Top 10 video game budgets of all time
There was a time when video games were made on a shoestring budget by amateurs in their bedrooms. But no longer. Games nowadays often have as big, or bigger, budgets than Hollywood blockbusters. And the top 10 biggest video game budgets to date are listed below.
Top 10 Most Expensive To Make Video Games Of All Time (according to Digital Battle)
1. Grand Theft Auto IV – $100 million
2. Gran Turismo 5 – $80 million
3. Shenmue – $70 million
4. Too Human – $60 million+
5. Metal Gear Solid 4 – $60 million
6. Halo 3 – $55 million
7. APB – $50 million
8. L.A. Noire – $50 million
9. Final Fantasy XII – $48 million
10. Killzone 2 – $45 million
No real surprise to see GTA IV at the top of the pile, with an estimated 1,000 people working on the game for over three years. Also unsurprising is Gran Turismo 5 in second place, with a five-year development looking like never coming to an end.
Shenmue taking third place is astonishing, seeing as it was a game designed for the Dreamcast. And it shows why Sega is unlikely to ever make Shenmue 3, because it simply will not turn a profit from it. While the $55 million spent on making Halo 3 pales into insignificance compared to the $200 million Microsoft reportedly spent on marketing the game.
Final Fantasy XIII is likely to overshadow FFXII‘s budget upon release but the final numbers have yet to be released.
What’s important to note is how many of those top ten games turned out great, which goes to show that throwing money at a project can sometimes pay dividends in terms of quality, although not necessarily in terms of profit.
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25 Responses to “Top 10 video game budgets of all time”
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February 25th, 2010
It’s nice when something pays off. I’m sure a big chunk of Halo 3 was for the theatre mode where you can see a replay of the game you just played and can pause and move the camera anywhere around the map. More games should have this.
February 25th, 2010
Some surprise here…
GT5 better sell like hotcakes. Prologue might have help pad that number a little. Still though, how many millions of copies will they have to sell to turn a profit?
Halo 3? Really? It obviously wasn’t spent on graphics. So how did they rack up such a massive bill?
APB is surprising to see.
Too Human… the Waterworld of video games.
February 26th, 2010
You’re a sick fuck Liquid.
February 26th, 2010
“prolapseman.com”
Hardy-har-har, Liquid.
If the link was changed, I might’ve been exposed to something HORRID…
February 26th, 2010
Well, I’m sure that Harry will scout it out for all of us… I’ve seen some of those dirty ol’ links he put up once…
February 26th, 2010
That looks painful.
Anyway, been having fun with Heavy Rain. I made Ethan give him kid some food and while he was eating I turned the light off. Then I made Madison take a pee, and then splash water on her face without washing her hands.
February 26th, 2010
err,,…give HIS
February 26th, 2010
Apparently MGS didn’t cost that much to make.
“If it did cost that much, it would have been multiplatform. But, of course, the data can’t fit.”
http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=7181&mp=1
February 26th, 2010
Harry,
I’m glad you are enjoying Heavy Rain. I have not picked this game up yet but I’ll eventually get it.
February 26th, 2010
twilight,
It’s ok. I think i’ll trade it in for God of War or Final Fantasy 13 next month. It’s one of those games that you would play only once, the story would be kinda boring the second time around.
February 26th, 2010
@Barney
“Halo 3? Really? It obviously wasn’t spent on graphics. So how did they rack up such a massive bill? ”
You clearly haven’t played this game. Ignorance is bliss.
February 26th, 2010
@harry
I thought the replayability was based off of you making different decisions. Of course the killer will always be the same so technically it is the same story.
oh..and get on top of dead space.. I want to see you past level 4.
February 26th, 2010
@DAVE
“While the $55 million spent on making Halo 3 pales into insignificance compared to the $200 million Microsoft reportedly spent on marketing the game.”
It was my understanding that they spent around $10m – $15 on an advertising campaign with the majority being footed by marketing partners. Where did you get that figure from? Seems like a lot.
February 26th, 2010
Heavy Rain has replayability, I think there are 4 different 4-5 different endings and during gameplay, outcomes can turn out to be different based on what decision you make.
for example, I shot this guy (by mistake, I pressed the wrong button) and killed him. now I looking foward to replay the game again to see what happens if I dont kill the poor dude.
also, while spending time with my son at the house, I had to choose between:
-play with him
-let him watch TV
-make him do his homework
-or just have dinner
I chose to play with him, so the next day I asked him how did it go in school and the kid was “not too well, I got yelled at for not doing my homework”
February 26th, 2010
LOL
February 26th, 2010
Way to go Roca, Get the kid in shit.
February 26th, 2010
Con,
I have played the game. Sure it’s polished and the online works really well, but it’s not exactly a great looking game.
Maybe because it sold so many copies they had to spend more on servers or something? But the money wasn’t spent in the graphics department.
February 26th, 2010
The Graphics on Halo 3 were very good it’s not like it was great amazing Graphics like Gears or Bioshock but the game is solid and the online kicks ass. Graphics are not the only thing that makes a game.
February 26th, 2010
‘Graphics are not the only thing that makes a game.’
It’s funny how the fanboys claim this now that the PS3 is ahead in th graphical department, leaving 360 far behind with GOW2 as it’s best looking game lol.
February 26th, 2010
If the PS3 is ahead in graphics that is great but I’m not convinced. There is nothing wrong with the Graphics on 360 and Allan Wake and Halo Reach looks like it will push the bar even further. Besides the only game getting that graphical aww on the PS3 are in development for years. Most Multiplatform game are better on the 360 anyways so does it really matter. It’s not like our games look like the PS3 version of Orange Box or Bioshock or Bayonetta. At the end of the day it’s not about Graphics it’s about what games I like to play and the 360 has the games I want and it’s on the Best Online service LIVE so I’m satistfied.
February 26th, 2010
Yeah ok fanboy lol.
February 26th, 2010
Think about it like this. The Wii outsold everyone this generation and Farmville has 80 Million Users. Not one Thing Graphical about it but they still look good and are fun to play. The newest Mario game I’m loving it but you probably think it sucks because it’s not on Playstation.
February 27th, 2010
You know what CON, you got me there, I can admit that. But you also seem to forget that not many of their games are rated THAT high (except maybe Mario and Zelda). The Wii is aimed at children and casual players but I prefer a console with deep gameplay. I don’t care if they don’t sell that well, sales don’t bother me, the games do.
And I ain’t not fanboy like you CON, your the blindest fanboy on here now that Kev has gone. I prefer the PS3 simply for the reason it has better games but I also think Mass Effect 2 is easily one of the greatest games of all time so I just blown you out there.
February 27th, 2010
“You know what CON”
TOO MUCH obsessed with CON, let it go oldie..
By the way i maynot agree with everything that CAD posts, but i agree with him here..
Its like you all put graphics first when comparing games and still satisfied with the “SECOND BEST” option..
If so much obsessed with graphics, why not go PC all the way..
I am all for the awesome single player games on Sony and at the same i like all those awesome co-op games on my 360..
February 28th, 2010
No I called him CON because they’re both twats lol.