The gaming industry has come a long way from small, garage-based passion projects. Today, blockbuster video games rival — and often surpass — Hollywood films in scale, ambition, and cost.
As development timelines stretch longer and marketing campaigns grow more aggressive, budgets have skyrocketed into the hundreds of millions, and in some cases, billions.
As of 2026, a handful of titles have shattered previous records. Here’s the definitive list of the most expensive video games ever made, ranked by estimated total cost including development and marketing.
1. Grand Theft Auto VI (Rumored ~$1–2 Billion)
Set to launch in 2026, GTA VI is widely considered the most expensive video game in history. Rockstar Games has remained tight-lipped about official figures, but industry insiders point to over a decade of development, multiple global studios, and an unprecedented marketing push. If estimates are accurate, GTA VI could become the first game to cross the $2 billion mark.
2. Star Citizen (~$1 Billion+)
Star Citizen is unlike any other game on this list. Funded entirely through crowdfunding, the ambitious space simulation has raised over $1 billion from players by mid-2026. With a persistent online universe and the single-player campaign Squadron 42, the project has been in development for more than 14 years — and counting.
3. Genshin Impact (~$900 Million+)
HoYoverse’s global phenomenon started with a relatively modest $100 million development budget. However, its live-service model has driven costs sky-high. The studio reportedly spends around $200 million per year on updates, expansions, and marketing. By 2026, the total investment into Genshin Impact has easily surpassed $900 million.
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (~$700–850 Million)
The Call of Duty franchise is a marketing juggernaut, and Black Ops Cold War stands among its most expensive entries. When factoring in inflation, global advertising, esports integration, and yearly franchise expectations, total costs pushed well beyond half a billion dollars.
5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) (~$600 Million+)
The 2019 reboot of Modern Warfare marked a major turning point for the franchise. A brand-new engine, photorealistic visuals, and seamless integration with Warzone dramatically increased development costs. Combined with a massive global marketing campaign, the budget crossed the $600 million threshold.
6. Starfield & Halo Infinite (~$500 Million Each)
Microsoft invested heavily to strengthen the Xbox ecosystem.
- Halo Infinite endured a long and troubled development cycle, reportedly costing around $500 million.
- Starfield, Bethesda’s ambitious space RPG, required a massive investment to build its custom engine and expansive 1,000-planet universe.
Both titles represent Microsoft’s biggest bets on first-party exclusives.
7. Cyberpunk 2077 (~$480 Million+)
The story of Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t end at launch. While the base game cost roughly $316 million to develop and market, CD Projekt Red invested heavily post-launch. Fixes, the massive 2.0 overhaul, and the Phantom Liberty expansion added more than $125 million, pushing the total close to half a billion dollars.
8. Destiny & Destiny 2 (~$500 Million+)
Under its original 10-year agreement with Activision, Bungie’s Destiny franchise was allocated an estimated $500 million. This covered development, marketing, and the infrastructure needed to support a persistent online world — one that continues to evolve years later.
9. Red Dead Redemption 2 (~$370–540 Million)
Rockstar’s Western epic is often cited as the gold standard for open-world detail. More than 2,000 developers worked on the game over eight years. Development alone cost around $300 million, with marketing pushing the total well beyond that. The result was one of the most critically acclaimed games ever made.
10. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (~$300 Million+)
As first-party production values rise, Spider-Man 2 exemplifies modern AAA spending. Leaked documents revealed that advanced performance capture, cutting-edge visuals, and Marvel licensing fees pushed the budget to nearly triple that of the original 2018 title.
Honorable Mentions
- Grand Theft Auto V – ~$265 million (held the record for nearly a decade)
- The Last of Us Part II – ~$200 million+
- Horizon Forbidden West – ~$200 million+
- Final Fantasy VII Remake – ~$200 million+
The Road Ahead: Even Bigger Budgets in 2026
Upcoming games slated for 2026 suggest that these numbers may soon look modest. With longer development cycles, cinematic storytelling, and live-service support becoming the norm, the ceiling for game budgets continues to rise — pushing the industry deeper into the billion-dollar era.
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