Fortnite Surpasses Call of Duty by 10 Million Hours in Christmas Day Playtime Showdown

Now that January is nearing its end, it’s a good time to look back at the recent holiday season. You’ve probably settled back into your routine, but let’s rewind to discover which game kept everyone occupied, whether they were avoiding family gatherings or simply relaxing after a hearty Christmas meal. Unsurprisingly, the winner was Fortnite.

Thanks to insights from research firm Ampere, shared by Chris Dring on VGC, we now have a clear view of how December 2024 played out in the gaming world. As expected, Fortnite was a major player, but another colossal shooter was right on its heels. Yes, you’ve guessed it: Call of Duty. It’s the classic game we all know.

On Christmas Day itself, Fortnite players collectively racked up a staggering 30 million hours of playtime. This roughly translates to each player spending around 2.3 hours aiming for those victory royales, attending in-game Mariah Carey concerts, or engaging in any number of the countless activities Fortnite offers at any moment.

Meanwhile, the Call of Duty franchise collectively saw its players clock 20 million hours that same day. Black Ops 6 was undoubtedly a key component of this success. Despite its efforts, it was a bit like launching a last-minute offensive on Nuketown, only to fall short. Don’t worry, there’s always the next match for a jaw-dropping 360 no-scope!

However, there’s no need for Call of Duty to feel disheartened. Ampere’s data highlighted that Black Ops 6 was “one of the biggest games over the Holiday period,” with a strong performance in December. The game helped Call of Duty headquarters pull in 38 million monthly users back in November 2024.

Xbox also had a fantastic December, thanks to titles like Indiana Jones’ latest adventure. Microsoft saw a whopping $465 million spent on its games during the month. According to Ampere, this achievement made Microsoft the world’s leading publisher across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, pushing past EA. EA, buoyed by the enduring success of EA Sports FC, still performed admirably, even if FC 25 didn’t quite hit the same high notes as its predecessor.

Did you find yourself immersed in Fortnite, using it as the perfect escape while allowing your delicious holiday meal to digest? Share your holiday gaming stories with us in the comments below!