Call of Duty Reveals Massive Development Budgets

Call of Duty's Astronomical Budgets Shatter Industry Records

Recent disclosures reveal that Activision's Call of Duty franchise has reached unprecedented heights in terms of development costs. Three titles—Black Ops 3, Modern Warfare (2019), and Black Ops Cold War—boast 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 AAA game development is often underestimated. These projects require years of dedicated work and substantial financial investment. While indie games frequently rely on smaller budgets and crowdfunding, the AAA landscape operates on a vastly different scale. Blockbuster titles consistently push budgetary boundaries, eclipsing even the "expensive" games of previous generations. While titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Last of Us Part 2 are known for their high development costs, they pale in comparison to the recently revealed Call of Duty figures.

According to a December 23rd California court filing, Activision's Patrick Kelly (head of Call of Duty creative) revealed the budget breakdown. Black Ops Cold War, with its over $700 million price tag and over 30 million copies sold, leads the pack. Modern Warfare (2019) follows closely behind, with a development cost exceeding $640 million and sales exceeding 41 million copies. Even Black Ops 3, the "least" expensive of the three at $450 million, significantly outpaces the $220 million budget of The Last of Us Part 2.

Black Ops Cold War: A Billion-Dollar Budget Behemoth

The budget for Black Ops Cold War dwarfs even Star Citizen's substantial $644 million development cost. This is particularly noteworthy considering Star Citizen's reliance on years of crowdfunding, while Black Ops Cold War was solely financed by Activision.

The escalating costs within the industry are undeniable. Comparing the $40 million budget of the groundbreaking 1997 release of Final Fantasy VII to today's AAA budgets highlights the dramatic shift. Activision's recent disclosures serve as stark evidence of this trend, leaving one to ponder the potential costs of future installments like Black Ops 6. The annual increase in development budgets is a clear indication of the evolving landscape of the video game industry.