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"Gaming's Big Spenders: The Top 10 Most Expensive Games Ever Made", Video games have come a long way since their inception in the 1970s, and they have evolved into a massive industry that generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. As technology advances, the cost of developing games also increases, and some games require massive budgets to create. In this article, we will take a look at the 10 most expensive games in the world.
1. Grand Theft Auto V - $265 Million
Grand Theft Auto V is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It was released in 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and later in 2014 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is set in a fictionalized version of Los Angeles called Los Santos and follows the story of three protagonists who carry out heists and various criminal activities.
The development of Grand Theft Auto V took five years and involved a team of over 1,000 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $265 million, making it the most expensive game ever made. The game has been a massive success, generating over $6 billion in revenue since its release.
2. Cyberpunk 2077 - $316 Million
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red and published by CD Projekt. It was released in 2020 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and later in 2021 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set in a dystopian future in the city of Night City, where players take on the role of a mercenary named V.
The development of Cyberpunk 2077 took over eight years and involved a team of over 500 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $316 million, making it the second most expensive game ever made. The game received mixed reviews upon its release, with criticism directed at its technical issues and poor performance on older consoles.
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - $250 Million
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person shooter game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. It was released in 2009 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The game follows the story of a special forces unit as they battle a Russian ultranationalist organization.
The development of Modern Warfare 2 took two years and involved a team of over 200 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $250 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made. The game was a massive commercial success, generating over $1 billion in revenue in its first six months of release.
4. Star Wars: The Old Republic - $200 Million
Star Wars: The Old Republic is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in 2011 for PC. The game is set in the Star Wars universe and takes place thousands of years before the events of the Star Wars movies.
The development of The Old Republic took over six years and involved a team of over 800 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $200 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made. The game has been moderately successful, with over 10 million registered players as of 2021.
5. Red Dead Redemption 2 - $175 Million
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Rockstar Games and published by Rockstar Games. It was released in 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and later in 2019 for PC. The game is set in the American Old West in 1899 and follows the story of outlaw Arthur Morgan and his gang as they try to survive in a world that is rapidly changing.
The development of Red Dead Redemption 2 took over seven years and involved a team of over 2,000 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $175 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made. The game was a critical and commercial success, receiving numerous awards and generating over $725 million in revenue in its first three days of release.
6. Final Fantasy VII Remake - $144 Million
Final Fantasy VII Remake is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Square Enix. It was released in 2020 for PlayStation 4, and later in 2021 for PlayStation 5 and PC. The game is a remake of the original Final Fantasy VII game that was released in 1997 for PlayStation.
The development of Final Fantasy VII Remake took over five years and involved a team of over 500 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $144 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made. The game was a critical and commercial success, receiving numerous awards and selling over 5 million copies worldwide.
7. Destiny - $140 Million
Destiny is a first-person shooter game developed by Bungie and published by Activision. It was released in 2014 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game is set in a fictionalized version of our solar system where players take on the role of a Guardian, a protector of Earth's last city.
The development of Destiny took over five years and involved a team of over 500 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $140 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made. The game was a commercial success, generating over $500 million in revenue in its first week of release.
8. Final Fantasy XV - $135 Million
Final Fantasy XV is an open-world action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. It was released in 2016 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and later in 2018 for PC. The game is set in a fictional world called Eos and follows the story of Prince Noctis and his friends as they try to reclaim their kingdom from the Niflheim empire.
The development of Final Fantasy XV took over ten years and involved a team of over 500 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $135 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made. The game was a commercial success, selling over 8.4 million copies worldwide.
9. Tom Clancy's The Division - $130 Million
Tom Clancy's The Division is a third-person shooter game developed by Ubisoft Massive and published by Ubisoft. It was released in 2016 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic version of New York City where players take on the role of an agent of the Strategic Homeland Division, tasked with restoring order in the city.
The development of The Division took over five years and involved a team of over 1,000 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $130 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made. The game was a commercial success, generating over $330 million in revenue in its first five days of release.
10. Halo 3 - $100 Million
Halo 3 is a first-person shooter game developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released in 2007 for Xbox 360. The game is the third installment in the Halo series and follows the story of Master Chief, a supersoldier fighting against an alien alliance known as the Covenant.
The development of Halo 3 took over three years and involved a team of over 450 people. The game's budget is estimated to be around $100 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made at the time. The game was a critical and commercial success, generating over $300 million in revenue in its first week of release.
Conclusion
Video games have come a long way since their early beginnings, with more and more resources being invested in their development. The games on this list represent the pinnacle of video game development, with budgets that rival those of Hollywood blockbuster movies. While the cost of game development may seem staggering, the revenue generated by these games often far outweighs their cost, making them worthwhile investments for publishers.
As the video game industry continues to grow and evolve, it is likely that we will see even more expensive games in the future. With advances in technology and an ever-increasing demand for high-quality entertainment, the sky's the limit for what developers can achieve.
Whether you're a casual gamer or a die-hard fan, these games represent some of the most groundbreaking and memorable experiences in video game history. While their cost may seem steep, the enjoyment and excitement they bring to millions of players around the world make them worth every penny.