Discover the most expensive games ever made, with budgets reaching billions. Explore gaming’s biggest productions, from GTA to Call of Duty and Genshin Impact.
It’s tough to give an exact Top 10 list, as official numbers are often kept secret. However, based on available data, here’s a rundown of some of the most expensive video game ever made, blending confirmed figures with informed estimates:
1. Star Citizen (TBA) – $600 Million
- Star Citizen (TBA) – $600 Million
- Gameplay: Open-world space simulation with trading, combat, exploration, and multiplayer interaction.
- Release Date: Not officially announced (TBA).
- Purchase Budget: Base game starts at $45, with additional in-game purchases.
- Streaming: Not available on major platforms like Steam or Epic Games.
- Download: Only available through the official Roberts Space Industries (RSI) website.
- Ships: Hundreds of customizable ships, some costing real money.
- Free to Play? No, but occasional free-fly events allow temporary access.
- Estimated Cost: $600+ million (and still rising!)
- This ambitious space sim has been in development for over a decade, fueled by crowdfunding. Its scope is immense, with detailed ships, planets, and a persistent online universe.
2. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) – $316 million
- Release Date: December 10, 2020
- Purchase Budget: Standard edition ~$60, with DLCs & expansions available
- Streaming: Available on GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Download: Available on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PlayStation, Xbox
- Free to Play? No, paid game
- Gameplay: Open-world RPG set in Night City with story-driven quests, FPS combat, and character customization
- Estimated Cost: $316 million (including marketing)
- CD Projekt Red’s dystopian RPG was highly anticipated. While it had a rocky launch, its sheer scale and detail made it a costly endeavor.
3. Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) – $370 – $540
- Release Date: October 26, 2018
- Purchase Budget: Standard edition ~$60, with online microtransactions
- Streaming: Available on GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Plus
- Download: Available on Steam, Epic Games Store, Rockstar Launcher, PlayStation, Xbox
- Free to Play? No, paid game
- Gameplay: Open-world action-adventure set in the Wild West with an immersive story, realistic mechanics, and online multiplayer (Red Dead Online)
Estimated Cost: $370 – $540 million (including marketing)
Rockstar’s open-world Western is known for its incredible realism and depth. This level of fidelity requires a massive team and years of work.
4. Grand Theft Auto V (2013) – $265 million
- Release Date: September 17, 2013
- Purchase Budget: Standard edition ~$40–$60, with in-game microtransactions
- Streaming: Available on GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Plus
- Download: Available on Steam, Epic Games Store, Rockstar Launcher, PlayStation, Xbox
- Free to Play? No, paid game
- Gameplay: Open-world action-adventure with a vast city, three playable characters, story mode, and GTA Online with regular updates and multiplayer features.
- Estimated Cost: $265 million
- Another Rockstar giant, GTA V’s sprawling world, multiple protagonists, and online component contributed to its high budget.
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5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) – $250 million
- Release Date: November 10, 2009
- Purchase Budget: Standard edition ~$60, with DLCs and season passes available
- Streaming: Available on GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Download: Available on Steam, Battle.net, PlayStation, Xbox
- Free to Play? No, paid game
- Gameplay: First-person shooter with single-player campaign, multiplayer modes, and special ops missions. Renowned for its action-packed combat and competitive multiplayer features.
Estimated Cost: $250 million (including marketing)
This Call of Duty title set a new standard for FPS games. A huge marketing push also inflated its overall cost.
6. Star Wars: The Old Republic (2011) – $200 million
- Release Date: December 20, 2011
- Purchase Budget: Free-to-play with optional subscription and in-game purchases
- Streaming: Available on GeForce Now
- Download: Available on Origin (EA platform)
- Free to Play? Yes, with optional subscription for additional content and benefits
- Gameplay: MMORPG set in the Star Wars universe with story-driven quests, customizable characters, and both PvE and PvP gameplay.
Estimated Cost: $200 million
BioWare’s MMORPG set in the Star Wars universe features a vast amount of content, including fully voiced storylines.
7. Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) – $144 million
- Release Date: April 10, 2020
- Purchase Budget: Standard edition ~$60, with additional DLCs and expansions
- Streaming: Available on PlayStation Now
- Download: Available on PlayStation, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store
- Free to Play? No, paid game
- Gameplay: Action RPG featuring reimagined combat and an expanded story, set in the world of Final Fantasy VII, with a focus on character-driven narratives and immersive exploration.
Estimated Cost: $144 million
Remaking a classic game with modern graphics and gameplay is a complex and expensive undertaking, especially one as beloved as FFVII.
8. Destiny (2014) – $140 million
- Release Date: September 9, 2014
- Purchase Budget: Standard edition ~$60, with expansions and in-game purchases
- Streaming: Available on GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Download: Available on PlayStation, Xbox, Battle.net
- Free to Play? Yes, with paid expansions and in-game purchases
- Gameplay: Online multiplayer first-person shooter with RPG elements, featuring cooperative PvE missions, competitive PvP modes, and expansive open-world exploration.
Estimated Cost: $140 million
Bungie’s shared-world shooter had a large budget, reflecting its ambition and the need to create a game that could be updated and expanded over time.
9. Halo 2 (2004) – $120 million
- Release Date: November 9, 2004
- Purchase Budget: Standard edition ~$50
- Streaming: Available on Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Download: Available on Xbox, Microsoft Store
- Free to Play? No, paid game
- Gameplay: First-person shooter with a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes. Known for its groundbreaking multiplayer experience on Xbox Live and its significant impact on the FPS genre.
Estimated Cost: $120 million
At the time, Halo 2 was the most expensive game ever made. Its popularity and the hype surrounding its release justified the investment.
10. Max Payne 3 (2012) – $105 million
- Release Date: May 15, 2012
- Purchase Budget: Standard edition ~$60, with DLCs available
- Streaming: Available on GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Download: Available on Steam, Rockstar Launcher, PlayStation, Xbox
- Free to Play? No, paid game
- Gameplay: Third-person shooter with an engaging story, bullet-time mechanics, and a mix of action-packed gunplay and cinematic moments. Focused on dark, narrative-driven gameplay with multiplayer modes.
Estimated Cost: $105 million
Rockstar’s gritty action game featured detailed environments and advanced gameplay mechanics, contributing to its high production costs.
Important Notes:
- Marketing Costs: These figures often include marketing budgets, which can be substantial.
- Ongoing Development: Games like Star Citizen have ongoing costs due to continuous updates and expansions.
- Inflation: Older games’ costs would be even higher if adjusted for inflation.
This list gives you a good idea of the scale of modern game development. As technology advances and player expectations rise, game budgets are likely to keep growing!
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What is the most expensive game to develop?
Star Citizen, an ambitious space sim, is likely the most expensive game ever made. Its massive scope, decade-long development, and ongoing updates have resulted in a staggering budget.
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Is GTA 6 the most expensive game to make?
GTA 6 will be incredibly expensive, but likely not the most expensive ever. Star Citizen’s decade-long, crowd-funded development has created a budget hard to beat. While GTA 6’s open world and marketing will be costly, Rockstar’s efficiency might keep its budget below Star Citizen’s astronomical figures.
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What is the most expensive game genre to make?
Open-world games are generally the most expensive genre to develop. Their vast, detailed environments, complex systems, and numerous assets require massive teams and years of work, driving up costs significantly. Live service games with ongoing content updates also accrue high long-term expenses.
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How much did GTA 5 cost to make?
GTA 5’s development cost, including marketing, is estimated to be around $265 million. This massive budget reflects the game’s scale, detail, and extensive marketing campaign.