Record-Breaking Call of Duty Budgets: A Look at the Rising Costs of AAA Game Development

Recent disclosures reveal that Activision's Call of Duty franchise has reached unprecedented heights in development costs, with budgets for three titles ranging from $450 million to a staggering $700 million. This surpasses previous industry benchmarks, highlighting the escalating financial investment required for modern AAA game production.

The highest figure, exceeding $700 million, belongs to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. This surpasses even the famously large budget of Star Citizen, which amassed $644 million over an 11-year crowdfunding campaign. The sheer scale of Black Ops Cold War's budget, financed by a single company, is remarkable. Modern Warfare (2019) follows closely, with a development cost exceeding $640 million, while Black Ops 3 still commands a substantial $450 million budget – more than double the $220 million spent on The Last of Us Part 2.

These figures dramatically illustrate the growth in AAA game development costs. The industry has witnessed a steady increase in budgets over the years. Consider Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997, a technological marvel at the time with a then-substantial $40 million budget. This pales in comparison to today's expenditures.

The massive investment in titles like Black Ops Cold War raises questions about the future of AAA game development and the potential budgets for upcoming installments in the Call of Duty franchise. The trend of increasing budgets suggests that future games could push the financial boundaries even further. Activision's recent disclosures serve as a clear indicator of the escalating costs within the video game industry.