During the late 1980s and early 1990s, developing video games was relatively inexpensive compared to today's standards. However, with the advancements in home consoles and high-end gaming setups, the costs of game development have skyrocketed. Modern titles now require tens of millions of dollars to produce, and some even exceed these costs significantly.
In the past decade, there has been a substantial rise in the number of games that cost over $50 million to develop, and this doesn't even include expenses for marketing and promotions. While many of these games do end up making a profit, the financial figures involved are astonishing. These numbers provide valuable insights into the immense scale and competitiveness of the gaming industry.
1. Star Citizen - $415m+
Following highly successful crowdfunding campaigns, Cloud Imperium Games, the developer of Star Citizen, managed to secure over $300 million for the game's production. Additionally, they raised more funds through private investments, leading to a significant expansion in both the scale and scope of the project. While this development is certainly positive for backers and future players, it has introduced a new challenge.
The game's production started in 2011, yet there is still no definite indication of when the full commercial release will occur. Estimates suggest that hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent on Star Citizen's development, and this expenditure is expected to rise as production continues to be prolonged. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the game's final performance holds immense importance, given the substantial investment and anticipation surrounding it.
2. Star Wars: The Old Republic - $200m
Despite being released nearly ten years ago, Star Wars: The Old Republic continues to receive regular updates, which isn't surprising considering the substantial time and money invested in its initial development. Reports indicate that the game had a development budget of $200 million, making it one of EA's most expensive and ambitious projects to date.
This ambitious endeavor has proven to be successful, as the game is estimated to have generated over $1 billion in revenue since its servers went live in late 2011. This substantial earnings figure represents a significant return on the game's considerable development investment. With a large player base still actively engaged in the MMO, it's impossible to predict how much more profit the game might generate before its servers are eventually shut down.
3. Cyberpunk 2077 - $174m
After an eight-year development period and facing several delays, CD Projekt Red had a significant stake in the success of Cyberpunk 2077. While the game did sell well, its numerous bugs and glitches led to widespread player criticism, causing the company's value to plummet by billions of dollars in the following weeks. In comparison, the $316 million spent on developing and marketing the game appeared relatively insignificant.
According to one of the company's financial reports, approximately $174 million was allocated to the game's development, making it one of the most expensive games ever produced at the time. Surprisingly, the company did manage to generate a substantial profit from this investment. However, its share price remains at less than half of its pre-release value and shows no signs of recovering in the near future.
4. Red Dead Redemption 2 - $170m+
Although it didn't reach the sales numbers of GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts an equally detailed large open world. However, achieving this level of detail came at a significant price. The game alone is estimated to have cost the developer between 170 and 240 million dollars, with an additional $300 million allocated to marketing expenses. When all expenses are considered, the total cost of the title might have surpassed the half-billion-dollar mark.
Despite the high production costs, the game managed to generate an impressive $725 million in revenue within its first two days on the market. This suggests that Rockstar was able to make a substantial profit once again. However, similar to GTA Online, the game's online features likely increased the production costs further after its initial release. As a result, the exact total expenses and profits for the developer remain somewhat unclear.
5. Destiny - $140m
While not appealing to everyone, Destiny and its 2017 sequel have achieved remarkable success, earning numerous awards and building a dedicated fan base. However, this success came at a hefty price. Bungie's initial publishing agreement with Activision hinted that the first game's development cost was around $140 million, but this might only scratch the surface.
Destiny 2 surpasses its predecessor in almost every aspect and has been the developer's primary focus for a significantly longer period. It has also received several expansions, with two more—Lightfall and The Final Shape—scheduled for release in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Considering these factors, it is highly probable that the development costs for Destiny 2 have far exceeded those of the original game. Bungie's continued support for the game over six years after its release indicates that the investment has been worthwhile.
6. Grand Theft Auto V - $137m
Regardless of personal opinions about the game, it's difficult to dispute the value of the $137 million invested by Rockstar in the initial development of Grand Theft Auto 5. Since its release in 2013, the game has sold over 140 million units, a number expected to rise with the upcoming PS5 and Xbox Series ports in late 2021. This translates to a total profit of approximately $6 billion and counting.
It's important to note that the $137 million figure only accounts for the game's initial production costs. Additional expenses for downloadable content (DLC), GTA Online, and various next-gen ports are likely to have significantly increased this amount over the past eight years. The game's initial marketing budget is also estimated to have been around $137 million. Considering all these factors, it wouldn't be surprising to discover that Rockstar has spent well over $300 million on the title in total.
7. Max Payne 3 - $105m
Rockstar Games is renowned for its ambitious approach and unwillingness to play it safe, as evident from the grand scale of the projects they undertake. While GTA and Red Dead are prominent examples of this, the company's extensive game portfolio boasts several other remarkable titles. One such game is Max Payne 3.
In the iconic video game cop's third and final installment, Rockstar spared no expense, with estimates suggesting a hefty production budget of $105 million. Despite this substantial investment, the game managed to sell over four million copies in its first year, likely recouping its development costs. More importantly, it served as a fitting farewell to Max Payne while delivering a compelling gameplay experience.
8. Battlefield 4 - $100m
Regarded as one of the top FPS franchises, it's no surprise that EA's Battlefield games come with a hefty price tag. According to former Chief Creative Officer Richard Hilleman, the fourth installment alone, Battlefield 4, incurred a massive $100 million in development costs, making it the most expensive title in the franchise's history.
While the game received positive reviews and sold over seven million copies, it faced tough competition, notably from Call of Duty: Ghosts, which outsold it almost threefold. Whether the upcoming Battlefield 6 will perform better in this competitive landscape remains uncertain.
>>> Read more: Top 7 Best GTA Clones You Should Try Out In 2023
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