Call of Duty Franchise Unveils Colossal Development Expenses

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, establishing new records for the franchise and highlighting the escalating financial investment in AAA game development.

The sheer scale of these budgets underscores the significant resources required to create modern blockbuster video games. While indie games often thrive on smaller budgets secured through crowdfunding, the AAA landscape operates on a vastly different scale. The costs of these high-profile titles have steadily increased over the years, dwarfing even those of previously "expensive" classics. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Last of Us Part 2, while costly, pale in comparison to the newly revealed Call of Duty figures.

According to a December 23rd California court filing, Activision's Patrick Kelly (head of creative for the Call of Duty franchise) revealed the budget details. Black Ops Cold War, with its over $700 million price tag, stands out as the most expensive video game ever made, surpassing even Star Citizen's substantial $644 million budget. This is noteworthy considering Star Citizen's extensive 11-year crowdfunding campaign, while Black Ops Cold War was solely financed by Activision. The game's success is undeniable, with over 30 million copies sold. Modern Warfare (2019) follows closely, with a development cost exceeding $640 million and 41 million copies sold. Even Black Ops 3, the least expensive of the three at $450 million, more than doubles the $220 million budget of The Last of Us Part 2.

Black Ops Cold War's $700 Million Budget: A New Industry Standard

The sheer scale of Black Ops Cold War's budget sets a new precedent in the video game industry. This remarkable figure underscores the exponential growth in development costs. Comparing this to the $40 million budget of Final Fantasy VII in 1997 (considered massive at the time) vividly illustrates the dramatic shift in AAA game development economics. The trend of increasing annual budgets suggests that future Call of Duty titles, and indeed other AAA games, will likely require even greater financial investment. Activision's recent disclosures serve as a clear indication of the continuously rising costs within the video game industry.