According to well-known gaming journalist and insider Jason Schreier, the budget for developing modern AAA games in the United States and Canada now regularly exceeds $300 million.
Previously, it was believed that developing a major game cost between $100 million and $250 million. However, $300 million has now become the new “baseline” for large-scale projects. Some games, such as the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, are expected to cost significantly more.
The primary expense comes from developer salaries and studio overhead costs. In large companies, hundreds or even thousands of people may work on a single project for 4–6 years. Notably, the $300 million figure does not include marketing expenses or executive bonuses.
Schreier explains that with a $70 game price, after a 30% store commission, publishers receive about $49 per copy. This means a game with a $300 million budget needs to sell over 6 million copies just to break even.
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