Call of Duty Reveals Massive Development Budgets

Call of Duty's astronomical budgets redefine the landscape of video game development, with costs reaching a staggering $700 million. This figure, revealed for Black Ops Cold War, eclipses even the massive budget of Star Citizen. The escalating costs of AAA game production are clearly illustrated by these record-breaking figures.

Activision's disclosure of Call of Duty development budgets for three titles—ranging from $450 million to a jaw-dropping $700 million—sets new benchmarks for the franchise. Black Ops Cold War leads the pack with the highest budget ever recorded.

The immense resources poured into AAA game development are undeniable. While indie games often thrive on smaller budgets secured through crowdfunding, the scale of AAA titles continues to grow exponentially. While games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Last of Us Part 2 are considered expensive, they pale in comparison to the newly revealed Call of Duty budgets.

As reported by Game File, Activision's creative head, Patrick Kelly, revealed in a December 23rd court filing the budgets for Black Ops 3, Modern Warfare (2019), and Black Ops Cold War. Black Ops Cold War's development cost exceeded $700 million, a figure achieved despite relying solely on Activision's funding, unlike Star Citizen's 11-year crowdfunding campaign. The game's success is evident in its over 30 million copies sold. Modern Warfare (2019) followed with a $640 million budget and 41 million units sold, while Black Ops 3, with a comparatively modest $450 million budget, still surpasses The Last of Us Part 2's $220 million development cost.

Black Ops Cold War's $700 Million Budget: A New High Water Mark

Black Ops Cold War's budget represents an unprecedented milestone in video game development, surpassing even Star Citizen's $644 million. This is particularly noteworthy considering Black Ops Cold War's single-company funding model.

Considering the upward trend in game development costs, it's fascinating to speculate on the budgets of future installments like Black Ops 6. The contrast between today's AAA budgets and those of past classics like Final Fantasy VII (1997), which cost $40 million, underscores the dramatic increase in the cost of creating high-end video games. Activision's recent disclosures serve as undeniable proof of this escalating trend in the video game industry.