Call of Duty Reveals Massive Development Budgets

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 terms of development budgets. Three titles—Black Ops 3, Modern Warfare (2019), and Black Ops Cold War—had budgets ranging from $450 million to a staggering $700 million. This surpasses previous industry benchmarks, making Black Ops Cold War the most expensive video game ever produced.

The sheer scale of these budgets underscores the increasingly expensive nature of AAA game development. While indie games often rely on smaller budgets and crowdfunding, the creation of blockbuster titles demands significant financial investment and years of dedicated work. While games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Last of Us Part 2 are known for their substantial development costs, they pale in comparison to the recently revealed Call of Duty figures.

A California court filing on December 23rd, as reported by Game File, unveiled the details. Black Ops Cold War, exceeding $700 million, sold over 30 million copies. Modern Warfare (2019), with a budget exceeding $640 million, achieved sales of 41 million units. Even Black Ops 3, the least expensive of the three at $450 million, still dwarfs the $220 million budget of The Last of Us Part 2.

Black Ops Cold War: Surpassing Even Star Citizen

The Black Ops Cold War budget is a landmark achievement, surpassing even the massive $644 million development cost of Star Citizen. This is particularly noteworthy considering Star Citizen's funding was spread over 11 years through crowdfunding, while Black Ops Cold War was financed solely by Activision.

The escalating trend in AAA game budgets is undeniable. Comparing the $40 million budget of the groundbreaking 1997 release of Final Fantasy VII to today's figures highlights the dramatic increase in development costs. Activision's recent disclosures serve as a stark reminder of the ever-growing financial investment required in the modern video game industry. The implications for future titles, such as a potential Black Ops 6, are significant, suggesting even higher budgets are likely.