When a single video game can cost more than a Hollywood film, it shows how far the industry has evolved. The biggest titles today combine massive teams, cutting-edge technology, and global marketing campaigns that rival cinema. But what drives these enormous budgets, and what do they reveal about the way games are made?
I’ve gathered ten games that pushed budgets to the extreme and proved just how big game development can get. These ten games didn’t just cost a lot to make; they show what happens when creativity meets massive ambition. Some became icons, others struggled, but all of them changed how we think about the scale of making games.
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What Makes a Game So Expensive?
Making a big game isn’t just about high-end graphics. Costs grow from countless small decisions that pile up over the years. Studios hire huge teams, spend months or even years in production, and use tools built to handle massive, complex worlds. Then there’s motion capture, voice acting, and music, each with its own experts and equipment. Marketing often costs just as much as development. A single trailer, global event, or partnership can add millions to the budget, and things can get messy fast if those plans don’t work out.
The games on this list didn’t just push game development and technology; they tested how far studios are willing to go to make something unforgettable. Some became huge successes, others stumbled at launch, but all left a lasting mark on the industry.
Note: The budget numbers below are based on publicly available estimates and may not reflect every cost incurred.
Grand Theft Auto V
- Budget: Around $265 million
- Developer: Rockstar North
- Released: 2013
When Rockstar released GTA V in 2013, it wasn’t just a game, it was a global event. The studio built a living version of Los Santos with three playable characters and a world full of life and personality. Nearly half of the total cost went into marketing, and it worked. The game became a cultural phenomenon, and with GTA Online still active after more than ten years, it remains one of the most profitable games ever made.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Budget: Around $250 million
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Released: 2009
Modern Warfare 2 was a turning point for shooters. Activision spent about fifty million dollars on development and around two hundred million on marketing, treating it like a blockbuster film. The result was a campaign that felt cinematic and a multiplayer experience that defined the series for years to come. The investment was massive, but it made Call of Duty a permanent part of gaming history.
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Budget: Around $370 – 400 million
- Developer: Rockstar Games
- Released: 2018
Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most detailed games ever made. Rockstar spent years perfecting its version of the American frontier, from the way horses move to how towns react to the player’s actions. The attention to detail and storytelling pushed the cost close to four hundred million dollars, including marketing. The result was a masterpiece that blurred the line between film and interactive art.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Budget: Around $440 million
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Released: 2020
Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most ambitious games ever attempted. CD Projekt Red wanted to create a dense, vertical city filled with stories and freedom of choice. The project’s scale and its massive marketing campaign brought the total cost to more than four hundred million dollars. The launch was rough, but the studio’s commitment to fixing and expanding the game eventually turned it into a success story.
Destiny
- Budget: Around $500 million (including long-term plan)
- Developer: Bungie
- Released: 2014
Destiny was never meant to be just a single release. Bungie and Activision built it as a long-term universe that would grow for years. The project included huge technical infrastructure, marketing campaigns, and ongoing updates that pushed the total cost to around half a billion dollars. It took time to find its footing, but Destiny became a major influence on modern live-service games.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
- Budget: Around $640 million
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Released: 2019
When Infinity Ward rebooted Modern Warfare, the goal was to bring the series back to its roots while modernizing everything. The team focused on realism, cinematic presentation, and emotional storytelling. Once live-service support and marketing were added, the total cost reached more than six hundred million dollars. The effort paid off, setting a new standard for the franchise.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Budget: Around $700 million
- Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
- Released: 2020
Black Ops Cold War continued the tradition of large-scale production that Call of Duty is known for. Several studios worked together to make it run across multiple generations of consoles while keeping up with constant seasonal content. Reports later revealed that the total development cost reached around seven hundred million dollars, making it one of the most expensive shooters ever made.
Star Citizen (Ongoing Development)
- Budget: Over $800 million confirmed, still growing
- Developer: Cloud Imperium Games
- Status: In active development
If we count total spending and continuous updates, Star Citizen currently holds the top spot among officially funded projects. With ongoing investment and development expanding every year, it remains the most expensive active game in production history
The Final Boss: Grand Theft Auto VI
And while Star Citizen continues to climb in cost, all eyes are now on Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar hasn’t shared any official numbers yet, but reports suggest its total budget could reach or even exceed one billion dollars, combining development and marketing. If that’s true, GTA VI would become the most expensive game ever made. Considering Rockstar’s history with massive worlds and cinematic production, it wouldn’t be surprising if this new entry once again raises the bar for the entire industry.
The Bottom Line
Looking at all these titles, it’s clear that big budgets alone don’t guarantee success. What really makes a difference are the people behind them; The developers, artists, and designers who turn all that money into something players care about. Some of these games stumbled, others soared, but every one of them shows what happens when creativity and ambition collide.
Sources
Polydin uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.
- Statista. (2024). Most expensive video games ever developed.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1291717/most-expensive-video-games-developed/ - Rockstar Games. (2013). Grand Theft Auto V: Behind the Scenes & Development Insights.
https://www.rockstargames.com/V/
(Supports GTA V budget + production details.) - Forbes. (2013). GTA V Costs $265 Million To Develop And Market.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/09/17/gta-v-costs-265-million/ - Activision Blizzard. (2009). Modern Warfare 2 official press materials.
https://investor.activision.com/press-releases
FAQs
What is the most expensive game in the world?
If we look at total development spending, ongoing updates, and all the money that’s gone into production, Star Citizen still holds the crown as the most expensive game in the world. Its development has stretched for more than a decade, funded by players and private investors, with total costs now estimated at well over 700 million dollars.
That said, Grand Theft Auto VI is reported to have broken every previous record, with a projected budget that could reach 1 billion dollars once development and marketing are included. If those numbers are confirmed, it would make GTA VI the single most expensive video game ever made.
Is GTA 6 the most expensive game?
Right now, GTA 6 is expected to be the most expensive game ever made, but that isn’t fully confirmed yet. Rockstar hasn’t released official numbers, though several reports suggest the total budget could reach or even pass one billion dollars when you include both development and marketing.
If those numbers turn out to be accurate, GTA 6 would take the top spot. Until then, Star Citizen still holds the record for the most publicly funded and expensive game in active development, with over eight hundred million dollars raised so far.
