List of most expensive video games to develop

Last updated

The following is a list of the most expensive video games ever developed, with a minimum total cost of US$50 million and sorted by the total cost adjusted for inflation. Most game budgets are not disclosed, so this list is not indicative of industry trends.

Contents

Lists

  – Indicates ongoing costs of development post-release

Official figures

NameYearDeveloperPublisherOriginal platform(s)Costs (million US$)
DevelopmentMarketingTotalTotal (2023 inflation)
Genshin Impact 2020 [a] miHoYo Android, iOS, PS4, Windows 900+ [b] 951+
Star Citizen TBA [c] Cloud Imperium Games Windows 514+ [6] 116+ [6] 630+ [6] 656+
Monopoly Go! 2023 Scopely Android, iOS <500 [7] <500 [7] <500
Cyberpunk 2077 2020 CD Projekt Red CD Projekt PS4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One 174 [8] 142 [8] 441.9 [d] 498
2023 [e] PS5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S 103.6 [f] 21.6 [9]
Marvel's Spider-Man 3 [g] [h] TBA Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment TBA385 [10] 385
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 2009 Infinity Ward Activision PS3, Windows, Xbox 360 40–50 [11] 150–160 [11] 200 [11] 341355
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 2023 Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment PS5 315 [10] 315
Marvel's Wolverine [h] TBA Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment PS5 305 [10] 305
Final Fantasy VII 1997 Square Square, Sony Computer Entertainment PS1 40–45 [12] [13] 40–100 [14] [13] 80–145152275
The Last of Us Part II 2020 Naughty Dog Sony Interactive Entertainment PS4 220 [15] 220 [15] 259
Halo 2 2004 Bungie Microsoft Studios Xbox 40 [16] 80 [16] 120 [16] 194
Horizon Forbidden West 2022 Guerrilla Games Sony Interactive Entertainment PS4, PS5 212 [15] 212 [15] 221
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales 2020 Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment PS4, PS5 156 [17] 184
Destiny 2014 Bungie Activision PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One 140 [18] 180
The Callisto Protocol 2022Striking Distance Studios Krafton PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S 162 [19] 169
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 2018 Eidos Montréal Square Enix PS4, Windows, Xbox One 75–100 [20] 35 [20] 110–135133164
Dead Space 2 2011 Visceral Games Electronic Arts PS3, Windows, Xbox 360 60 [21] 60 [21] 120163
Undawn 2023 Lightspeed Studios, Level Infinite Tencent Games Android, iOS, Windows 140 [22] 140
Grand Theft Auto IV 2008 Rockstar North Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 100+ [23] 142+
Battlefield 4 2013 EA DICE Electronic Arts PS3, Windows, Xbox 360 100 [24] 100131
Immortals of Aveum 2023 Ascendant Studios Electronic Arts PS5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S 80 [25] 45 [25] 125125
Shenmue 1999 Sega AM2 Sega Dreamcast 47 [26] [27] 47–70 [26] 86128
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 2015 CD Projekt Red CD Projekt PS4, Windows, Xbox One 81 [28] 104
Rift 2011 Trion Worlds Trion Worlds Windows 50+ [29] 10–20 [29] 60–70+ [29] 8195+
Watch Dogs 2014 Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft PS3, PS4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One 68+ [30] 88+
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier 2012 Ubisoft Paris, Red Storm Entertainment, Ubisoft Bucharest Ubisoft PS3, Xbox 360 65 [31] 86
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 2021 Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment PS5 81 [32] 91
Gran Turismo 5 2010 Polyphony Digital Sony Computer Entertainment PS3 60 [33] 84
Gears of War 3 2011 Epic Games Microsoft Studios Xbox 360 48–60 [34] 6581
Gears of War: Judgment 2013 Epic Games, People Can Fly Microsoft Studios Xbox 360 60 [35] 78
Heavy Rain 2010 Quantic Dream Sony Computer Entertainment PS3 21.8 [36] [37] 30.4 [36] [37] 52.2 [36] [37] 73
Final Fantasy IX 2000 Square PS1 40 [38] 71
Black Myth: Wukong 2024 Game Science PS5, Windows 70 [39]
Lords of the Fallen 2023Hexworks CI Games PS5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S 42.2 [40] 24.4 [i] 66.6 [40] 67
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 1982 Atari, Inc. Atari, Inc. Atari 2600 21–22 [j] 6669
Darksiders II 2012 Vigil Games THQ PS3, Windows, Xbox 360 50 [43] 66
Half-Life 2 2004 Valve Valve Windows 40+ [44] 65+
Kingdom Under Fire II 2019 Blueside, Phantagram Gameforge Windows 50+ [45] 64+

Cancelled games

NameYear cancelledDeveloperPublisherPlatformCosts (million US$)
Development2023 inflation
Titan Project 2007–2008 Ensemble Studios Microsoft Game Studios Windows 90 [46] 127
Fable Legends 2016 Lionhead Studios Microsoft Studios Windows, Xbox One 75 [47] 95+
This Is Vegas 2009–2010 Surreal Software Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment PS3, Windows, Xbox 360 40–50 [48] 5670
Volt2021 Hangar 13 2K Un­known53 [49] 53

Unofficial figures

Analyst estimations

NameYearDeveloperPublisherOriginal platform(s)Analyst(s)Costs (million US$)Ref.
NameInstitutionDev.MarketingTotalTotal (2023 inflation)
Grand Theft Auto V 2013 Rockstar North Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 Arvind BhatiaSterne Agee137.569–109.3206.5–246.8270323 [50]
Red Dead Redemption 2 2018 Rockstar Games PS4, Xbox One Michael Pachter Wedbush Securities 170170206 [51]
Halo 5: Guardians 2015 343 Industries Microsoft Studios Xbox One 160160206 [52]
Marvel's Avengers 2020 Crystal Dynamics Square Enix PS4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One David GibsonAstris Advisory170+200+ [53]
Final Fantasy VII Remake 2020 Square Enix Business Division 1 Square Enix PS4 Yuhsuke Koyama Shibaura Institute of Technology 144144170 [54]
Atul Goyal Jefferies & Company <140<140<165
Max Payne 3 2012 Rockstar Studios Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 Arvind BhatiaSterne Agee105105139 [55]
Tomb Raider 2013 Crystal Dynamics Square Enix PS3, Windows, Xbox 360 Billy Pidgeon100131 [56]
Resident Evil 2 2019 Capcom PS4, Windows, Xbox One Atul Goyal Jefferies & Company <100<100<119 [54]
Halo 3 2007 Bungie Microsoft Game Studios Xbox 360 Michael Pachter Wedbush Securities 30+15–2060+88+ [57]
Alan Wake 2 2023 Remedy Entertainment Epic Games Publishing PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S Atte Riikola Inderes 53.521.57575 [58]
Grand Theft Auto IV 2008 Rockstar North Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 Michael Pachter Wedbush Securities 454564 [59]

Press estimations

The following budgets have been estimated by press outlets without naming any specific analyst or firm.

NameYearDeveloperPublisherOriginal platform(s)Press outletCosts (million US$)Ref.
Dev.MarketingTotalTotal (2023 inflation)
Red Dead Redemption 2 2018 Rockstar Games PS4, Xbox One VentureBeat 200–300200–300243364 [51]
Grand Theft Auto V 2013 Rockstar North Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 The Scotsman 265347 [60]
Star Wars: The Old Republic 2011 BioWare Electronic Arts, LucasArts Windows Los Angeles Times 200+271+ [61]
Too Human 2008 Silicon Knights Microsoft Game Studios Xbox 360 USgamer 60–10085142 [62]
Red Dead Redemption 2010 Rockstar San Diego Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 The New York Times 80–100112140 [63]
APB: All Points Bulletin 2010 Realtime Worlds Electronic Arts, Realtime Worlds Windows The Guardian 100140 [64]
Disney Infinity 2013 Avalanche Software, Altron (3DS) Disney Interactive Studios 3DS, PS3, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 Los Angeles Times 100+131+ [65]
Deadpool 2013 High Moon Studios Activision PS3, Windows, Xbox 360 GameSpot 100 [k] 131 [67]
Mass Effect: Andromeda 2017 BioWare Electronic Arts PS4, Windows, Xbox One Edmonton Journal 100124 [68]
Defiance 2013 Trion Worlds, Human Head Studios Trion Worlds PS3, Windows, Xbox 360 Forbes 8080105 [69]
Mortal Kombat II 1994 Probe Entertainment Acclaim Entertainment Game Gear, Sega Genesis, SNES San Francisco Chronicle 50103 [70]
Sonic & Knuckles 1994 Sega Technical Institute Sega Sega Genesis Los Angeles Times 454593 [71]
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2010 Treyarch Activision Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, Windows, Xbox 360, OS X Los Angeles Times 50+70 [72]
DC Universe Online 2011Dimensional Ink Games Daybreak Game Company, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment PS3, Windows 505068 [73]
L.A. Noire 2011 Team Bondi Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 BBC News 505068 [74]
Super Mario Bros. 3 1988 Nintendo EAD Nintendo NES The Seattle Times 0.825.8+66+ [75]
The Indianapolis Star 25+ [76]
Final Fantasy X 2001 Square Product Development Division 1 Square PS2 Yomiuri Shimbun 32.332.3+59+ [77]
Halo 3 2007 Bungie Microsoft Game Studios Xbox 360 The Hollywood Reporter 40 4059 [78]

See also

Notes

  1. Includes ongoing costs as of 2024 [1]
  2. US$100 million for initial development, US$200 million annually for ongoing development as of 2024 [2] [3] [1]
  3. Playable elements of the game were first released in 2013, [4] but the game remains in early access, with no final release date announced. [5] Costs representative of development up to 2022. [6]
  4. Approximately US$316 million for original game [8] and US$125.9 million for Update 2.0 upgrade and Phantom Liberty downloadable content [9]
  5. Update 2.0 upgrade and Phantom Liberty downloadable content
  6. US$40.9 million for Update 2.0 and US$62.7 million for Phantom Liberty DLC [9]
  7. Unannounced game [10]
  8. 1 2 Projected figure
  9. US$19.3 million for marketing and US$5.1 million for production of physical copies [40]
  10. Licensing fee [41] [42]
  11. Chris Baker, former interactive manager at Marvel Games, disputed Deadpool 's US$100 million figure in 2024 and claimed the actual budget was "not even close". [66]

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Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by former Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted the designers and programmers responsible for its games as "software artists". EA published numerous games and some productivity software for personal computers, all of which were developed by external individuals or groups until 1987's Skate or Die! The company shifted toward internal game studios, often through acquisitions, such as Distinctive Software becoming EA Canada in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubisoft</span> French video game company

Ubisoft Entertainment SA is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include Assassin's Creed, Driver, Far Cry, Just Dance, Prince of Persia, Rabbids, Rayman, Tom Clancy's, and Watch Dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remedy Entertainment</span> Finnish video game developer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">38 Studios</span> American video game developer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indie game</span> Class of video game, generally independently published

An indie video game or indie game, short for independent video game, is a video game created by individuals or smaller development teams without the financial and technical support of a large game publisher, in contrast to most "AAA" (triple-A) games. Because of their independence and freedom to develop, indie games often focus on innovation, experimental gameplay, and taking risks not usually afforded in AAA games. Indie games tend to be sold through digital distribution channels rather than at retail due to a lack of publisher support. The term is analogous to independent music or independent film in those respective mediums.

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<i>Grand Theft Auto V</i> 2013 video game

Grand Theft Auto V is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the seventh main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV, and the fifteenth instalment overall. Set within the fictional state of San Andreas, based on Southern California, the single-player story follows three protagonists—retired bank robber Michael De Santa, street gangster Franklin Clinton, and drug dealer and gunrunner Trevor Philips, and their attempts to commit heists while under pressure from a corrupt government agency and powerful criminals. Players freely roam San Andreas's open world countryside and fictional city of Los Santos, based on Los Angeles.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">AAA (video game industry)</span> High-budget video game

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintendo Switch</span> Hybrid video game console

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