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List of most expensive video games to develop

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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.

List[]

Name Year Developer Publisher Platform Development cost
(million US$) 		Marketing cost
(million US$) 		Total cost
(million US$) 		Total cost with 2025 inflation
(million US$)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 2009 Infinity Ward Activision PC, PS3, Xbox 360 50 200 250[1] 316
Grand Theft Auto V 2013 Rockstar North Rockstar Games PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One 137[2] 128 265[3] 308
Star Citizen ? Cloud Imperium Games Cloud Imperium Games PC 215+[4] 35+[4] 250+[4] 250+[4]
Star Wars: The Old Republic 2011 BioWare Electronic Arts, LucasArts PC 200[5] 200+[5] 241+
Halo 2 2004 Bungie Microsoft Studios PC, Xbox, Xbox One 40[6] 80[7] 120[6] 230
Final Fantasy VII 1997 Square Square, Sony Computer Entertainment (PS), Eidos Interactive (PC) PS1 40–45[8][9] 40–100[10][9] 80–145 135–245
Destiny 2014 Bungie Activision PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One <140[11] <140[11] 140[11][12][13] 160
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 2018 Eidos Montréal Square Enix PC, PS4, Xbox One 75–100[14] 35 110–135 119–146
Cyberpunk 2077 2020 CD Projekt Red CD Projekt PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X 121+[15] 121+ 127
Dead Space 2 2011 Visceral Games Electronic Arts PC, PS3, Xbox 360 60[16] 60 120 145
Grand Theft Auto IV 2008 Rockstar North Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360, PC 100+[17] 126+
APB: All Points Bulletin 2010 Realtime Worlds Electronic Arts, Realtime Worlds, Deep Silver (PS4, XB1) PC, PS4, Xbox One 100[18] 124
Max Payne 3 2012 Rockstar Studios Rockstar Games PC, Xbox 360, PS3 105[19] 105[19] 124
Battlefield 4 2013 EA DICE Electronic Arts PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One 100[20] 100 116
Deadpool 2013 High Moon Studios Activision PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC 100[21] 116
Disney Infinity 2013 Avalanche Software, Altron (3DS) Disney Interactive Studios PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, 3DS, PC 100[22] 116
Red Dead Redemption 2010 Rockstar San Diego Rockstar Games PS3, Xbox 360 80–100[23] 99–124
Tomb Raider 2013 Crystal Dynamics Square Enix PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One 100[24] 116
Enter the Matrix 2003 Shiny Entertainment Atari, Inc. GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox 20[25] 67[25] 99
Shenmue 1999 Sega AM2 Sega Dreamcast 47–70[26][27] 47–70[26] 76–114
Defiance 2013 Trion Worlds, Human Head Studios Trion Worlds PC, PS3, Xbox 360 80 80[28] 93
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 2015 CD Projekt Red CD Projekt PC, Xbox One, PS4 46[29] 35[30] 81 93
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 2015 Kojima Productions Konami PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One 80 80[31] 91
Mass Effect: Andromeda 2017 BioWare Electronic Arts PC, PS4, Xbox One 76[32] 84
Watch Dogs 2014 Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One 68[33] 68+ 78+
Crysis 3 2013 Crytek Electronic Arts PS3, Xbox 360, PC 66[34][35][clarification needed] 66 77
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier 2012 Ubisoft Paris, Red Storm Entertainment, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Kiev (PC) Ubisoft PC, Xbox 360, PS3 65[36] 77
Too Human 2008 Silicon Knights Microsoft Game Studios Xbox 360 60–100[37] 76–126
Gran Turismo 5 2010 Polyphony Digital Sony Computer Entertainment PS3 60[38] 60 75
Rift 2011 Trion Worlds Trion Worlds PC 50 10–20 60–70[39] 72–84
Gears of War: Judgment 2013 Epic Games, People Can Fly Microsoft Studios Xbox 360 60[40] 70
Heavy Rain 2010 Quantic Dream Sony Computer Entertainment PS3, PS4 21.8[41][42] 30.4[41][42] 52.2[41][42] 65
Final Fantasy IX 2000 Square Square PS1 40[43] 40+ 63+
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 1982 Atari, Inc. Atari, Inc. Atari 2600 22[44] 62
DC Universe Online 2011 Daybreak Game Company Daybreak Game Company, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One 50[45] 50[45] 60
L.A. Noire 2011 Team Bondi Rockstar Games PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC 50[46] 50 60
Darksiders II 2012 Vigil Games THQ PS3, PS4, PC, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One 50[47] 59
Gears of War 3 2011 Epic Games Microsoft Studios Xbox 360 48–60[48] 48–60 58–72
Half-Life 2 2004 Valve Valve PC, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360 40[49] 40 57
World of Warcraft 2004 Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment PC 40[50][unreliable source?] 57

Canceled[]

Known canceled projects with a cost of more than 50 million US$
Name Year

started

Year

canceled

Developer Publisher Platform Development Cost

(million US$)

Marketing Cost

(million US$)

Total Cost

(million US$)

Total with 2017 inflation

(million US$)

Halo MMO (Titan Project) Canceled ? Ensemble Studios Microsoft Game Studios PC 90[51] 90 113
Fable Legends Canceled 2016 Lionhead Studios Microsoft Studios PC, Xbox One 75[52] 75+ 85+
This Is Vegas Canceled ? Surreal Software Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment PC, PS3, Xbox 360 40–50[53] 40–50 50–62

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Funk, John (November 19, 2009). "How much did MW2 Cost?". The Escapist. Retrieved October 4, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  2. ↑ "GTA V dev costs over $137 million, says analyst". gamesindustry.biz. February 1, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2017. {{cite web}}:
  3. ↑ Travers, Alan (February 1, 2013). "GTA 5' Costs $265 Million To Develop And Market, Making It The Most Expensive Video Game Ever Produced: Report". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013. {{cite web}}:
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Cloud Imperium Financials for 2018". cloudimperiumgames.com. Retrieved 2019-12-22. {{cite web}}:
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fritz, Ben (January 20, 2012). "Star Wars: The Old Republic — the story behind a galactic gamble". Los Angeles Times. http://herocomplex.latimes.com/games/star-wars-the-old-republic-the-story-behind-a-galactic-gamble/#/0. Retrieved October 4, 2014. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFC3h8GACWE 42m 38s
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFC3h8GACWE 42m 39s
  8. ↑ "Essential 50: Final Fantasy VII". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013. {{cite web}}:
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Final Fantasy 7: An oral history". Polygon. Jan 9, 2017. Retrieved Feb 2, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  10. ↑ Stanton, Rich (June 2, 2013). "Final Fantasy 7 retrospective". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved March 20, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Pham, Alex (May 21, 2012). "Bungie-Activision contract". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  12. ↑ "Activision CEO Bobby Kotick stated that the total cost was $500 million, but Bungie's Eric Osborne stated that the budget was "Nowhere near $500 Million"". Retrieved October 19, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  13. ↑ Karmali, Luke (May 6, 2014). "Destiny is a $500 Million Gamble for Activision, says Kotick". IGN. Retrieved September 8, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  14. ↑ Dring, Christopher (11 May 2018). "Eidos Montreal: "We have to try new models for single-player games"". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018. {{cite web}}:
  15. ↑ Strickland, Derek (September 3, 2020). "CDPR has spent over $121 million on Cyberpunk 2077's development". tweaktown.com. Retrieved September 6, 2020. {{cite web}}:
  16. ↑ "Dead Space 2 Dev Says Game Cost $60M To Make And Sold Millions, But Failed Commercially". Retrieved 2018-08-18. {{cite web}}:
  17. ↑ Androvitch, Mark (April 30, 2008). "GTA IV: Most expensive game ever developed?". Games Industry International. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gta-iv-most-expensive-game-ever-developed. 
  18. ↑ Stuart, Keith (August 27, 2010). "Realtime Worlds: an inside story". theguardian.com. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Max Payne 3's Sales May Be Hitting Rockstar Where It Hurts". www.gametrailers.com. June 15, 2012. {{cite web}}:
  20. ↑ (March 14, 2014). EA CCO: Battlefield 4 budget was $100 million. bfcentral.
  21. ↑ "20 of the Most Expensive Games Ever Made". GameSpot. Retrieved June 8, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  22. ↑ Fritz, Ben (August 25, 2013). "Disney Tries Anew to Raise Its Score on Digital Games". The Wall Street Journal.
  23. ↑ Schiesel, Seth (May 16, 2010). "Way Down Deep in the Wild, Wild West". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/arts/television/17dead.html?pagewanted=1&ref=arts&adxnnlx=1274040389-CuFVDLWDBDlpDF6qkY2xnA. 
  24. ↑ Phillips, Tom (January 17, 2014). "Tomb Raider finally achieved profitability "by the end of last year"". Eurogamer.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Pham, Alex (May 16, 2003). "'Enter the Matrix': An alignment of the digital planets". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 16, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Sheffield, Brandon (March 2, 2011). "GDC 2011: Yu Suzuki: 'Sega Will Probably Let Me Make Shenmue 3'". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  27. ↑ Robinson, Martin (June 22, 2015). "Yu Suzuki wants $10 million to make a truly open world Shenmue 3". {{cite web}}:
  28. ↑ Bercovici, Jeff (November 26, 2012). "With 'Defiance,' Comcast's Syfy Bets $100M On Convergence Of TV And Videogames". Forbes. Retrieved April 19, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  29. ↑ "CD PROJEKT Group – first half of 2015". {{cite web}}:
  30. ↑ "The Witcher 3 sells 6m copies in six weeks". Retrieved August 26, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  31. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (August 3, 2015). "New article on Konami paints a bleak picture". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved August 3, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  32. ↑ Kent, Gordon (March 1, 2017). "Edmonton's BioWare uses upcoming release of Mass Effect: Andromeda to push for industry tax credits". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  33. ↑ Mosca, Marco (June 18, 2013). "Watch Dogs, le très gros budget d'Ubisoft". Challenges. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  34. ↑ Nutt, Christian (1 March 2013). "What's holding back Crysis 3?". Gamasutra. Retrieved 19 July 2015. {{cite web}}:
  35. ↑ Charles Onyett. "GC 2008: Crysis Cost 22 Million to Make". {{cite web}}:
  36. ↑ "Ubisoft discusses next-generation game budgets". Eurogamer.net. May 16, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  37. ↑ Mackey, Bob (August 14, 2014). Gaming's Greatest Flops: Too Human. USgamer.
  38. ↑ Remo, Chris (November 5, 2009). "Yamauchi: Gran Turismo 5's Development Cost Hit $60 Million". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  39. ↑ "How Much Does It Cost To Make A Big Video Game?". Kotaku. Retrieved October 4, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  40. ↑ "Gaming". Variety. {{cite web}}:
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Purchese, Robert (April 19, 2013). "Heavy Rain cost €16.7 million to make and made Sony "more than €100 million"". Eurogamer.net. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-04-19-heavy-rain-cost-16-7-million-to-make-and-made-sony-more-than-100-million. Retrieved March 18, 2014. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 "Heavy Rain cost $52 million but made $130 million, you do the math". Engadget. {{cite web}}:
  43. ↑ Alder, Davon (July 29, 2000). "Square Haven News / NTV Tokyo Interviews Hironobu Sakaguchi". squarehaven.com. Retrieved April 1, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  44. ↑ Phipps, Keith (February 2, 2005). "Howard Scott Warshaw". A.V. Club. Retrieved June 16, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Pham, Alex; Fritz, Ben (January 11, 2011). "DC Universe Online: $50 million gamble aims for audience that World of Warcraft 'can't touch'". Hero Complex – movies, comics, pop culture – Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  46. ↑ Geoghegan, Kev (May 27, 2011). "Will L.A. Noire change the game for actors?". BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13507355. 
  47. ↑ "Darksiders 2's $50 Million Budget Was "Ridiculous," Nordic Games CEO Says". {{cite web}}:
  48. ↑ Brian Crecente. "The four lives of Epic Games". Polygon. Retrieved 27 March 2018. By the end of the cycle, Gears of War 3 cost about four or five times more than the original to make. {{cite web}}:
  49. ↑ "Half-Life 2: $40 million in, still Steaming forward". Eurogamer. March 22, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  50. ↑ "MMO Budget Busters". MMOHuts. May 10, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  51. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (April 13, 2010). "Why The Halo MMO Was Cancelled". Kotaku. Retrieved April 12, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  52. ↑ Frank, Allegra (May 12, 2016). "Report: Fable Legends was a $75M project 'nobody' wanted to work on". Polygon. Retrieved June 7, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  53. ↑ Zelfden, N. Van (February 16, 2009). "What's Killing the Video-Game Business?" (in en). Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/gaming/2009/02/whats_killing_the_videogame_business.html. 

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