aspect, where players can team up with friends or strangers to compete for victory, has helped foster a strong sense of camaraderie within these communities.
The Future of Battle Royale Games
As we look to the future, the battle royale genre shows no signs of slowing down. Developers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, incorporating new features, mechanics, and innovations to keep players engaged. Games like Fortnite and Apex Legends continue to evolve with seasonal content updates, while newer games like Naraka: Bladepoint, which combines melee combat with the battle royale formula, introduce fresh ideas into the genre.
We may also see more integration of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into battle royale games, creating even more immersive experiences for players. The success of battle royale as a free-to-play model with in-game purchases is also likely to continue influencing the business strategies of developers, not just within this genre but across the gaming industry.
Conclusion
The evolution of battle royale games has been a fascinating journey, marked by constant innovation, cultural relevance, and massive player engagement. From the early days of PUBG to the cultural phenomenon of Fortnite, battle royale games have reshaped the way we think about multiplayer gaming. With competitors like Apex Legends and Warzone pushing the genre forward, and new technologies on the horizon, the future of battle royale looks brighter than ever.
As the genre continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly remain a central force in the gaming world, influencing everything from esports to popular culture. Whether you’re a hardcore player or a casual fan, there’s no denying that battle royale games have taken over the world—and they’re here to stay.
