Video Game Sales Wiki
Factor 5 dev costs

The following are lists of the most expensive video games. There are separate lists for development, licensing, marketing and manufacturing costs, as well as a timeline of budget records for each category.

List of highest budgets[]

Development[]

No. Title Platform(s) Year Cost Ref
Nominal Inflation
1 Genshin Impact Multi-platform 2020 $750,000,000 $910,000,000 [1][2]
2 Star Citizen PC ? $275,000,000 $275,000,000 [3]
3 Star Wars: The Old Republic PC 2011 $190,000,000 $270,000,000 [4]
4 Grand Theft Auto V PS3, 360 2013 $137,500,000 $190,000,000 [5][6]
5 Grand Theft Auto IV PS3, 360 2008 $100,000,000 $150,000,000 [7]
6 Halo 4 360 2012 $100,000,000 $140,000,000 [8]
7 Tomb Raider PS3, 360, PC 2013 $100,000,000 $130,000,000 [9]
8 Shenmue DC 1999 $70,000,000 $130,000,000 [10]
9 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC, PS3, 360 2011 $85,000,000 $120,000,000 [11]
10 Gran Turismo 5 PS3 2010 $80,000,000 $120,000,000 [12][7]
11 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots PS3 2008 $70,000,000 $100,000,000 [13]
12 Final Fantasy XIII PS3, 360 2009 $65,000,000 $95,000,000 [14]
13 Crysis 3 PC, PS3, 360 2012 $66,000,000 $90,000,000 [15]
14 Too Human 360 2008 $60,000,000 $88,000,000 [7]
15 Killzone 2 PS3 2009 $60,000,000 $88,000,000 [16]
16 Final Fantasy VII PS1 1997 $45,000,000 $88,000,000 [17]
17 Final Fantasy XII PS2 2006 $53,000,000 $83,000,000 [18]
18 Huxley PC 2007 $50,000,000 $76,000,000 [19]
19 Final Fantasy XVI PS5 2023 $70,000,000 $72,000,000 [20]
20 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 PC, PS3, 360 2009 $50,000,000 $73,000,000 [21]
21 Final Fantasy IX PS1 2000 $40,000,000 $73,000,000 [22]
22 APB: All Points Bulletin PC 2010 $50,000,000 $72,000,000 [23]
23 Final Fantasy X PS2 2001 $40,000,000 $71,000,000 [24]
24 TERA Online PC  2011 $50,000,000 $70,000,000 [25]
25 Half-Life 2 PC 2004 $40,000,000 $67,000,000 [26]
26 Tom Clancy's The Division PS4, XB1, PC 2014 $50,000,000 $66,000,000 [27][28]
27 Final Fantasy VIII PS1 1999 $30,000,000 $57,000,000 [29]
28 Daikatana PC 2000 $30,000,000 $55,000,000 [30]
29 Enter the Matrix Multi-platform 2003 $30,000,000 $51,000,000 [31]
30 Final Fantasy XI PS2, PC 2002 $26,300,000 $46,000,000 [32]
31 Halo 3 360 2007 $30,000,000 $45,000,000
32 Stranglehold Multi-platform 2007 $30,000,000 $45,000,000 [33]
33 Super Mario 64 N64 1996 $20,000,000 $40,000,000 [34]
34 Pokémon Go Mobile 2016 $30,000,000 $39,000,000 [35]
35 Assassin's Creed 2 Multi-platform 2009 $24,000,000 $35,000,000 [36]
36 Brutal Legend PS3, 360 2009 $24,000,000 $35,000,000 [37]
37 Yakuza PS2 2005 $21,000,000 $34,000,000
38 Crysis PC 2007 $22,000,000 $33,000,000 [38]
39 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition 360, PS3 2006 $20,000,000 $31,000,000 [39]
40 Assassin's Creed Multi-platform 2007 $20,000,000 $30,000,000 [36]
41 Crackdown 360 2007 $20,000,000 $30,000,000 [40]
42 The Legend of Dragoon PS1 1999 $16,000,000 $30,000,000 [41]
43 Forgotten Worlds Arcade 1988 $10,000,000 $27,000,000 [42]
44 Ghostbusters: The Video Game Multi-platform 2009 $17,500,000 $26,000,000 [43]
45 The Lion King Multi-platform 1994 $12,000,000 $25,000,000 [44]
46 Quake 4 PC, 360 2005 $15,000,000 $24,000,000 [45]
47 Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom PC 1996 $12,000,000 $24,000,000 [46][47]
48 Red Steel Wii 2006 $12,750,000 $20,000,000 [48]
49 Riven: The Sequel to Myst Computers 1997 $10,000,000 $20,000,000 [49]
50 Psychonauts Multi-platform 2005 $12,000,000 $19,000,000 [50]
51 Half-Life 2: Episode One PC 2006 $12,000,000 $19,000,000 [51]
52 Half-Life 2: Episode Two PC 2007 $12,000,000 $18,000,000
53 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty PS2 2001 $10,000,000 $18,000,000 [52]
54 Silent Hill 2 PS2 2001 $10,000,000 $18,000,000 [53]
55 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas PS2 2004 $10,000,000 $17,000,000 [54]
56 Gears of War 360 2006 $10,000,000 $16,000,000 [55]
57 Street Fighter III Arcade 1997 $8,000,000 $16,000,000 [56]
58 Devil May Cry PS2 2001 $8,500,000 $15,000,000 [57]
59 Onimusha PS2 2001 $8,500,000 $15,000,000
60 Sonic 3D SAT, MD, GG 1996 $6,125,000 $12,000,000 [58]
61 NFL '97 Saturn 1996 $5,250,000 $11,000,000
62 Far East of Eden II: Manji Maru PCE 1992 $5,000,000 $11,000,000 [59]
63 Aladdin Mega Drive 1993 $5,000,000 $11,000,000 [44][60]
64 The Last Express Computers 1997 $5,000,000 $10,000,000 [61]
65 Nights into Dreams Saturn 1996 $4,813,000 $10,000,000 [58]
66 Silent Hill PS1 1999 $5,000,000 $9,000,000 [53]
67 Phantasmagoria PC 1995 $4,500,000 $9,000,000 [62][63]
68 Dragon's Lair Arcade 1983 $3,000,000 $9,000,000 [64]
69 Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger Computers 1994 $4,000,000 $8,000,000 [46]
70 A Way Out Multi-platform 2018 $5,200,000 $7,000,000 [65]
71 World Series Baseball Saturn 1996 $3,500,000 $7,000,000 [58]
72 Sewer Shark SCD, 3DO 1992 $3,000,000 $7,000,000 [66]
73 Fighting Vipers Saturn 1996 $3,063,000 $6,000,000 [58]
74 Under a Killing Moon Computers 1994 $3,000,000 $6,000,000 [62]
75 Grim Fandango PC 1998 $3,000,000 $6,000,000 [50]
76 Street Fighter II Arcade 1991 $2,450,000 $6,000,000 [67]
77 Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp Multi-platform 1990 $2,300,000 $6,000,000 [68]
78 Space Ace Arcade 1983 $1,800,000 $6,000,000 [68]
79 Virtua Cop 2 ARC, SAT 1995 $2,625,000 $5,000,000 [58]
80 Time Traveler Arcade 1991 $2,000,000 $5,000,000 [69]
81 Bug Too! Saturn 1996 $2,188,000 $4,000,000 [58]
82 Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Saturn 1996 $2,188,000 $4,000,000
83 Panzer Dragoon II Zwei Saturn 1996 $2,188,000 $4,000,000
84 Wipeout PS1, Saturn 1995 $2,168,000 $4,000,000
85 Virtua Fighter 2 Arcade 1994 $2,000,000 $4,000,000 [70]
86 Mr. Bones Saturn 1996 $1,750,000 $4,000,000 [58]
87 Slither Arcade 1982 $1,300,000 $4,000,000 [71]
88 Super Mario Bros. NES 1985 $1,300,000 $4,000,000 [72]
89 Super Mario Bros. 2 / Doki Doki Panic NES 1986 $1,300,000 $4,000,000
90 The Legend of Zelda FDS, NES 1986 $1,300,000 $4,000,000
91 Night Trap Sega CD 1992 $1,500,000 $3,000,000 [73][74]
92 Daytona USA ARC, SAT 1993 $1,313,000 $3,000,000 [58]
93 Manx TT Super Bike ARC, SAT 1995 $1,313,000 $3,000,000
94 Super Mario Bros. 3 NES 1988 $1,300,000 $3,000,000 [72]
95 Super Mario World SNES 1990 $1,300,000 $3,000,000
96 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past SNES 1991 $1,300,000 $3,000,000
97 Ultima VII: The Black Gate PC 1992 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 [75]
98 Myst Mac 1993 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 [49]
99 Donkey Kong Country SNES 1994 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 [8]
100 Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder Computers 1996 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 [62]
101 Santa Fe Mysteries: Sacred Ground Computers 1997 $1,000,000 $2,000,000
102 Resident Evil 2 PS1 1998 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 [76]
103 Baku Baku ARC, SAT 1995 $875,000 $2,000,000 [58]
104 NBA Action Saturn 1996 $875,000 $2,000,000
105 Sega Worldwide Soccer 97 Saturn 1996 $875,000 $2,000,000
106 The Legend of Oasis Saturn 1996 $875,000 $2,000,000
107 Iron Storm Saturn 1995 $825,000 $2,000,000
108 Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 1 Multi-platform 2008 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 [77]
Golden Axe: The Duel ARC, SAT 1995 $525,000 $1,000,000 [58]
MindRover PC 2000 $500,000 $1,000,000 [78]
Cobra Command Arcade 1984 $400,000 $1,000,000 [79]
Sam & Max: Episode 1 PC 2006 $400,000 $1,000,000 [80]
Donkey Kong Arcade 1981 $267,000 $1,000,000 [72]

Licensing[]

Title Platform(s) Year Cost Ref
Nominal Inflation
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 2600 1982 $21,000,000 $68,000,000 [81]
Donkey Kong Consoles 1982 $5,000,000 $16,000,000 [82]
Popeye Consoles 1982 $2,000,000 $7,000,000 [81]
Pong Arcade 1972 $700,000 $5,000,000 [83]
NBA Jam Arcade 1993 $2,000,000 $4,000,000 [84]
Pac-Man 2600 1982 $1,000,000 $3,000,000 [85]

Marketing[]

No. Title Platform(s) Year Cost Ref
Nominal Inflation
1 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 PC, PS3, 360 2009 $150,000,000 $220,000,000 [21]
2 Final Fantasy VII PS1 1997 $100,000,000 $200,000,000 [17]
3 Grand Theft Auto V PS3, 360 2013 $120,000,000 $160,000,000 [5][6]
4 Grand Theft Auto IV PS3, 360 2008 $100,000,000 $150,000,000 [7]
5 Tomb Raider PS3, 360, PC 2013 $100,000,000 $130,000,000 [86]
6 Genshin Impact Multi-platform 2020 $100,000,000 $120,000,000 [1][2]
7 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC, PS3, PS4, 360, XB1 2011 $85,000,000 $120,000,000 [87]
8 Pokémon Red/Green/Blue GB, GBC 1996 $50,000,000 $100,000,000 [88]
9 Sonic & Knuckles MD 1994 $45,000,000 $95,000,000 [89]
10 Crysis 3 PC, PS3, 360 2012 $66,000,000 $90,000,000 [15]
11 Too Human 360 2008 $60,000,000 $88,000,000 [7]
12 Killzone 2 PS3 2009 $60,000,000 $88,000,000 [16]
13 Street Fighter II Arcade, SNES, MD 1991 $31,000,000 $72,000,000
14 APB: All Points Bulletin PC 2010 $50,000,000 $72,000,000 [90]
15 Tom Clancy's The Division PS4, XB1, PC 2014 $50,000,000 $66,000,000 [27][28]
16 Super Mario Bros. 3 NES 1988 $25,000,000 $66,000,000 [91]
17 Halo 3 360 2007 $40,000,000 $61,000,000 [92]
18 Wii Fit Wii 2007 $40,000,000 $61,000,000 [93]
19 Game of War: Fire Age Mobile 2014 $40,000,000 $53,000,000 [94]
20 Shenmue DC 1999 $23,000,000 $43,000,000 [10]
21 Super Mario 64 N64 1996 $20,000,000 $40,000,000 [95]
22 Diddy Kong Racing N64 1997 $20,000,000 $39,000,000 [96]
23 Donkey Kong Country SNES 1994 $16,000,000 $34,000,000 [89]
24 Star Fox SNES 1993 $15,000,000 $33,000,000 [97]
25 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition 360, PS3 2006 $20,000,000 $31,000,000 [98]
26 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 MD 1992 $10,000,000 $22,000,000 [99]
27 Mortal Kombat MD, SNES, GB, GG 1993 $10,000,000 $22,000,000 [100]
28 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Multi-platform 2011 $15,000,000 $21,000,000 [11]
29 Mortal Kombat II Consoles 1994 $10,000,000 $21,000,000 [101]
30 NBA Jam Consoles 1994 $10,000,000 $21,000,000 [102]
31 Nights into Dreams Saturn 1996 $10,000,000 $20,000,000 [103]
32 Frogger 2600 1982 $6,000,000 $20,000,000 [104]
33 Radar Scope Arcade 1980 $5,000,000 $19,000,000 [105]
34 The Lion King Multi-platform 1994 $8,000,000 $17,000,000 [44]
35 Left 4 Dead 360, PC 2008 $10,000,000 $15,000,000 [106]
36 Sonic 3D Blast SAT, MD, GG 1996 $7,601,630 $15,000,000 [107]
37 Mario Kart 64 N64 1996 $7,000,000 $14,000,000 [96]
38 Star Fox 64 N64 1997 $7,000,000 $14,000,000 [96]
39 The Legend of Zelda NES 1986 $5,000,000 $14,000,000 [108]
40 Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru PCE 1992 $5,000,000 $11,000,000 [109]
41 Resident Evil 2 PS1 1998 $5,000,000 $10,000,000 [76]
42 Aladdin Mega Drive 1993 $4,000,000 $9,000,000 [60][44]
43 Virtua Fighter Animation GG, MD 1996 $3,575,891 $7,000,000 [107]
44 Fighting Vipers Saturn 1996 $3,555,200 $7,000,000
45 Panzer Dragoon II Zwei Saturn 1996 $3,332,200 $7,000,000
46 NFL '97 Saturn 1996 $3,001,200 $6,000,000
47 The Legend of Xanadu PCE 1994 $3,000,000 $6,000,000 [110]
48 World Series Baseball Saturn 1996 $2,583,400 $5,000,000 [107]
49 Rugrats: Search for Reptar PS1 1998 $2,000,000 $4,000,000 [111]
50 Donkey Kong Arcade 1981 $1,000,000 $3,000,000 [112]
Zaxxon Arcade 1981 $1,000,000 $3,000,000 [113]

Manufacturing[]

Title Platform(s) Year Cost Ref
Nominal Inflation
Space Invaders Arcade 1978 $260,000,000 $1,100,000,000 [114][115]
Pac-Man Arcade 1980 $260,000,000 $1,000,000,000 [114][116]
Street Fighter II Arcade, SNES, MD 1991 $380,000,000 $880,000,000 [117][118]
Super Mario World SNES 1990 $300,000,000 $720,000,000 [119]
Super Mario Bros. NES 1985 $240,000,000 $700,000,000 [120]
Sonic the Hedgehog MD 1991 $220,000,000 $510,000,000 [121]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time N64 1998 $190,000,000 $370,000,000 [122]
Super Mario 64 N64 1996 $170,000,000 $340,000,000 [123]
Super Mario Bros. 3 NES 1988 $100,000,000 $270,000,000 [124]
Super Mario Kart SNES 1992 $120,000,000 $270,000,000 [125]
Mario Kart 64 N64 1996 $130,000,000 $260,000,000 [126]
Final Fantasy VII PS1 1997 $120,000,000 $240,000,000 [127]
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 MD 1992 $90,000,000 $200,000,000 [128]
Pac-Man 2600 1982 $54,000,000 $180,000,000 [129][130]
Super Mario Bros. 2 NES 1987 $60,000,000 $170,000,000 [131]
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past SNES 1991 $70,000,000 $160,000,000 [132]
The Legend of Zelda NES 1986 $52,000,000 $150,000,000 [133]
Star Fox SNES 1993 $60,000,000 $130,000,000 [134][135]
Sonic 3 & Knuckles MD 1994 $60,000,000 $130,000,000 [136]
Final Fantasy VIII PS1 1999 $66,000,000 $120,000,000 [137]
Virtua Fighter 2 Arcade 1994 $60,000,000 $130,000,000 [138][139][140]
Final Fantasy VI SNES 1994 $52,000,000 $110,000,000 [141]
Dragon Quest VI SNES 1995 $48,000,000 $100,000,000 [142]
Pokémon Red/Green/Blue GBC 1996 $48,000,000 $96,000,000 [143]
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link NES 1987 $35,000,000 $97,000,000 [144]
Dragon Quest V SNES 1992 $42,000,000 $94,000,000 [145]
Aladdin MD 1993 $40,000,000 $87,000,000 [146]
Chrono Trigger SNES 1995 $41,000,000 $85,000,000 [147]
Mortal Kombat II SNES, MD 1994 $40,000,000 $85,000,000 [148]
Final Fantasy V SNES, PS1 1992 $38,000,000 $85,000,000 [149]
Dragon Quest III NES 1988 $32,000,000 $85,000,000 [150]
Beatmania Arcade 1997 $38,000,000 $74,000,000 [151]
Dance Dance Revolution Arcade 1998 $38,000,000 $73,000,000 [152][151]
APB: All Points Bulletin PC 2010 $50,000,000 $72,000,000 [153]
Final Fantasy IV SNES, PS1, GBA 1991 $31,000,000 $72,000,000 [154]
Dragon Quest IV NES, PS1 1990 $29,000,000 $70,000,000 [155]
Frogger 2600 1982 $18,000,000 $59,000,000 [156][157]
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 2600 1982 $18,000,000 $59,000,000 [158][159]
Mortal Kombat MD, SNES, GB, GG 1993 $21,000,000 $46,000,000 [160][161]
Missile Command Arcade 1980 $12,000,000 $46,000,000 [114]
Shenmue DC 1999 $24,000,000 $45,000,000 [162]
Final Fantasy IX PS1 2000 $22,000,000 $40,000,000 [163][164]
Final Fantasy X PS2 2001 $14,000,000 $25,000,000 [165]
Gran Turismo 5 PS3 2010 $13,000,000 $19,000,000 [166]
Wii Fit Wii 2007 $12,000,000 $18,000,000 [167][168]
Gun Fight Arcade 1975 $3,000,000 $18,000,000 [169]
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots PS3 2008 $11,000,000 $16,000,000 [170][171]
Final Fantasy XIII PS3, 360 2009 $9,600,000 $14,000,000 [172]
Journey Escape 2600 1983 $4,500,000 $14,000,000 [173]
Special Criminal Investigation Arcade 1989 $5,000,000 $13,000,000 [174]

Timeline of budget records[]

Development[]

Timeline of development budget milestones
Title Year Developer Platform Cost Ref
Nominal Inflation
Computer Space 1971 Syzygy Arcade $50,000 $400,000 [175]
Galaxy Game 1971 Stanford Arcade $65,000 $500,000
Space Invaders 1978 Taito Arcade $70,000 $300,000 [176]
Galaxian 1979 Namco Arcade $100,000 $400,000 [177]
Pac-Man 1980 Namco Arcade $100,000 $400,000 [178]
Super Galaxian 1981 Epoch Handheld $100,000 $300,000 [177]
Gakken Baseball 1981 Gakken Handheld $140,000 $500,000 [177]
Donkey Kong 1981 Nintendo R&D1 Arcade $267,000 $1,000,000 [72]
Slither 1982 Century II / GDI Arcade $1,300,000 $4,000,000 [71]
Dragon's Lair 1983 AMS Arcade $3,000,000 $9,000,000 [64]
Forgotten Worlds 1988 Capcom Arcade $10,000,000 $27,000,000 [42]
The Lion King 1994 Westwood Multi-platform $12,000,000 $25,000,000 [44]
Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom 1996 Origin Systems PC $12,000,000 $24,000,000 [46][47]
Super Mario 64 1996 Nintendo EAD N64 $20,000,000 $40,000,000 [34]
Final Fantasy VII 1997 Squaresoft PlayStation $45,000,000 $88,000,000 [179]
Shenmue 1999 Sega AM2 Dreamcast $70,000,000 $130,000,000 [10]
Grand Theft Auto IV 2008 Rockstar North PS3, X360, PC $100,000,000 $150,000,000 [180]
Star Wars: The Old Republic 2011 BioWare PC $190,000,000 $270,000,000 [4]
Star Citizen ? Cloud Imperium PC $275,000,000 $275,000,000 [3]
Genshin Impact 2020 miHoYo Multi-platform $750,000,000 $910,000,000 [1][2]

Licensing[]

Timeline of licensing budget milestones
Title Year Developer Publisher Platform Cost Ref
Nominal Inflation
Pong 1972 Atari Atari Arcade $700,000 $5,000,000 [83]
Pac-Man 1982 Namco Atari Atari VCS $1,000,000 $3,000,000 [85]
Popeye 1982 Nintendo R&D1 Parker Brothers Consoles $2,000,000 $7,000,000 [81]
Donkey Kong 1982 Nintendo R&D1 Coleco Consoles $5,000,000 $16,000,000 [82]
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 1982 Atari Atari 2600 $21,000,000 $68,000,000 [81]

Marketing[]

Timeline of marketing budget milestones
Title Year Developer Publisher Platform Cost Ref
Nominal Inflation
Donkey Kong 1981 Nintendo R&D1 Nintendo Arcade $1,000,000 $3,000,000 [112]
Zaxxon 1981 Sega Sega Arcade $1,000,000 $3,000,000 [113]
Pac-Man 1982 Namco Atari Atari 2600 $1,500,000 $5,000,000 [181]
Frogger 1982 Konami Parker Brothers Atari 2600 $10,000,000 $33,000,000 [81]
The Empire Strikes Back 1982 Parker Brothers
Super Mario Bros. 3 1988 Nintendo EAD Nintendo NES $25,000,000 $66,000,000 [182]
Sonic & Knuckles 1994 Sega Sega Mega Drive $45,000,000 $95,000,000 [89]
Pokémon Red/Green/Blue 1996 Nintendo Nintendo GB, GBC $50,000,000 $100,000,000 [88]
Final Fantasy VII 1997 Squaresoft Squaresoft, Sony PlayStation $100,000,000 $200,000,000 [183]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 2009 Infinity Ward Activision PC, PS3, 360 $150,000,000 $220,000,000 [21]

Manufacturing[]

Timeline of manufacturing cost milestones
Title Year Developer Manufacturer Platform(s) Cost (est.) Ref
Nominal Inflation
Gun Fight 1975 Taito Midway Arcade $3,000,000 $18,000,000 [169]
Space Invaders 1978 Taito Taito Arcade $260,000,000 $1,100,000,000 [114][115]
Pac-Man 1980 Namco Namco Arcade $260,000,000 $1,000,000,000 [114][116]
Super Mario World 1990 Nintendo Nintendo SNES $300,000,000 $720,000,000 [119]
Street Fighter II 1991 Capcom Capcom ARC, SNES, MD $380,000,000 $880,000,000 [117][118]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Carpenter, Nicole (February 6, 2024). "Genshin Impact hackers sued in Canadian court". Polygon. Retrieved February 7, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Genshin Lawsuit via Polygon". Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Cloud Imperium Financials for 2019". cloudimperiumgames.com. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Fritz, Ben (January 20, 2012). "Star Wars: The Old Republic — the story behind a galactic gamble". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Sinclair, Brendan (1 Feb 2013). "GTA V dev costs over $137 million, says analyst". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Grand Theft Auto V:
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Top 10 Most Expensive Video Games Ever Made
  8. 8.0 8.1 http://www.lazygamer.net/xbox/xbox-360/halo-4-is-the-most-expensive-game-that-microsoft-has-ever-produced/
  9. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-03-27-single-player-ip-will-cause-problems-for-square-enix
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 [1] [2] [3]
  11. 11.0 11.1 https://www.thegamer.com/skyrim-making-of-crazy-details-did-not-know/
  12. http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gran-turismo-5-sporting-60-million-budget/1100-6239328/
  13. "10 Most Expensive Video Game Budgets Ever". knowyourmoney.co.uk. Notice Media Limited. 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  14. https://www.destructoid.com/final-fantasy-xiii-cost-65m-mario-kart-wii-made-bank/
  15. 15.0 15.1 [4] [5]
  16. 16.0 16.1 [6] [7] [8]
  17. 17.0 17.1 [9] [10] [11]
  18. http://www.videogames.com.au/general/top-10-expensive-video-game-budgets-2/
  19. http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Tim-Schafer-Compares-Past-Video-Game-Budgets-Current-Budgets-39474.html
  20. https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/economy/20230106-OYT1T50123/
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 [12] [13]
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20080828135353/squarehaven.com/news/2000/07/29/NTV-Tokyo-Interviews-Hironobu-Sakaguchi/
  23. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/28/montgomery-co-raises-50-million-for-realtime-worlds/
  24. Development: ¥4 billion = $40 million 
  25. http://www.sooperarticles.com/art-entertainment-articles/tera-online-gaming-worlds-most-expensive-76974.html
  26. "Half-Life 2: $40 million in, still Steaming forward". Eurogamer. March 22, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  27. 27.0 27.1 [14]
  28. 28.0 28.1 [15]
  29. Wessel, Craig (2000). A Parent's Guide to PlayStation Games. Mars Publishing. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-9675127-5-4. The most recent release in the series, Final Fantasy VIII, is also one of the most lavish productions in video game history, reportedly costing over $30 million to make.
  30. Vaggabond (May 27, 2000). "The Story of Daikatana". Eurogamer. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  31. http://www.studiohem.com/richardhemery/essay-convergenceofvideogamesandcinema.htm
  32. IGN Staff (May 10, 2002). "Final Fantasy XI—Big Plans, Big Money". IGN. Retrieved August 15, 2006.
  33. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/midway-investing-30-million-in-stranglehold
  34. 34.0 34.1 Bethke, Erik (2003). Game Development and Production. Wordware Publishing, Inc. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-55622-951-0. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  35. https://web.archive.org/web/20151019022349/siliconangle.com/blog/2015/10/15/pokemon-go-dev-niantic-nabs-up-to-30-million-in-funding-from-google-nintendo-and-pokemon/
  36. 36.0 36.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20091207072608/forums.qj.net/xbox-360/151759-assassins-creed-2-budget-bigger-than-originals.html
  37. Postmortem: Double Fine's Brutal Legend
  38. https://web.archive.org/web/20080820180505/pc.ign.com/articles/899/899976p1.html
  39. http://members.forbes.com/global/2007/0212/022.html
  40. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/i-d-struggle-to-make-a-game-for-less-than-50-million-says-jones
  41. Ashcraft, Brian (2013-11-04). "How Sony's Hometown Studio Rose From the Ashes In Time for the PS4". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  42. 42.0 42.1 "Capcom: A Captive Audience". The Games Machine. No. 19. United Kingdom: Newsfield (published 18 May 1989). June 1989. pp. 24–5.
  43. https://web.archive.org/web/20090723233212/www.edge-online.com/news/ghostbusters-budget-was-15-20-million
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 "Lion King video will take bite out of firm's capital". The Spokesman-Review. 28 June 1994. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  45. Conklin, Aaron (September 16, 2005). "Soaring into year 15 Middleton-Based Raven Software is set two release two A-list Video Games in the coming weeks". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 Coleman, Terry Lee (December 1995). "Is The Price of Freedom Worth $12 Million?". Computer Gaming World. No. 137. pp. 46, 47, 50, 52, 54.
  47. 47.0 47.1 Wolf, Mark J. P. (2008). The Video Game Explosion: A History from PONG to Playstation and Beyond. ABC-CLIO. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-313-33868-7.
  48. https://web.archive.org/web/20060813192357/www.digitalbattle.com/2006/08/11/red-steel-costs-ubisoft-12-million/
  49. 49.0 49.1 Takashi, Dean (August 26, 1997). "Can Myst's Sequel Live Up to Expectations?". The Wall Street Journal.
  50. 50.0 50.1 http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Tim-Schafer-Compares-Past-Video-Game-Budgets-Current-Budgets-39474.html
  51. http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/05/27/videogame-art-money-tech-personal-cx_mji_0528vgames.html
  52. Keighley, Geoff (May 16, 2012) [November 22, 2001]. "The Final Hours of Metal Gear Solid 2". Gamespot. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  53. 53.0 53.1 Brandon Sheffield (August 25, 2005). "Silence Is Golden: Takayoshi Sato's Occidental Journey". Gamasutra. United Business Media LLC. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  54. Prince, Marcelo (December 21, 2004). "Videogame Publishers Place Big Bets on Big-Budget Games". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  55. http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Tim-Schafer-Compares-Past-Video-Game-Budgets-Current-Budgets-39474.html
  56. Leone, Matt (8 December 2020). "Street Fighter 3: An oral history". Polygon. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  57. "Average development cost of making a game". Famitsu. 2001. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  58. 58.00 58.01 58.02 58.03 58.04 58.05 58.06 58.07 58.08 58.09 https://segaretro.org/images/8/8c/SegaFY1997BrandReview_US.pdf
  59. Szczepaniak, John (November 2015). The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Monochrome. SMG Szczepaniak. pp. 97–8. ISBN 978-1518818745. Flagship title for the updated PC-Engine CD-ROM, this was one of (if not the) most expensive game of its day; think of it as Hudson's analogue to Shenmue. (...) Tengai Makyou II was a really big project and perhaps also the first triple-A title on CD. (...) Because at that time, for Tengai Makyou II, we used almost (...) 500,000,000 yen (...) $4,000,000 (...) And perhaps the salaries of these people are not contained within this [original] 500 million figure. (...) So it's even more expensive!
  60. 60.0 60.1 "Disney Dazzles at CES" (PDF). Game Players. Vol. 6, no. 8. August 1993. p. 52.
  61. Saltzman, Marc (May 18, 2000). Game Design: Secrets of the Sages, Second Edition. Brady Games. pp. 410–1. ISBN 1566869870.
  62. 62.0 62.1 62.2 Arar, Yardena (January 22, 1996). "Making a Killing – Gumshoe Games Target New PC Users". Los Angeles Daily News. p. B1. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  63. Lynch, Dennis (October 20, 1995). "`Phantasmagoria' Full of Rich Details and Bone-Chilling Action". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  64. 64.0 64.1 https://books.google.com/books?id=8GJhAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA26&article_id=2750,247645
  65. "Kanondeal med speljätten gjorde Josef Fares till mångmiljonär". September 6, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  66. Zito, Tom (March 1995). "Dispatches". Next Generation. No. 3. Imagine Media. pp. 106–7.
  67. https://www.polygon.com/a/street-fighter-2-oral-history/chapter-2
  68. 68.0 68.1 "Video File". The Los Angeles Times. February 21, 1984. p. 63. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  69. Weber, Jonathan (September 26, 1991). "New dimension offered in arcade games". The Press Democrat. p. 32. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. http://web.archive.org/web/20131113174154/http://www.1up.com/features/disappearance-suzuki-part-1?pager.offset=2
  71. 71.0 71.1 https://arcadeblogger.com/2017/06/02/gdis-slither-the-1-3-million-dollar-crash-burn/
  72. 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 "Unlikely Hero Creates Games and Profits". Leisure Line. Australia: Leisure & Allied Industries. June 1992. pp. 25–6.
  73. "The Making of: Night Trap" (PDF). Retro Gamer: 54–57. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2014.
  74. "VHS: The Future of Gaming". GameSpy. March 23, 2007. Archived from the original on March 23, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  75. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA347
  76. 76.0 76.1 "Capcom Logs RE2 Preorders". GameSpot. January 15, 1998. Archived from the original on September 30, 2000. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  77. http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/11/video-games-serials-tech-personal-cx_mji_0411serials.html
  78. "These gamespeople play out their dreams". The Boston Globe. June 14, 2000. p. 106. Retrieved August 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  79. サンダーストーム
  80. http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/11/video-games-serials-tech-personal-cx_mji_0411serials.html
  81. 81.0 81.1 81.2 81.3 81.4 https://books.google.com/books?id=oJJNAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA34&article_id=7078,2567045
  82. 82.0 82.1 Harmetz, Aljean (January 15, 1983). "New Faces, More Profits For Video Games". Times-Union. p. 18. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  83. Leone, Matt. "The Rise, Fall, and Return of NBA Jam". 1UP. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  84. 85.0 85.1 McAlpine, Kenneth B. (15 November 2018). Bits and Pieces: A History of Chiptunes. Oxford University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-19-049609-8.
  85. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-03-27-single-player-ip-will-cause-problems-for-square-enix
  86. http://www.statisticbrain.com/skyrim-the-elder-scrolls-v-statistics/
  87. 88.0 88.1 Tobin, Joseph Jay (2004). Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokémon. Duke University Press. p. 66. ISBN 0-8223-3287-6.
  88. 89.0 89.1 89.2 Kronke, David (15 October 1994). "It's gonna be a video jungle out there: Video-game stars Donkey Kong and Sonic the Hedgehog will battle it out with new games backed by tech advances and mega-marketing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  89. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/28/montgomery-co-raises-50-million-for-realtime-worlds/
  90. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105984777/
  91. http://web.archive.org/web/20080210123556/www.brandweek.com/bw/magazine/current/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003637129
  92. https://web.archive.org/web/20080504155126/www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18096
  93. http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2014/11/16/a-40m-ad-budget-buys-game-of-war-fire-age-kate-upton/
  94. "Nintendo/Galaxy Game Has Changed". Statesman Journal. McLean. September 29, 1996. p. 22. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  95. 96.0 96.1 96.2 "Diddy Kong Nabs Fattest Ad Purse Ever". IGN. August 29, 1997. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  96. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4DC448181E3B9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
  97. http://members.forbes.com/global/2007/0212/022.html
  98. Biddle, Frederic M. (1992-12-08). "Sega vs. Nintendo: The Rematch". Boston Globe. p. Economy 43.
  99. https://web.archive.org/web/20130605172906/www.mannmuseum.com/the-high-tech-threat-to-our-younger-generation/
  100. https://books.google.com/books?id=LqNHAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA6&article_id=4467,1687926
  101. "Acclaim to fame or notoriety". The Record. March 4, 1994. p. 49. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  102. http://www.ew.com/article/1996/09/20/nights
  103. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jnhcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a1cNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4201,2482231
  104. https://archive.fo/oWkUD
  105. http://www.edge-online.com/features/left-4-deads-10m-ad-campaign
  106. 107.0 107.1 107.2 https://segaretro.org/images/8/8c/SegaFY1997BrandReview_US.pdf#page=58
  107. Sheff, David (1993). Game Over: How Nintendo Zapped an American Industry, Captured Your Dollars, and Enslaved Your Children. Random House. p. 188. ISBN 0-679-40469-4.
  108. Turbo Play, April/May 1992, page 19
  109. http://www.falcom.com/licence/character/other_e.html
  110. https://archive.org/details/official-uk-playstation-magazine-42/page/n7
  111. 112.0 112.1 Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Elcon Industries, Inc., vol. 564, United States District Court, October 4, 1982, pp. 937–45, retrieved 2023-12-09
  112. 113.0 113.1 "Sega Bows TV Campaign For 'Zaxxon' Video Arcade Game" (PDF). Cash Box. 1982-07-10. p. 30.
  113. 114.0 114.1 114.2 114.3 114.4 https://arcadeblogger.com/2016/05/13/arcade-factory/
  114. 115.0 115.1 "After Pong". ACE. No. 6 (March 1988). 4 February 1988. pp. 29-32 (29).
  115. 116.0 116.1 Marlene Targ Brill (2009). America in the 1980s. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 120. ISBN 0-8225-7602-3. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  116. 117.0 117.1 Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, costs: $186 million
  117. 118.0 118.1 Street Fighter II', manufacturing costs: $227 million
    • Street Fighter II': Champion Edition - 140,000 arcade cabinets manufactured at $1000 each = $140 million
    • Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting - 4.1 million SNES cartridges at $15 each = $62 million
    • Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition - 1.65 million Mega Drive cartridges at $15 each = $25 million
  118. 119.0 119.1 20.6 million cartridges [16] [17] at $15 each = $309 million manufacturing
  119. 40.23 million cartridges at $6 each
  120. 15 million cartridges at $15 each = $225 million manufacturing
  121. 7.6 million cartridges at $25 each = $190 million
  122. 11.62 million cartridges at $15 each = $175 million manufacturing
  123. 18 million cartridges at $6 each
  124. 8 million SNES cartridges [18] at $15 each = $120 million
  125. 9 million cartridges at $15 each
  126. 10 million units [19] at $10 per package = $120 million manufacturing
  127. 6 million cartridges at $15 each = $90 million manufacturing
  128. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6K8lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H_QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1848,2535505
  129. 12 million cartridges at $4.50 each = $72 million
  130. 10 million cartridges at $6 each
  131. 4.61 million SNES cartridges at $15 each = $70 million
  132. 6.51 million cartridges at $8 each
  133. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4DC448181E3B9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
  134. 4 million cartridges at $15 each = $60 million
  135. 4 million cartridges at $15 each = $60 million
  136. 8.15 million units (4 CD-ROM discs each) at $8 ($2 per disc) each
  137. http://shmuplations.com/akiranagai/
  138. https://segaretro.org/Press_release:_1996-09-03:_Virtua_Fighter_Kids:_New_Sega_Saturn_game_is_way_%22a-head%22_of_its_time
  139. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ny0vvUpBzCYC&pg=PA156
  140. 3.41 million units (2.55 million in Japan and 860,000 overseas]) at $15 per cartridge = $52 million
  141. 3.2 million cartridges [20] [21] at $15 each = $48 million
  142. 31.37 million units [22] at $1.50 per cartridge = $48 million
  143. 4.38 million catridges at $8 each
  144. 2.8 million cartridges [23] [24] at $15 each = $42 million
  145. 4 million MD/GEN cartridges [25] at $10 each
  146. 2.7 million units at $15 per cartridge = $41 million
  147. Mortal Kombat II: [26]
    • MD/GEN: 1.78 million cartridges at $10 each = $17.8 million
    • SNES: 1.51 million cartridges at $15 each = $22.6 million
  148. Final Fantasy V manufacturing costs:
    • SNES: 2.45 million cartridges at $15 each = $37 million
    • PS1: 170,000 CD-ROM discs at $2 each = $340,000
  149. 3.9 million cartridges (3.8 million in Japan and 95,000 in the US) at $8 each
  150. 151.0 151.1 25,000 arcade machines manufactured at $1500 each = $38 million
  151. Outsold Beatmania
  152. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/28/montgomery-co-raises-50-million-for-realtime-worlds/
  153. Final Fantasy IV manufacturing costs:
    • SNES: 1.89 million cartridges (1.44 million in Japan and 450,000 overseas]) at $15 each = $29 million
    • PS1: 380,000 CD-ROM discs at $2 each = $760,000
    • GBA: Assuming GBC manufacturing cost of $1.50 per cartridge, 610,000 cartridges at $1.50 each = $920,000
  154. Dragon Quest IV:
    • NES: 3.2 million cartridges (3.1 million in Japan and 80,000 in the US) at $8 each = $26 million
    • PS1: 1.2 million CD-ROM discs at $2 each = $2.4 million
  155. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jnhcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a1cNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4201,2482231
  156. 3 million cartridges at $6 each
  157. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jnhcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a1cNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4201,2482231
  158. 4 million cartridges at $4.50 each = $18 million manufacturing
  159. http://www.mannmuseum.com/the-high-tech-threat-to-our-younger-generation/
  160. 3 million cartridges sold for 4 consoles (MD, SNES, Game Boy, Game Gear), assuming average manufacturing cost of $7 per cartridge ($15 SNES, $10 MD, $1.50 GB, $1.50 GG) = $21 million
  161. Assuming PS1 CD-ROM cost of $5 per disc for Dreamcast GD-ROM, 1.2 million units [27] at $20 ($5 per disc) each = $24 million
  162. http://squarehaven.com/news/2000/07/29/NTV-Tokyo-Interviews-Hironobu-Sakaguchi/
  163. Final Fantasy IX manufacturing cost: 5.3 million (4 CD-ROM) units [28] at $4 each ($1 per CD) = $22 million
  164. Final Fantasy X manufacturing cost: 6.6 million DVD discs [29] at $2 each
  165. 10.66 million units [30] at $1.20 per Blu-Ray = $13 million
  166. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18096
  167. 22.67 million DVD discs at $0.50 each = $12 million
  168. 169.0 169.1 Lendino, Jamie (2020-09-27). Attract Mode: The Rise and Fall of Coin-Op Arcade Games. Steel Gear Press. p. 49.
  169. http://www.videogames.com.au/general/top-10-expensive-video-game-budgets-2/
  170. 5.67 million units [31] at $1.80 per BD-ROM disc = $11 million
  171. Final Fantasy XIII manufacturing costs:
    • PS3: 4.84 million BD-ROM discs [32] at $1.20 each = $5.9 million
    • 360: 1.76 million DVD-ROM discs [33] at $2.10 ($0.70 per disc) each = $3.7 million
  172. Saltzman, Joe (December 13, 1982). "The beat goes on". San Francisco Examiner. p. 33. Retrieved November 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  173. Meades, Alan (25 October 2022). Arcade Britannia: A Social History of the British Amusement Arcade. MIT Press. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-262-37235-0. Retrieved 5 August 2023. In October 1989, Electrocoin was commissioned a £3-million order from Taito Europe to build 1,500 Special Criminal Investigation driving games
  174. https://8bitworkshop.com/blog/history/2017/04/27/sincere-flattery-in-the-early-arcade-industry.html
  175. https://shmuplations.com/spaceinvaders/
  176. 177.0 177.1 177.2 "昔(1970年代)のテレビゲームは何台売れた? (How many old (1970s) video games sold?)". Classic Videogame Station Odyssey (CVS Odyssey) (in Japanese). 2014-01-09. Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 16 April 2021. {{cite web}}: More than one of |archivedate= and |archive-date= specified (help); More than one of |archiveurl= and |archive-url= specified (help)
  177. https://arstechnica.com/features/2005/11/crossplatform/2/
  178. "Essential 50: Final Fantasy VII". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  179. Androvitch, Mark (April 30, 2008). "GTA IV: Most expensive game ever developed?". Games Industry International.
  180. Corderi, Victoria (March 30, 1982). "Local Video-game Freaks Gobble Up Home Pac-Man". The Miami News. Retrieved 5 January 2020. According to Hoff, Atari started "whetting the public's appetite" for the game by running print ads after Christmas that announced that Pac-Man "would soon be ready for home consumption." On April 3, the company will step up its $1.5 million publicity campaign by starting television and radio advertising.
  181. "Nintendo fuels "Mario Mania" with "Super Mario Bros. 3"". The Indianapolis Star. April 9, 1990. p. 22. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  182. Stanton, Rich (June 2, 2013). "Final Fantasy 7 retrospective". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved March 20, 2014.

External links[]

Video game industry
Sales trends · Holidays · Price cuts · Launch price · Market research · Fiscal reports · Video game costs · Video game delays · Leaks
Dev kit · Attach rate · Gaming conventions · Recession · Rumors · Sales bumps · Casual and hardcore games · Game piracy · Grey market · Controversies · Developer disputes · Video game research · Game development
NPD sales figures · Costs (Most expensive games) · Best-selling games