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

As January winds down, most of us are back in the groove post-Christmas, but it’s fun to glance back and see which games dominated our holiday downtime. So, what game did people use most to escape family gatherings or aid in post-feast digestion on Christmas Day? Unsurprisingly, it’s Fortnite.

The research team at Ampere, as reported by Chris Dring at VGC, has gathered all the holiday gaming stats, giving us a snapshot of the final month of 2024. It turns out, Fortnite, the unofficial home of the default dance, reigned supreme. Its closest challenger? Another titan in the multiplayer shooter space—Call of Duty. Certainly, you’ve heard that name.

Ampere’s data shows that on Christmas Day alone, Fortnite players racked up 30 million hours of gameplay. That’s about 2.3 hours per player, spent chasing those victory royales, attending virtual Mariah Carey concerts, or engaging in the plethora of activities Fortnite offers.

Meanwhile, Call of Duty games collectively garnered 20 million hours on the same day. Black Ops 6 was expected to drive these numbers, but despite its efforts, it fell short—much like a frantic but futile last-minute push on a Nuketown map. Don’t worry; there’s always a chance to 360 no-scope the competition next time.

Still, there’s no reason for Call of Duty to fret. Ampere’s findings revealed that Black Ops 6 was “one of the biggest games over the Holiday period,” significantly contributing to Call of Duty’s attraction of 38 million users in November 2024.

In addition, December was a fantastic month for Xbox, supported by hits like Indiana Jones and his adventures. Gaming enthusiasts spent $465 million on Microsoft games in December, securing the company the top spot among global publishers across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox for the month. This achievement edged out EA, sustained by the consistent pull of EA Sports FC, although FC 25 didn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor.

Did you find yourself enjoying a little Fortnite while letting your holiday meal settle? Share your holiday gaming stories with us!