Rockstar Games invested up to $100 million to bring the gritty, atmospheric American frontier of Red Dead Redemption to life. That budget delivered a deeply immersive world and a compelling story that captivated both critics and players. Its quality ensured long-term success, with the game selling 23 million copies and cementing its place as a classic. | © Rockstar Games
Rockstar dedicated a hefty $105 million to Max Payne 3, refining its signature bullet-time gameplay and pushing its graphic novel style to new cinematic heights. Despite receiving strong critical praise for its intense action and narrative, the game's commercial performance was surprisingly modest. It moved around four million units, a figure that fell short of expectations for a title with such a blockbuster budget. | © Rockstar Games
Bungie and Activision bet big on Destiny, pouring $140 million into its ambitious shared-world shooter. That investment created a visually rich sci-fi universe designed to keep players engaged for years. The gamble paid off immediately, with the game generating $500 million in revenue on its very first day. | © Bungie
Bungie invested up to $125 million into Halo 2, a massive budget for 2004 that funded its groundbreaking online multiplayer and cinematic campaign. This focus on pioneering seamless online console play fundamentally changed the industry, setting a new standard for shooters. The game's lasting influence is matched by its sales, as it remains the bestselling original Xbox title with over 8.5 million copies sold. | © Bungie
Guerrilla Games assembled a team of 300 developers and invested $212 million to build the lush, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon Forbidden West. That budget is evident in the game's vibrant, overflowing ecosystems and the incredible detail of its robotic creatures. As a PlayStation exclusive, it proved to be a major system-seller, moving over 8.5 million copies and solidifying the franchise as a flagship title. | © Nixxes Software
Naughty Dog spent a reported $220 million over seven years to create The Last of Us Part II. This enormous investment paid off, as the game’s powerful story and refined gameplay resonated strongly with audiences, leading to sales of 10 million copies. Its cultural impact was so significant that it helped fuel the success of the subsequent HBO television adaptation. | © Naughty Dog
Square Enix took a massive financial risk in 1997, spending an estimated $114 million to develop Final Fantasy VII. That unprecedented budget funded its legendary cinematic storytelling and graphics, which completely redefined what a video game could be. Its status as a timeless classic is undeniable, with over 14 million copies sold and a successful modern remake introducing it to new generations. | © Square Enix
Rockstar Games poured $100 million into crafting Grand Theft Auto IV, a dense and immersive playground that felt more alive than any virtual world before it. Players flocked to it in droves, snapping up six million copies in the first week alone and setting a new record for entertainment launches. Its lasting influence is clear, having sold 25 million copies and setting a new standard for open-world detail. | © Rockstar Games
DICE pushed the limits of multiplayer mayhem with Battlefield 4, backing its development with a reported $100 million budget. That financial muscle went directly into the game's signature feature: large-scale, destructible environments that created chaotic and unique online battles. Its successful formula resonated with players, drawing in over seven million soldiers to its digital warzone. | © Electronic Arts
Konami dedicated an estimated $80 million to bring director Hideo Kojima's complex vision for Metal Gear Solid V to life. That investment is visible in the game's incredibly refined stealth mechanics and vast, open-ended mission design that critics widely praised. While it marked the end of an era for the series, its quality secured its reputation as a standout title that sold six million copies. | © Kojima Productions
CD Projekt Red committed over $80 million to create The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a massive sum for a studio at the time. They invested those funds into a sprawling, deeply reactive open world that set a new standard for role-playing games. Players responded enthusiastically, making it the franchise's standout hit with over 50 million copies sold. | © CD Projekt
BioWare and LucasArts aimed to create the definitive online Star Wars experience with The Old Republic, investing a then-record $200 million into its development. This budget enabled them to create a meticulously detailed universe, characterised by the kind of cinematic storytelling the studio is renowned for. The investment secured the game's place as a commercial hit, earning over $1 billion in revenue and attracting millions of players. | © Electronic Arts
Rockstar Games spent a colossal $265 million and five years developing Grand Theft Auto V's incredibly detailed open world. This massive financial gamble paid off almost instantly, as the game earned back its entire budget many times over by making $1 billion in just its first three days. That initial outlay cemented a foundation for long-term success, leading to staggering sales of over 210 million copies. | © Rockstar Games
Activision and Infinity Ward took a massive financial risk by backing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with a budget of around $250 million. They poured those resources into the kind of cutting-edge graphics and intense, cinematic action that would define a generation of first-person shooters. The gamble was a historic success, with the game reaching $1 billion in retail sales in record time. | © Infinity Ward
Rockstar Games set a new benchmark for ambition with Red Dead Redemption 2, investing a reported budget that soared as high as $670 million. This staggering sum funded an unprecedented level of detail, from the vast open world to the nuanced performances of its cast. The massive investment clearly paid off, as the game's compelling story and deep worldbuilding have driven sales of over 70 million copies. | © Rockstar Games
The frenzy over the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer was tempered by the news of its delay, alongside reports of a development budget soaring into the billions. It's a clear sign that video game budgets are now rivaling, and even surpassing, those of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. We've looked at some of the most expensive games ever made, with their costs adjusted for inflation to today's dollars.
