Video games can undoubtedly strain budgets, not only for players purchasing them but also for game studios. High-budget games are typically associated with AAA titles and large development teams, but it's worth noting that even small indie companies can produce expensive video games.

These high investments typically result in iconic experiences that players remember for decades, like GTA V from Rockstar. But this doesn’t mean you must spend millions of dollars developing cutting-edge games.

If you want to know the most expensive video games ever released and how much their production cost, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will show you some of the most costly products in the gaming world and why they need a massive budget to be developed.

Even though we’re looking for the most expensive releases in the gaming industry, it doesn’t mean you also need to break your budget to get them.

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Now it’s time to see some of the most expensive video game titles ever produced. We will compare their total development costs, not considering aspects like sales or platform, for example.

Make sure to look at each one to see their total value and why they are so expensive. Here are the games with the biggest budget in the entire industry:

• Release Date: September, 2018

• Developer: Eidos

• Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, and Microsoft Windows

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the third title from the reboot franchise, and Eidos didn’t save up any resources for its creation. The game had a total cost of over 75 million dollars for its initial development, and this price can go up to a hundred million if we consider the marketing efforts.

It is one of the most influential games for adventure titles, and Lara Croft’s figure became a martyr and an inspiration for the creation of female protagonists.

It continues the story of Lara Croft right after the events of Rise of the Tomb Raider, this time during her adventures in America. During her trip to Paititi, she finds out about Trinity’s evil plans to unleash a Mayan apocalypse in the world, which can cause the death of millions.

This military group is known for its cruelty when exploring ancient ruins and valuable treasures, and you must do everything you can to stop them before it’s too late. To do that, you’ll count on numerous different weapons and equipment.

The game is action-packed and has breathtaking moments when exploring the scenario and fighting against all sorts of enemies you’ll find along the way. If you like action and exploration, it’ll definitely please you.

You can see why it’s so expensive through its smooth and optimized gameplay, and also thanks to the cutting-edge graphics that look gorgeous for a game from the previous generation. Eidos and Square Enix are two big companies that have worked in the industry for decades, so the high-end gaming rigs used also contribute to the final development price.

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• Release Date: September, 2015

• Developer: Konami

• Platforms: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows

Another franchise that reached a costly budget for its games is Metal Gear Solid. But this is not a mystery for anyone, since Konami was never afraid of spending money on one of their most iconic franchises.

The Phantom Pain is the fifth game from the main saga and continues the story of Snake. The tactical shooting game focuses on stealth combat and taking your enemies down without being noticed. It is the franchise's first game to feature an open world that the players can explore however they want.

You’ll also find many NPCs and side quests to interact with, extending the gameplay even more. If you’re a completionist and plan on getting 100% done, prepare to spend dozens of hours playing it. It is a very extensive game that, combined with marketing costs, needed a hefty budget of over 80 million dollars.

In The Phantom Pain, you’ll infiltrate Afghanistan territory, seeking vengeance against those who came close to killing you during the events of Ground Zeroes, the prequel to this story. Soviet military groups currently occupy the territory, and you must gather as much information as you can in order to find out what really happened years ago.

If you like stealth gameplay, this one is a must-play for you. The tactical shooting is a perfect mix of Splinter Cell and shooters like COD Modern Warfare.

Another highlight of this game is the game engine, which makes it look incredible even after almost ten years. All of that while keeping it smooth and not so hardware-heavy.

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• Release Date: April, 2013

• Developer: Trion Worlds

• Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows

Defiance, an MMO released in 2013, swiftly emerged as a resounding success, attributed not only to its diverse content but also its distinction as one of the few games of its genre accessible on consoles. Its immense budget of nearly $90,000,000.00 played a crucial role in its appeal, contributing to its abundance of enjoyable gameplay and endless content.

It is a sci-fi shooter where aliens take control over Earth, resulting in a constant war between humans and extraterrestrials takes place in the streets. You’re a soldier in San Francisco who needs to complete missions to help the alliance take advantage and end this ruthless conflict.

It is a very fun game where you can fully customize your character and perform tasks for different NPCs and organizations to help humanity regain control of the planet. If you like MMOs, make sure to try this one.

• Release Date: October, 2013

• Developer: DICE

• Platforms: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows

We all know that the game’s release was an absolute success for Electronic Arts, quickly selling millions of copies and registering hundreds of thousands of players online. But most people don’t know that the game development cost exceeded a hundred million dollars.

EA is one of the largest video game companies in history, with a lot of resources to spend when creating a game, and Battlefield 4 is no exception. The fourth title of the main franchise cost over a hundred million dollars to the company, and they could quickly get this money back thanks to the millions of copies sold in a short period.

The game features both an online mode that can keep you entertained for hours and a thriving story to immerse you in a modern conflict. Whether you want to play online or offline, it is a great pick.

The original game illustrates a conflict between the United States and China as their relationship becomes unstable. With China’s political leader assassinated, the state is now blaming America for what happened.

You control an American soldier in the middle of this conflict. You must follow orders from your leaders while trying to find out who’s behind all of this.

If you like FPSs, make sure to try this one. It’s action-packed and features offline and online modes to entertain you.

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• Release Date: May, 2012

• Developer: Rockstar Games

• Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, macOS, and Microsoft Windows

Rockstar always spends absurd amounts of money on the development of their titles, creating some of the most expensive video games ever made. Max Payne 3 is no exception, costing approximately 105 million dollars without considering the marketing expenses.

As expected, it was a commercial success, quickly selling over a million PC and home console copies. It mixes breathtaking action and great gameplay that will please fans thriving for action.

In MP3, your mission is to safeguard Rodrigo Branco, a prominent and affluent individual, as he seeks refuge in Brazil. Branco and his family face relentless threats from gangs and other factions determined to harm them at any cost.

The longer you work with him, the more you uncover about the reasons behind his notoriety. The third-person camera enhances the gameplay experience, complementing the still impressive graphics of a game launched over a decade ago.

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• Release Date: September, 2013

• Developer: Rockstar Games

• Platforms: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most influential entertainment pieces in history, with success coming through hard work from the developers and an astounding budget of over $130 million. The expenses exceeded the development costs of Grand Theft Auto IV, which is already a pretty expensive game from the company, with a development cost of US$70 million.

The attention to detail in this game and the freedom it gives to the players is breathtaking. You never know what to expect next, with the story being also one of the best in the entire franchise.

You control three main characters: Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. All three are connected, whether because of their past or the events that will happen throughout the story. The game has everything you expect from a GTA title. The map is massive for you to explore. You can perform actions to get the police’s attention, steal vehicles, purchase weapons, and many other things. The game can keep you entertained for hundreds of hours, especially if counting the online mode, which is pure chaos and has endless content for you to enjoy.

If you think 130 million dollars is a significant investment for a game, don’t worry because it was worth it. It is speculated that Rockstar’s profit on GTA V is already over six billion dollars.

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• Release Date: September, 2017

• Developer: Bungie

• Platforms: Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows

Bungie’s famous FPS also had an astronomical budget for its development, with costs of over 140 million dollars. Destiny is an online FPS that takes place in a sci-fi setting where the player can explore numerous planets and places, whether to collect resources or complete missions given by NPCs.

It is online-exclusive and requires a constant internet connection to be played. The fictional part of the game is very similar to other space titles like Dead Space, only without the scary part. Prepare to face creatures of all kinds and enhance your equipment in order to explore high-level areas.

The budget was well-invested when it comes to variety, and Bungie delivered us a game with tons of content to explore, extending the gameplay in hundreds of hours if you want to complete all quests and side-quests available. If you like open-world and online experiences, this might be an excellent game to try.

• Release Date: October, 2018

• Developer: Rockstar Games

• Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows

Rockstar’s currently most expensive game released is Red Dead Redemption 2, with a whopping development budget of $170,000,000.00. Different from what many people think, this one surpasses even Grand Theft Auto V in terms of cost. This is evident not only in aspects such as graphics and physics but also in the variety of gameplay and activities offered.

It is one of the most unique games regarding world exploration and gameplay possibilities. From hunting wanted people to fishing, the possibilities are endless.

Here, you control Arthur Morgan, a wanted member of the Van Der Linde gang who is trying to survive and protect his friends and family.

After a robbery goes wrong, authorities, detectives and other parties begin their pursuit to catch you alive. Now, you must find a way to run from them while protecting those around you.

If you’re looking for the best open-world experience you can have, this is the one to go with. Grab your rifle and find a way out of this life once and for all.

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• Release Date: December, 2020

• Developer: CD Projekt RED

• Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows

Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most hyped games ever, with the development lasting for over eight years. Even though its entire production cost around 175 million dollars, the company quickly made a profit thanks to the enormous sales volume, despite all the problems and criticism that came with its launch. One of the best parts of the game is that it features Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand, one of the most important characters of the game. Now we all know how CD spent the game’s budget.

We all knew it would be an expensive title to develop, especially based on what the studio promised and what was shown during the trailers. After two years since its release, the game is even better and features hundreds of hours of content to explore, being one of the best games if you’re looking for first-person action.

Here, you control V, a customized character who got hired to steal a high-end chip that would be sold illegally to an unknown client. After the robbery goes wrong, you get executed, but this is not the end for you, as you mysteriously wake up. You’ll soon notice that a lot changed, especially inside you. Now, the world is looking for the chip thief, marking the beginning of an unforgettable adventure.

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• Release Date: December, 2011

• Developer: BioWare

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows

Star Wars MMO almost at the top of the list, might come as little surprise for some gamers, but it makes sense when we consider how much the franchise owner can spend on an entertainment piece of this kind. Moreover, the game’s content is vast, and you can play this adventure for dozens of hours without repeating a task, also influencing its development cost.

From famous characters in the movies to exclusive NPCs you won’t find anywhere else, the game is packed with elements to keep the player entertained for as long as possible.

The 200 million dollars MMO takes you on a journey that begins with twin conquerors who start craving a path of destruction across the planets. This ends up alerting all guilds now aware of the danger this situation is causing. In this scenario, you must create a character that can either help the resistance take control of the situation or join the Sith and destroy the world around you.

As expected from a Star Wars title, you’ll have a variety of weapons and vehicles you can use throughout the gameplay. The original game already has a lot of content, and along with the numerous expansions and updates, you can see why its development costs over 200 million dollars.

• Release Date: TBA

• Developer: Cloud Imperium

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows

Star Citizen currently has the biggest development budget in the gaming industry, and… the game hasn’t even launched yet, with an expected release date at the end of 2024.

The company developing the title asked for crowdfunding to work on the game, and thanks to the community, they gathered the absurd amount of 300 million dollars through the campaign. It is already known that they got private investments as well, totaling an estimated value of over 400 million dollars dedicated to the game’s development. This makes it the most expensive title to date.

The game is a sci-fi experience that promises to be different than anything we’ve ever seen, with hundreds of planets to explore and deep customization not only of your character, spaceship, and equipment.

We don’t know much about it yet, but it’s been developed for over a decade now and is undoubtedly a game to keep an eye on. If you like spaceships and interstellar adventures, make sure to play this one when it launches.

Here are some honorable mentions with a high development budget but didn’t make it through the list.

• Final Fantasy VII - $40M

• Dead Space 2 - $60M

• Watch Dogs - $68M

• Shenmue - $70M

• Grand Theft Auto VI - $2B (not confirmed)

If the projections made by industry insiders and journalists are correct, the investment made by Rockstar in GTA 6 is over two billion dollars, making it the most expensive game ever produced. It is a budget never seen before in a project of this kind.

There is no doubt that some video game titles can be costly to develop, regardless of their type or platform. Companies spend hundreds of millions to build titles they see the potential in.

We only considered development costs, but another factor directly affecting how famous they get and the number of copies sold is how much these companies spend on marketing and advertising. The bigger the budget they spend on this part, the more likely they will sell more copies.

Now that you know the most expensive games ever produced, it is time to choose which one will be the next addition to your library. Remember that these and many other games are available at RoyalCDKeys for a special price, allowing you to have fun while saving your money.