Have you ever wondered what some of the highest-grossing video games of all time have generated in revenue? The numbers might surprise you, especially if you aren’t familiar with the video game world.
To put it in perspective, some games have made more than blockbuster movies, pioneering products on the market, and even some of the most expensive sports leagues on the planet. We’re talking about billions of dollars from sales, microtransactions, subscriptions, downloadable content, and beyond.
While arcade games confined players to an external location and relied on a single revenue model—paying per play with coins—modern video games have diversified their revenue streams. That means that once a person buys a game, studios can continue earning money from loyal customers for years to come.
So, what are some of the biggest profit makers in history?
Fortnite ($40 billion)
Popularising the highly favoured battle royale genre is Epic Games’ Fortnite, a cultural phenomenon that has refined modern gaming for the new generation. The game is estimated to have generated over $40 billion to date, which is highly impressive considering it’s free to play. But thanks to microtransactions, seasonal content, battle passes, and more, the company continues to pull in the big bucks from Fortnite, even nearly a decade after its release.
Despite its rapid rise to fame, the hype surrounding the game never died down. The developers consistently worked to deliver something new to players, whether lucrative crossovers with franchises like Marvel and sports leagues like the NBA or exciting seasonal content to look forward to.
While online gamblers chase big wins on games like Microgaming’s Bank Vault slot, Epic has taken matters into their own hands—securing massive payouts that just keep coming.
World of Warcraft ($14 billion)
World of Warcraft (WoW) is one of the most profitable games ever, proven by its lifetime revenue and vast player base. It was one of the original MMORPGs when it came out in 2004 and is still considered the most popular of all time. With a recurring revenue model that requires players to pay a monthly subscription fee and its major commercial success, it will continue to be an enduring part of the gaming world.
WoW also boasts ten expansion packs at the moment, with further expansions already announced. It’s been recognised for its long lifespan because of its incredible developer support and a steady stream of expansion releases that keep the game fresh. As long as this model persists, WoW will continue to provide the adventure that RPG fans seek.
Grand Theft Auto V ($8.5 billion)
Although this last Grand Theft Auto (GTA) instalment came out in 2013, it managed to position itself as the franchise’s staple. It continues to hit sales milestones even today, demonstrating long-lasting success past its initial heyday and even outperforming Hollywood films. There’s no doubt that people fell in love with the storyline and the main trio’s vastly different personas. But what helped maintain that interest and engagement is the regular updates for GTA Online, the modding community, and the fantastic living world of Los Santos.
With a meme-worthy, lengthy, and highly anticipated GTA 6 release coming soon, the fans are curious to know how much better this instalment could be. As we’ll be returning to Vice City and video game graphics and physics have evolved tremendously since 2013, it’s hard to temper expectations.
The Sims 4 ($1 billion in 2019)
The Sims 4 is another example of a video game that has shown incredible staying power. Like GTA V, The Sims 4 is the latest in The Sims franchise, even though it was released in 2014. The life simulation game has been constantly reinvigorated with mods and custom content, expansion packs, content updates, and streaming influence. That ensures players never run out of things to do and can build, create new Sims, and shape their own destinies.
While there was an initial announcement for The Sims 5 release in 2022, EA revealed in 2024 that it was set to be cancelled. In fact, the decision may have been influenced by one simple reason—it was just too late. Considering that players have put an enormous amount of effort into their gameplay and that the game still receives major updates and expansion pack releases, could they really convince them to move on? As a result, The Sims 5 turned into Project Rene, a similar life simulation game focused on a collaborative multiplayer experience.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket ($500 million in 3 months)
Taking the Pokémon trading card experience digital is probably one of the smartest moves the franchise has ever made. In just four weeks after its release, it managed to cross the $200 million mark. To put that into perspective, fully developed games such as Pokémon Sword and Shield made around $1.32 billion in revenue, showing that this card game app is catching up.
Although the app is free to play, players can buy extra booster packs and subscribe to the monthly pass for more perks. Without the need for physical cards, fans can open packs, build decks, and participate in battles to indulge in the thrill. Developers have made the activity accessible to all, which is why so many have flocked to TCG Pocket.
While the initial base game was already highly attractive, developers continued to improve the game through regular expansions, new card sets, special events, and, most recently, Ranked Matches. All of these new contributions add more dimension to the game and encourage people to keep playing.
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