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 development costs, with budgets for certain titles soaring to an astonishing $700 million. This surpasses even the massive budget of Star Citizen, previously considered a benchmark for expensive game development.

The sheer scale of these budgets—ranging from $450 million to $700 million for three specific Call of Duty titles (Black Ops 3, Modern Warfare (2019), and Black Ops Cold War)—underscores the escalating financial investment required for AAA game production. The multi-year development cycles and immense resources needed are clearly reflected in these figures. While indie games frequently rely on smaller budgets secured through crowdfunding, the AAA landscape operates on a vastly different scale.

According to a December 23rd California court filing, Activision's Patrick Kelly (head of creative for the Call of Duty franchise) revealed the staggering costs. Black Ops Cold War, with its budget exceeding $700 million, stands out as the most expensive video game ever made. This is particularly noteworthy considering its single-company funding, unlike Star Citizen's extensive crowdfunding campaign spanning over a decade. Modern Warfare (2019) also commanded a substantial investment of over $640 million. Even Black Ops 3, the "least" expensive of the three at $450 million, still significantly outpaces the $220 million development cost of The Last of Us Part 2.

The upward trend in game development budgets is undeniable. Comparing the $40 million budget of Final Fantasy VII (1997), once considered a monumental sum, to today's AAA costs highlights the dramatic shift in the industry's financial landscape. Activision's recent disclosures serve as a stark reminder of the ever-increasing expenses associated with creating modern blockbuster video games. The implications for future titles, such as a potential Black Ops 6, are significant, suggesting even higher budgets are likely on the horizon.