As we wrap up January and settle back into our post-holiday routines, it’s a great time to pause and take a quick glance back. The question is, which game became the ultimate escape during Christmas? Unsurprisingly, Fortnite takes the crown once again.
The team over at Ampere, with a nod to Chris Dring at VGC, delved into the holiday gaming habits of players in December 2024. No shock here: the main contender to Fortnite’s dominance was another juggernaut in the shooter genre—none other than Call of Duty. If you’re in the gaming world, you definitely know that name.
Ampere’s data reveals that Fortnite players amassed a staggering 30 million hours of gameplay just on Christmas Day. On average, each Fortnite enthusiast spent around 2.3 hours aiming for victory royales, jamming out at Mariah Carey concerts, or exploring the myriad other activities the game has to offer.
On the flip side, the Call of Duty franchise clocked in 20 million hours of gameplay on the same day. Black Ops 6, in particular, seemed poised to lead the charge but fell just a little short, much like those frantic last-second pushes in a Nuketown match. But don’t fret; there’s always next time for that epic 360 no-scope.
For Call of Duty and its fans, there’s no need to worry. According to Ampere, Black Ops 6 emerged as a major hit during the holiday season, attracting a whopping 38 million monthly users by November 2024. That’s quite the setup for a standout December.
Xbox had a phenomenal month too, thanks to hits like Indiana Jones. In December, Microsoft raked in $465 million from its gaming operations. Ampere’s analysis suggests that this figure elevated Microsoft to the top spot among global publishers on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms for the month. They even outperformed EA, which also had a strong showing bolstered by the ever-popular EA Sports FC. Even though FC 25 didn’t quite match its predecessor’s numbers, it still kept the momentum going.
So, were you indulging in some Fortnite chug-jugging while waiting for your holiday feast to settle? We’d love to hear about your gaming adventures in the comments below!
