How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Video Game?

Since people have started playing games on Xbox One, PS4, and smartphones...

13:47 06 July 2018

Since people have started playing games on Xbox One, PS4, and smartphones, every developer from around the globe would want to create games and generate revenue. But, they only got stuck on one question, and that’s “How much does it cost to develop a video game?” Whether you are a developer or a vendor, you probably got puzzled to say the budget as a vendor, and even a developer often baffled to say the developing cost, Right? So, here you will get a proper idea to about the value of developing a game.

 

The cost of developing a video game usually depends on what type of game you want to build, if you wish to create a mobile, Xbox, PlayStation or desktop game. The cost must be poles apart from every platform. Further, it also based on size and effects. The larger game cost you more, and a small game takes less and less cost as well. So, ensure that it firstly that what type game you want?

 

• Mobile Game

Today, the smartphones have become a most useful thing that every next person has. With the advanced and higher processor, users can easily play a full day game on Android and iOS devices. So, developing the mobile game is the best idea I guess considering these days. Generally, it cost around $50 thousand to $1 million to produce a game like a Candy Crush Saga, Clash of Clans and Real Racing.

 

 

• PC Game

After smartphone, let me tell you about the how much does it cost to develop a PC game. I guess you are aware of DOTA 2, League of Legends and Heroes of the Storm; then it approximately cost you $1-10 million. It will take a lot of time to add 2D-3D visuals, sound effects, stages and more to the game and make a game smooth.

 

• Xbox or PlayStation Game

Do you know the name of the world’s most expensive video game? If yes, great! If no, then let me tell the Destiny is the world’s most expensive game with the cost of $500 million. The game is listed in the top AAA titles. So, it will take around $500 million to make Destiny like the game. Well, you can spend $50 million as well to create an average console game.

 

• Other Things You Should Know

Well, these were significant things you should think about while developing a new game. There are other things as well you should know before heading to the development process like hardware marginal, IP license, multiple language support, different platforms, graphics, workforce, platforms and lot more. You should also keep all these things in your mind while making video games.

 

 

In the end, the essential thing is marketing. Without marketing, you can’t sale your newly developed game instead of high graphics and nifty characters. So, development is not enough, and you will have to spend around 20% of your budget on marketing so that you could as much as you have assumed.

 

Well, these were all major thing you should consider in developing cost. Let me give you example of some of most expensive games title with the development cost and total cost including marketing cost so that you could get an idea about the game development cost.

 

 

#1: Star Wars: The Old Republic (2011)

• Development cost: $200 million
• Developer/publisher: BioWare / Electronic Arts
• PC

 

#2: Destiny (2014)

• Development cost: $140 million
• Total cost: $500 million
• Developer/publisher: Bungie / Activision
• PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

 

#3: Grand Theft Auto 5 (2013)

• Development cost: $137 million
• Marketing Cost: $128 milliom
• Total cost: $265 million
• Developer/publisher: Rockstar North / Rockstar Games
• PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

 

#4: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

• Development Cost: $50 million
• Marketing Cost: $200 million
• Total Cost: $250 million
• Developer/publisher: Infinity Ward/ Activision
• PC, PS3, Xbox 360

 

#5: Max Payne 3 (2012)

• Development cost: $105 million
• Developer/publisher: Rockstar Studios / Rockstar Games

• PC, Xbox 360, PS3

 

#6: Grand Theft Auto 4 (2008)

• Development cost: $100 million
• Developer/publisher: Rockstar North / Rockstar Games
• PS3, Xbox 360, PC

 

#7: Too Human (2008)

• Development cost: $100 million
• Developer/publisher: Silicon Knights / Microsoft Game Studios
• Xbox 360

 

#8: Deadpool (2016)

• Development cost: $100 million
• Developer/publisher High Moon Studios/ Activision
• PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

 

#9: Battlefield 4 (2013)

• Development cost: $100 million
• Developer/publisher: EA DICE / Electronic Arts
• PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

 

#10: Red Dead Redemption (2010)

• Development cost: $90 million
• Developer/publisher: Rockstar San Diego / Rockstar Games
• PS3, Xbox 360

 

#11: Defiance (2013)

• Development cost: $80 million
• Developer/publisher: Trion Worlds / Trion Worlds
• PC, PS3, Xbox 360

 

#12: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (2015)

• Development cost: $80 million
• Developer/publisher: Kojima Productions / Konami Digital Entertainment
• PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

 

#13: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)

• Development cost: $70 million
• Developer/publisher: Kojima Productions / Konami
• PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

 

#14: Watch Dogs (2014)

• Development cost: $68 million
• Developer/publisher: Ubisoft Montreal/ Ubisoft
• PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One

 

#15: Crysis 3 (2013)

• Development cost: $66 million
• Developer/publisher: Crytek / Electronic Arts
• PS3, Xbox 360, PC

 

#16: Final Fantasy XIII (2009)

• Development cost: $65 million
• Developer/publisher: Square Enix/ Square Enix

 

#17: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (2012)

• Development cost: $65 million
• Developer/publisher: Ubisoft Paris/ Ubisoft
• PC, Xbox 360, PS3

 

#18: Gran Turismo 5 (2010)

• Development cost: $60 million
• Developer/publisher: Polyphony Digital/ Sony Computer Entertainment
• PS3

 

Your Words

 

Hope now you have a complete understanding of how much does it cost to develop a video game after reading this long article, right? If you are still have any doubts or doesn’t have any idea about the cost of game developing, then feels free to ask any question in the commenting section.