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$50 million and sorted by the total cost adjusted for inflation. Most game budgets are not disclosed, so this list is not indicative of industry trends.
Lists
edit– Indicates ongoing costs of development post-release
Official figures
editCancelled games
editName | Year cancelled | Developer | Publisher | Platform | Costs (million US$) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Development | 2023 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] | 56–70 |
Volt | 2021 | Hangar 13 | 2K | Unknown | 53[49] | 53 |
Unofficial figures
editAnalyst estimations
editPress estimations
editThe following budgets have been estimated by press outlets without naming any specific analyst or firm.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Includes ongoing costs as of 2024[update][1]
- ^ US$100 million for initial development, US$200 million annually for ongoing development as of 2024[update][2][3][1]
- ^ 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]
- ^ Approximately US$316 million for original game[8] and US$125.9 million for Update 2.0 upgrade and Phantom Liberty downloadable content[9]
- ^ Update 2.0 upgrade and Phantom Liberty downloadable content
- ^ US$40.9 million for Update 2.0 and US$62.7 million for Phantom Liberty DLC[9]
- ^ Unannounced game[10]
- ^ a b Projected figure
- ^ US$19.3 million for marketing and US$5.1 million for production of physical copies[40]
- ^ Licensing fee[41][42]
- ^ 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]
References
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By the end of the cycle, Gears of War 3 cost about four or five times more than the original to make.
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