Call of Duty's Astronomical Budgets: A Look at the Rising Costs of AAA Game Development
Recent disclosures reveal that Activision's Call of Duty franchise has set new industry records, with development budgets reaching a staggering $700 million. This surpasses even the famously expensive Star Citizen. The figures, ranging from $450 million to $700 million across three titles, highlight the escalating financial investment required for modern AAA game production.
The sheer scale of these budgets underscores the immense resources dedicated to creating blockbuster video games. While indie games often thrive on smaller budgets secured through crowdfunding, the AAA landscape operates on a vastly different scale. Costs have steadily climbed over the years, dwarfing even the budgets of previously considered "expensive" titles. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Last of Us Part 2, while costly, pale in comparison to the newly revealed Call of Duty figures.
According to a December 23rd California court filing, Activision's Patrick Kelly, head of Call of Duty creative, revealed the budgets for Black Ops 3, Modern Warfare (2019), and Black Ops Cold War. Black Ops Cold War, with its over $700 million price tag, stands out as the most expensive video game ever made. Despite being funded solely by Activision, it outpaces Star Citizen's $644 million budget, accumulated through 11 years of crowdfunding. The game's success is undeniable, with over 30 million copies sold. Modern Warfare (2019) follows closely, with a $640+ million budget and 41 million copies sold. Even Black Ops 3, the least expensive of the three at $450 million, significantly surpasses the $220 million development cost of The Last of Us Part 2.
Black Ops Cold War's Record-Breaking Budget
The $700 million+ budget for Black Ops Cold War represents an unprecedented milestone in video game development. This underscores the exponential growth in the industry's financial demands.
Considering this trend, it's fascinating to speculate on the potential budgets for future installments, such as Black Ops 6. The cost increases are dramatic when compared to historical examples. The 1997 release of Final Fantasy VII, a groundbreaking game for its time, cost a then-substantial $40 million. Today, that figure seems almost negligible in the context of current AAA game development costs. Activision's recent disclosures serve as a clear indicator of the ever-increasing financial pressures shaping the modern video game industry.
