Undertale’s total production cost has not been established by a reliable public source. Kickstarter records that the game raised $51,124 in 2013, but that is the amount pledged by backers—not a verified accounting of what it cost to make the game.
What is known about Undertale’s cost?
The public records cited here do not provide an audited or otherwise verified total production budget for Undertale. The clearest documented figure is its Kickstarter campaign result: $51,124 pledged by 2,398 backers, against a $5,000 fundraising goal. The campaign ran from June 24 to July 24, 2013. Kickstarter’s campaign page establishes those fundraising figures, not the game’s total development expenditure.
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The distinction matters: a fundraising goal is a target for contributions, and the amount raised is money pledged through the campaign. Neither figure, on its own, establishes the full amount spent making a game.
Why do some sources say it cost $51,124?
A Hyperbridge white paper labels $51,124 as Undertale’s “Development Cost.” It does not provide itemized expenses or explain an accounting method for that figure. Because the number exactly matches the Kickstarter campaign’s documented proceeds, the label should be treated as unverified—not as confirmation that the game cost precisely $51,124 to make.
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What did Toby Fox say about development?
In a March 7, 2016 interview with Kickstarter Magazine, creator Toby Fox described Undertale as essentially built, developed, and scored by himself, while noting that he hired artists, including Temmie Chang, to help draw some of the art. The interview does not state a dollar budget. Fox also said it was difficult to predict development time before finishing and that he missed his deadline; this offers context about the project, but no measure of its total spending. Read the interview.
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Fundraising figures versus development cost
| Figure | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| $5,000 goal | The Kickstarter campaign’s 2013 fundraising target; not a verified production budget. |
| $51,124 pledged | The total Kickstarter campaign raised in 2013 from 2,398 backers; not a verified total cost. |
| $51,124 “Development Cost” | A label in the Hyperbridge white paper, which provides no itemized expenses or sourcing method to verify it as a production-cost figure. |
| Total production cost | Not established by the public sources cited above. |
What can you reasonably conclude?
- The game’s verified total cost to make is not publicly established by the sources cited here.
- Kickstarter documents $51,124 raised, not $51,124 spent.
- Fox’s account indicates he did much of the development himself and hired artists for some work, but it does not quantify labor or other expenses.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
