List of most expensive video games to develop

The following is a list of the most expensive video games ever developed, with a minimum total cost of 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 – Indicates ongoing costs of development post-release Official figures

Name Year Costs (million US$) Development Marketing Total Total ( inflation)Star Citizen and Squadron 42760.7+193.8+954.6+ + Monopoly Go! 2023 1,000 1,000 Genshin Impact 2020 900+ +Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War2020 700Call of Duty: Modern Warfare2019640Call of Duty: Black Ops III2015450Cyberpunk 20772020174142441.9 2023 103.6 21.6Battlefield 62025400+Marvel's Spider-Man 3385 World of Warcraft 2004 63+ 263+ + Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2200940–50150–160200–Marvel's Spider-Man 22023315Marvel's Wolverine2026305Final Fantasy VII199740–4540–10080–145–The Last of Us Part II2020220220Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales202081.725.1213.3Horizon Forbidden West2022212212Halo 220044080120Destiny2014140The Callisto Protocol2022162Shadow of the Tomb Raider201875–10035110–135–Dead Space 220116060120Grand Theft Auto IV2008100++Undawn2023140Battlefield 42013100100Immortals of Aveum20238045125Shenmue19994747–70–The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt201581Rift201150+10–2060–70+–+ Final Fantasy VIII 1999 50 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart202181Watch Dogs201468++Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier201265Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy200145–50–Gran Turismo 5201060Gears of War 3201148–60–Gears of War: Judgment201360Heavy Rain201021.830.452.2Final Fantasy IX200040Ghost of Tsushima20206060Black Myth: Wukong202470Lords of the Fallen202342.224.466.6E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial198221–22–Darksiders II201250Half-Life 2200440++Kingdom Under Fire II201950++Control Resonant202652.952.9

Cancelled games Name Year cancelled Costs (million US$) Development inflationTitan Project2007–200890 Wonder Woman2025100+ Fable Legends201675 This Is Vegas2009–201040–50– Volt20215353

Unofficial figures Analyst estimations Name Year Analyst(s) Costs (million US$) Marketing Total Total ( inflation)Grand Theft Auto V2013Sterne Agee137.569–109.3206.5–246.8– Red Dead Redemption 22018 Wedbush Securities170170 Halo 5: Guardians2015160160 Marvel's Avengers2020Astris Advisory170++ Final Fantasy VII Remake 2020Shibaura Institute of Technology144144 Jefferies & Company<140<140<Max Payne 32012Sterne Agee105105 Tomb Raider2013100Resident Evil 22019Jefferies & Company<100<100<Halo 32007Wedbush Securities30+15–2060++Alan Wake 22023Inderes53.521.575ARC Raiders2025Wedbush Securities75Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning20085050Grand Theft Auto IV20084545

Press estimations The following budgets have been estimated by press outlets without naming any specific analyst or firm.

Name Year Press outlet(s) Costs (million US$) Marketing Total Total ( inflation) Grand Theft Auto VI 2026 Several 1,000–2,000 – MindsEye2025Gameranx500500Red Dead Redemption 22018VentureBeat200–300200–300– Grand Theft Auto V2013The Scotsman265 Star Wars: The Old Republic2011Los Angeles Times200++ Marathon2026Forbes200–250+–+Concord2024Kotaku200++Skull and Bones2024Insider Gaming200 Enter the Matrix 2003Variety2080100 Wall Street Journal2080 Hogwarts Legacy2023CNN Business150 Too Human2008USgamer60–100– Mackey, Bob (August 14, 2014). Gaming's Greatest Flops: Too Human. USgamer.Red Dead Redemption2010The New York Times80–100– APB: All Points Bulletin2010The Guardian100 Disney Infinity2013Los Angeles Times100++ Fritz, Ben (August 25, 2013). "Disney Tries Anew to Raise Its Score on Digital Games". The Wall Street Journal.Deadpool2013GameSpot100Mass Effect: Andromeda2017Edmonton Journal100 Defiance2013Forbes8080 Mortal Kombat II1994San Francisco Chronicle50 Sonic & Knuckles1994 Los Angeles Times4545 Call of Duty: Black Ops2010Los Angeles Times 50+ DC Universe Online20115050 L.A. Noire2011BBC News5050 Super Mario Bros. 3 1988The Seattle Times0.8 25.8+ + The Indianapolis Star25+ Final Fantasy X2001Yomiuri Shimbun32.332.3++ Halo 32007The Hollywood Reporter 40 40 The Blood of Dawnwalker2026Bloomberg News404040

See also Lists of video games

Notes

References