Top 10 most expensive video games of all time: budget and production costs
Video game budgets have skyrocketed, with some titles costing billions to develop. The most expensive video games include record-breaking projects like Grand Theft Auto VI ($2 billion) and Genshin Impact ($900 million). These staggering costs cover advanced graphics, massive worlds, and extensive marketing.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Grand Theft Auto VI is the most expensive video game ever developed, with an estimated budget of $2 billion.
- Genshin Impact’s total cost was $900 million.
- Star Citizen has raised over $777 million, making it one of the most ambitious crowdfunding projects.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War had a $700 million budget.
- Grand Theft Auto V remains one of the most profitable games, generating over $8.6 billion since 2013.
Top 10 most expensive video games
In compiling the most expensive video games list, we analysed recorded development and marketing costs as of this writing, acknowledging that figures may change with new reports or ongoing expenditures. This ranking is based on data from trusted sources, including Statista, WatchMojo, and GameRant to ensure accuracy and reliability.
| Rank | Video game | Developer | Total cost |
| 1 | Grand Theft Auto VI | Rockstar Games | $2 billion |
| 2 | Genshin Impact (2020) | miHoYo | $900 million |
| 3 | Star Citizen | Cloud Imperium Games | $777 million |
| 4 | Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) | Treyarch / Raven Software | $700 million |
| 5 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) | Infinity Ward | $640 million |
| 6 | Destiny (2014) | Bungie | $500 million |
| 7 | Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) | CD Projekt Red | $498 million |
| 8 | Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015) | Treyarch | $450 million |
| 9 | Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (2023) | Insomniac Games | $300 million |
| 10 | Grand Theft Auto V (2013) | Rockstar North | $265 million |
10. Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
Source: UGC
- Developers: Rockstar North
- Publishers: Rockstar Games
- Release date: 17 September 2013
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Production cost: $265 million
Grand Theft Auto V, developed by Rockstar Games, is a highly acclaimed game that offers a vast open world, thrilling missions, and endless online adventures.
The game had an estimated budget of $265 million, making it one of the most expensive games at the time of its release. Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 150 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.
9. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (2023)
Source: UGC
- Developers: Insomniac Games
- Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Release date: 20 October 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5
- Production cost: $300 million
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, developed by Insomniac Games, is the sequel to the highly successful Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020). The game's total production cost reached $300 million, reflecting the high-quality graphics, expansive open world, and refined gameplay mechanics.
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)
Source: UGC
- Developers: Treyarch
- Publishers: Activision
- Release date: 6 November 2015
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Production cost: $450 million
Call of Duty: Black Ops III, developed by Treyarch, is a first-person shooter and part of the long-running Call of Duty franchise. The game’s total production and marketing costs exceeded $450 million, making it one of the priciest entries in the series. The game was a commercial success, generating over $550 million in its opening weekend.
7. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
Source: UGC
- Developers: CD Projekt Red
- Publishers: CD Projekt
- Release date: 10 December 2020
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One
- Production cost: $498 million
Cyberpunk 2077, developed by CD Projekt Red, is a futuristic open-world role-playing game set in the dystopian Night City. The game's total production cost, including development and marketing, reached approximately $498 million, making it one of the most expensive video games ever produced.
The game faced criticism for its numerous bugs and performance issues at launch. However, subsequent updates and expansions helped restore its reputation, with sales surpassing 25 million copies worldwide.
6. Destiny (2014)
Source: UGC
- Developers: Bungie
- Publishers: Activision
- Release date: 9 September 2014
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Production cost: $500 million
Destiny, developed by Bungie, is an online multiplayer first-person shooter set in a sci-fi universe. Reports initially claimed its budget reached $500 million, covering development, marketing, and infrastructure. However, Bungie later clarified that development costs were significantly lower, with the larger figure encompassing long-term content plans and live-service support.
5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
Source: UGC
- Developers: Infinity Ward
- Publishers: Activision
- Release date: 25 October 2019
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
- Production cost: $640 million
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, developed by Infinity Ward, is a reboot of the acclaimed Modern Warfare subseries. With a development and marketing budget of $640 million, the game focused on delivering a realistic and cinematic combat experience. Its single-player campaign, multiplayer modes, and battle royale component helped it attract a broad audience.
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
Source: UGC
- Developers: Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publishers: Activision
- Release date: 13 November 2020
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Production cost: $700 million
Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a first-person shooter set in the early 1980s. The game’s $700 million budget covered development, advanced graphics, and extensive marketing efforts, making it one of the most expensive entries in the franchise.
It features a mix of historical and fictional narratives, combined with single-player and multiplayer modes. Despite its high development cost, the game contributed to Activision Blizzard’s $8.8 billion revenue in 2021. Its strong sales and engaging multiplayer experience reinforced the Call of Duty franchise’s dominance in the first-person shooter genre.
3. Star Citizen
Source: UGC
- Developers: Cloud Imperium Games
- Publishers: Cloud Imperium Games
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows
- Production cost: Over $777 million
Star Citizen, developed by Cloud Imperium Games, is a space trading and combat simulator. Since its crowdfunding began in 2012, the project has raised over $777 million, making it one of the most expensive games in development. The video game delivers an expansive universe with deep space exploration, combat, and trading mechanics.
2. Genshin Impact (2020)
Source: UGC
- Developers: miHoYo
- Publishers: miHoYo
- Release date: 28 September 2020
- Production cost: $900 million
Genshin Impact is an open-world action role-playing game developed by miHoYo. While costing 100 million U.S. dollars to develop initially, Genshin Impact's ongoing development costs of 200 million dollars per year put the online game's total at $900 million. This figure includes continuous updates, events, and character additions that keep the player base engaged.
The game's financial success is attributed to its free-to-play model combined with in-game purchases, appealing to a broad audience worldwide.
1. Grand Theft Auto VI
Source: UGC
- Developers: Rockstar Games
- Publishers: Rockstar Games
- Production cost: $2 billion
Grand Theft Auto VI, developed by Rockstar Games, is the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed open-world action-adventure series. According to Dexerto, the video game’s development, marketing, and other expenses linked to its production and release total approximately $2 billion.
This means that Grand Theft Auto VI is potentially one of the most expensive video games ever created. The high development costs have led to speculation that Grand Theft Auto VI may retail at a higher price point, with some sources suggesting it could be the first game to retail at $100/£100.
What is the most expensive video game made?
As of now, Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to be the most expensive video game ever developed, with an estimated budget between $1 billion and $2 billion. This includes development, marketing, and other associated costs, making it significantly more expensive than its predecessors.
Which is the richest video game in the world?
Grand Theft Auto V is considered the richest single video game, having generated over $8.6 billion in revenue since its release in 2013. According to Statista, it has sold over 210 million units as of this writing.
How expensive was GTA 5?
The development and marketing of Grand Theft Auto V reportedly cost around $265 million, making it one of the most expensive games at the time of its release in 2013. Despite the high cost, the game quickly became a massive financial success, earning $1 billion within its first three days of launch.
Grand Theft Auto VI currently holds the record as the most expensive video game, reflecting the scale and ambition of modern titles. As technology advances, future projects may surpass these budgets, redefining the standards for video game production and player expectations.
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