What does it take to create the games you love? The numbers are staggering, with budgets that dwarf those of Hollywood movies. Grand Theft Auto VI is rumored to cost up to $2 billion, a figure once thought impossible for any entertainment project. This illustrates the significant growth of the gaming industry.
This significant spending has resulted in a fascinating list of the most expensive games of all time. The costs cover more than just programming. Massive marketing, years of work by large teams, and continuous updates for online games all add up to these incredible figures. These factors combine to push budgets ever higher.
However, does a bigger budget guarantee success? In this article, we have curated a list of the 20 most expensive games of all time, ranked by their massive production costs. You’ll see which titles lived up to their investment and which failed to meet the mark, providing a clear view of the concept behind high-pressure AAA development.
Big Money, Bigger Ambition: The Most Expensive Games of All Time
1. Grand Theft Auto(GTA) VI (Estimated) – $1-2 Billion
Developers: Rockstar Games
Publishers: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Released: 2025 (Scheduled)
Fans joke that the think-pieces might get a release date before the game does. The whole gaming community has waited over a decade for this title, and the financials reflect that anticipation. Industry analysts and financial reports suggest the total investment will easily top the chart of the most expensive games of all time. Rockstar Games is known for its perfectionism, and high standards come at a cost. Thousands of developers have worked for years to build a single virtual city with unmatched detail.
The budget covers not just the complex coding and writing but also a marketing campaign that will likely span the entire globe. Massive spending aims to ensure the game runs perfectly on modern consoles while meeting the incredibly high expectations of fans everywhere.
2. Monopoly Go! – $1 Billion (Marketing)
Developers: Scopely
Publishers: Scopely
Platforms: iOS, Android
Released: 2023
It might surprise you to see a mobile board game on this list. Unlike console blockbusters that spend money on graphics or voice acting, Scopely invested in finding players. The development cost was relatively normal for a mobile app, but the publisher spent nearly a billion dollars specifically on marketing and user acquisition within the first year alone. Ads appeared on every social media platform, and celebrities starred in commercials to encourage everyone to download the app. Such an aggressive strategy paid off, as the game quickly earned its money back. It proves that getting people to notice a game is sometimes more expensive than building it.
3. Genshin Impact – $900+ Million (Ongoing)
Developers: miHoYo (HoYoverse)
Publishers: miHoYo
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, iOS, Android
Released: 2020
Most single-player games have a fixed budget, but this title is different because the spending never stops. The initial launch cost around $100 million, which was already substantial. However, the developers publicly stated that an additional $200 million is invested in the project every year to create new content. Funds cover the design of new characters, the recording of orchestral music, and the creation of massive new map areas for players to explore.
A continuous stream of high-quality updates keeps the player base active and spending money. This unique live service model makes it a permanent fixture in the discussion of the most expensive games of all time, as the total cost continues to grow higher with every passing year.
4. Star Citizen – $900+ Million (Ongoing)
Developers: Cloud Imperium Games
Publishers: Cloud Imperium Games
Platforms: PC
Released: TBA
This project represents a unique case because fans funded almost all of it directly. The developer promised a space simulation with no limits and has spent over a decade trying to build it. Budgets continue to expand because the project’s scope continually grows. Over a thousand developers across multiple studios globally work on technology that did not exist when production started. Money is invested in creating detailed spaceships, realistic planets, and a complex economy. Critics argue about the lack of a final release date, but the funding counter on the website continues to tick up every single day.
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – $700+ Million
Developers: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publishers: Activision
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Released: 2020
Activision treats this franchise like a summer blockbuster movie release. Regulatory findings and industry reports indicated that this specific entry had a staggering budget that shocked the industry. The high price tag resulted from managing multiple large studios simultaneously. Developers made a Heavy investment in using real actors for motion capture to give the story a cinematic feel. The marketing push for this title was equally massive to ensure dominance during the holiday sales season. Such an aggressive spending strategy solidifies its position as one of the most expensive games ever made.
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) – $640 Million
Developers: Infinity Ward
Publishers: Activision
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Released: 2019
This title represented a major reset for the series. Infinity Ward developed a new game engine to render everything in a photorealistic manner. Developing that new technology took years and required a massive team of engineers. Sound design alone involved recording real weapons in various environments to achieve the perfect audio. Beyond the technical side, Activision invested heavily in signing up streamers and celebrities to play the game on launch day. The combination of cutting-edge technology development and a global advertising blitz resulted in a total bill that rivals the GDP of small island nations.
7. Red Dead Redemption 2 – $540 Million
Developers: Rockstar Games
Publishers: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Released: 2018
Rockstar Games spent eight years creating this western epic. The cost came from an obsession with detail. Over a thousand actors voiced the non-playable characters, so every person in the world sounded unique. Artists hand-placed rocks and trees to ensure the wilderness looked natural rather than computer-generated. That dedication to creating a living history makes it a top contender for the most expensive games of all time. A long development cycle meant paying salaries for a massive team for nearly a decade. It was a high-risk, capital-intensive venture.
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops III – $450 Million
Developers: Treyarch
Publishers: Activision
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Released: 2015
The futuristic setting of this entry required extensive work from the art and design teams. Designers had to invent weapons and locations that did not exist yet, which takes more time than modeling real-world items. The game also featured a campaign mode with famous actors and a challenging zombie mode that is essentially a standalone game. Creating three distinct modes for a single package significantly increased the workload. Activision also paired this with a marketing campaign that included live-action trailers and partnerships with energy drink brands to ensure maximum visibility.
9. Cyberpunk 2077 – $440 Million
Developers: CD Projekt Red
Publishers: CD Projekt
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Released: 2020
The journey of this game is a lesson in ambition and crisis management. The studio spent years building a dense futuristic city and hired Keanu Reeves to play a major role. His participation alone added a significant chunk to the budget. Marketing appeared everywhere, from billboards in Times Square to city buses globally. After a troubled launch, the studio had to spend even more money to fix bugs and rebuild the game’s reputation. The cost of the main game, combined with the expensive fixes, made it one of the most expensive games of all time.
10. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – $315 Million
Developers: Insomniac Games
Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS5
Released: 2023
Internal studio data provided the public with a rare glimpse into the exact pricing for this title. The budget for this superhero sequel increased due to the high cost of living for developers in California and the demand for top-tier visual fidelity. This entry is a surprising yet confirmed addition to the list of the most expensive games of all time. Insomniac Games expanded New York City to be nearly twice the size of the first game. Significant funds were also allocated toward licensing fees to utilize the Marvel characters. Sony viewed these games as essential for selling PlayStation 5 consoles, so approval was granted for a massive budget to ensure the final product was a technical showpiece.
11. Grand Theft Auto V – $265 Million
Developers: Rockstar North
Publishers: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Released: 2013
Rockstar Games set the standard for modern entertainment budgets with this title. GTA V topped the list of the most expensive games of all time when it launched, but later projects eventually surpassed its production cost. Development lasted over five years and involved a global network of studios working in unison. A significant portion of the funds went toward licensing real music for the radio stations and writing a script that rivaled an extensive television series. Marketing was also unprecedented, with advertisements covering entire buildings in major cities. This massive upfront investment paid off, as the game generated one billion dollars in just three days.
12. The Last of Us Part II – $220 Million
Developers: Naughty Dog
Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4, PS5
Released: 2020
Sony financed this project to showcase the absolute limits of the PlayStation 4. Naughty Dog employed hundreds of full-time staff members for nearly six years to perfect every detail. A significant portion of the budget was allocated to advanced motion capture technology, which aims to make character emotions appear startlingly realistic. Creating realistic environments, from overgrown cities to snowy mountains, required immense artist hours and technical resources—the production value aimed to blur the line between video games and prestige cinema. High labor costs in the United States also significantly contributed to the final bill, making it one of Sony’s most substantial financial risks.
13. Horizon Forbidden West – $212 Million
Developers: Guerrilla Games
Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
Released: 2022
Creating a post-apocalyptic world filled with robotic dinosaurs requires serious capital. Guerrilla Games spent years expanding its proprietary Decima engine to handle the complex visuals. Production costs spiked because the team had to develop the game for two generations of consoles simultaneously. Ensuring the game looked good on both the older PS4 and the new PS5 meant doubling the quality assurance work. The project also utilized extensive voice acting and motion capture to bring the tribal cultures to life. Such technical ambition and scope secured its place on the list of the most expensive games of all time.
14. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) – $200+ Million
Developers: Infinity Ward
Publishers: Activision
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Released: 2009
This entry is a fascinating case study in budget allocation. The actual development cost was roughly $40 to $50 million, which was standard for the time. However, Activision spent nearly four times that amount on marketing and launch festivities. The publisher aimed to transform the game into a global cultural phenomenon, rather than merely a software release. Money was invested in controversial trailers, night vision goggles for collectors, and massive retail partnerships. It proved that a game does not need the most complex code to be expensive; sometimes, the price tag comes from making sure the whole world knows its name.
15. Star Wars: The Old Republic – $200 Million
Developers: BioWare Austin
Publishers: Electronic Arts
Platforms: PC
Released: 2011
Electronic Arts took a massive gamble to challenge World of Warcraft with this online role-playing game. The primary cost driver was the decision to voice every single character in the game fully. Writers created scripts for hundreds of hours of dialogue, and the studio hired hundreds of actors to record it all in multiple languages. Maintaining the massive server infrastructure and building an engine that could handle thousands of players added to the bill. While the subscriber model struggled initially, the sheer scale of audio production remains a unique record in the history of the most expensive games of all time.
16. Marvel’s Avengers – $170+ Million
Developers: Crystal Dynamics
Publishers: Square Enix
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Released: 2020
Licensing the most popular superheroes on the planet is never cheap. Square Enix paid a fortune just for the right to use the characters, before development even began. The game aimed to be a service that players would engage with for years, requiring a complex loot system and constant online connectivity. Building these systems took years of trial and error from a large team. Marketing the game as a blockbuster experience added tens of millions to the final tab. Unfortunately, the game failed to find a steady audience, proving that a high budget and famous characters do not always guarantee a profit.
17. The Callisto Protocol – $162 Million
Developers: Striking Distance Studios
Publishers: Krafton
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Released: 2022
Krafton built a brand-new studio from scratch specifically to create this game. Setting up the office, hiring top talent, and building the technology infrastructure consumed a large portion of the initial funds. The creative director wanted the game to feature the most realistic lighting and gore effects ever seen in a horror game. Achieving that level of visual fidelity required expensive rendering technology and meticulous art design. The publisher also funded a Hollywood-style marketing campaign to position the game as a major holiday release. High startup costs for the new team heavily inflated the final production number.
18. Halo 5: Guardians – $160 Million
Developers: 343 Industries
Publishers: Microsoft Studios
Platforms: Xbox One
Released: 2015
Microsoft needed a flagship title to drive sales of the Xbox One, and they spared no expense here. The development team had to overhaul the game engine to run at a smooth 60 frames per second, which was a challenging technical task. The story campaign involved multiple planets and a new squad mechanic that required complex artificial intelligence design. Microsoft backed the launch with a massive global advertising blitz, including live-action mini-series and television spots. This investment was necessary to keep the franchise relevant.
19. Final Fantasy VII Remake – $144 Million
Developers: Square Enix
Publishers: Square Enix
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
Released: 2020
Recreating one of the most beloved games in history came with immense pressure and cost. Square Enix decided to expand the opening section of the original game into a full-length standalone title. This required redesigning the city of Midgar with modern 3D graphics and recording voice lines for characters that were previously silent. Square Enix completely rebuilt the battle system to blend action with strategy. Development took place in Tokyo, where operating costs for a large team are high. The result was a lavish production that spared no expense to satisfy nostalgic fans and new players alike.
20. Destiny – $140 Million (Original 2014)
Developers: Bungie
Publishers: Activision
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Released: 2014
Bungie took a massive risk by leaving Halo behind to create this shared-world shooter. The cost came from building the backend technology that allowed players to meet seamlessly in online spaces. Activision committed a considerable budget to launch the new intellectual property, famously investing half a billion dollars into the ten-year franchise plan, though the first game cost less. The budget covered a star-studded voice cast and an orchestral score recorded at Abbey Road Studios. It was a foundational investment that shaped the industry’s perception of the most expensive games of all time and the live service gaming model.
The Economics of AAA Game Development
Why do modern video games cost hundreds of millions to make? The answer usually comes down to time, talent, and technology. Building a realistic open world requires thousands of specialized developers working for five years or more. Paying these salaries makes up the most significant chunk of the budget for any entry on the list of the most expensive games of all time.
Marketing is another massive cost that players often overlook. Studios frequently spend just as much money promoting a title as they do building it. They purchase expensive ads, host massive launch events, and hire famous streamers to play the game on release day. This spending is necessary to ensure that people are actually aware of the game’s existence in a crowded store.
All this spending creates immense pressure for studios to succeed. A major game today often needs to sell over seven million copies to break even. This high financial risk explains why we usually see sequels instead of taking risks on new ideas. It also explains why standard game prices have risen to seventy dollars or more.
Development vs. Marketing: Where Does the Money Actually Go?
When you see a budget of half a billion dollars, it is natural to wonder where all that cash actually ends up. The most significant expense is almost always the people. A modern blockbuster requires a team of over a thousand professionals working full-time for five years or more. Paying competitive salaries for programmers, artists, and writers in expensive cities like Los Angeles or Tokyo burns through the budget faster than anything else.
However, the “hype tax” is often the silent partner in these costs. For many entries on the list of the most expensive games of all time, the marketing budget equals or exceeds the development budget. Publishers spend fortunes on Super Bowl commercials, billboard takeovers in major capitals, and paying famous streamers to play the game. If a studio spends vast amounts of money making a game, it has to spend even more to ensure the whole world knows it exists.
There are also hidden costs that players often overlook. Licensing a famous song for a trailer, hiring Hollywood actors for motion capture, and maintaining servers for online play all add millions to the final bill. Even the technology itself is expensive, as studios often spend years building custom engines before they even start designing the actual levels. Every step of the process is a financial gamble.
The Final Level
The era of the most expensive games of all time has fundamentally changed how we play. We have moved from garage projects to billion-dollar industries that rival the biggest movie studios. While massive budgets can produce masterpieces like Red Dead Redemption 2, they also bring risks that can close studios overnight if a game fails to find an audience.
As we look beyond 2025, the question isn’t just how much games cost, but whether they are sustainable. With development bills hitting the two-billion-dollar mark, the future of gaming will likely be defined by a battle between these mega-blockbusters and smaller, more creative experiences. For players, it simply means the spectacle is only going to get bigger.
FAQs
Q1. What is the most expensive video game ever made?
A. As of 2025, Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to be the most expensive game ever made with an estimated budget of $1-2 billion. Among released games, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War holds the record with a confirmed budget of over $ 700 million.
Q2. Why are video games so expensive to make now?
A. Modern AAA games require massive teams (1,000+ developers), years of development, cutting-edge technology, global marketing campaigns, and ongoing support for live-service features. Personnel costs alone can account for 40-60% of a game’s total budget.
Q3. How much did GTA V cost to make?
A. Grand Theft Auto V cost approximately $265 million (development and marketing combined), making it one of the most expensive games when it was released in 2013. It has since generated over $8 billion in revenue.
Q4. Is Star Citizen the most expensive game ever?
A. Star Citizen has raised over $900 million through crowdfunding as of November 2025, making it one of the most expensive development projects in gaming history. However, the game remains in alpha and does not have an official release date.
Q5. Do expensive games always make money?
A. No. Games like Marvel’s Avengers ($170M+), Immortals of Aveum ($125M), and Concord ($200M+) failed to turn profits despite massive budgets. The industry rule of thumb is that AAA games need to sell 5-10 million copies to break even.
