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There is no reliable, complete ranking of the most expensive video games released from 2010 through 2020: publishers rarely disclose full budgets, and reported figures count different things. The clearest examples range from a disclosed development-and-marketing figure for Grand Theft Auto V to a much broader spending commitment for Destiny, alongside estimates for other major releases.
The figures below are nominal U.S. dollars unless noted. They are best read as reported claims with different scopes—not as a definitive leaderboard.
Reported costs for major games released from 2010 to 2020
“Development budget” can mean the cost of making the game, while a reported total may also include marketing, infrastructure, royalties, or later work. The source type matters too: some amounts were disclosed or attributed to company representatives; others are analyst or press estimates. Those differences make direct ranking unreliable.
| Game (release year) | Reported amount | What the figure covers | Evidence and qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto V (2013) | $276 million (£170 million) | Development and marketing | Guinness World Records reported this as the largest-known video-game budget on 9 September 2013. It is a dated record, not a claim about the current record. Guinness World Records |
| Destiny (2014) | $500 million | A spending commitment that included marketing, packaging, infrastructure support, royalties, and more—not development alone | TIME reported Activision CEO Bobby Kotick’s figure in 2014; Activision clarified the scope to Reuters. An Activision spokesperson described it as “roughly in line with other Triple-A titles.” TIME |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) | $170 million; another estimate puts it at $200–300 million | Scope varies between estimates | Analyst and press estimates compiled by Wikipedia contributors; not a verified publisher disclosure. Compiled list and cited sources |
| Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) | $144 million | Estimate of development cost | Estimate attributed to Shibaura Institute of Technology in the compiled list; not a publisher budget disclosure. Compiled list and cited sources |
| The Last of Us Part II (2020) | $220 million | Development figure | The compiled list classifies this as an official figure and cites reporting by The New York Times. The exact context should be treated cautiously; it is not a comparable all-in total. Compiled list and cited sources |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) | $174 million for development; $142 million for marketing | Separate reported amounts for development and marketing of the original game | CD Projekt Red’s post-mortem figures were reported by Game Developer in 2022. Later Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty costs are separate and are not included in these original-game figures. Game Developer |
The compiled list also presents totals adjusted to 2025 dollars, but its inflation-adjustment method has not been independently validated here. Its adjusted figures should not be mixed with the nominal amounts in this table.
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Why the highest reported number may not mean the most expensive game to develop
Development and marketing are different cost categories
Grand Theft Auto V’s Guinness figure explicitly combines development and marketing. For Cyberpunk 2077, the reported development and marketing lines are separate: adding them produces a broader original-game figure, but it should not be described as development spending alone.
A spending commitment can be broader still
Destiny’s $500 million figure is especially easy to misread. Activision’s clarification included marketing, packaging, infrastructure support, royalties, and other costs. It therefore cannot be compared with a development-only estimate as if both measured the same budget.
Rank #2
- The following games are included in the cartridge: STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (3.6 GB)
- STAR WARS Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (1.1 GB)
- STAR WARS Episode I Racer (254 MB)
- STAR WARS Republic Commando (2.5 GB)
- STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed (3.4 GB)
Estimates are not confirmed budgets
The reported range for Red Dead Redemption 2 reflects estimates with differing scope, not a publisher-confirmed cost. Likewise, the $144 million estimate for Final Fantasy VII Remake should not be presented as an official disclosure. A precise-looking number does not make an estimate audited or directly comparable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a fair comparison can—and cannot—show
- Set the measure first. A development-only comparison excludes marketing and other spending; an all-in comparison must define which additional costs it includes.
- Keep the evidence label with the number. Distinguish a company-attributed figure from an analyst estimate or press estimate.
- Keep the release scope clear. Costs for ongoing development, updates, and expansions should not be folded into an original release figure without saying so.
- Separate nominal from inflation-adjusted dollars. Any adjusted comparison needs a stated base year; the compiled list’s adjusted column uses 2025 dollars.
As the compiled list itself cautions, “Most game budgets are not disclosed, so this list is not indicative of industry trends.” The examples show the scale of some reported projects, but they do not establish a complete ranking of every game released in the decade.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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Rank #3
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