The release of Final Fantasy VII paved the way for the rise of AAA Video Games titles in the late 1990s. It became the "most expensive" video game due to its unusual AAA game development costs and marketing costs. Therefore "AAA" has come to represent games published by large and mid-sized publishers with huge marketing budgets. AAA games are created by combining the latest technology with the sharpest minds in the industry.

Why are AAA games so expensive?

Graphics - Reality is costly!

High-resolution assets with fancy looks and detail can be time-consuming to produce for AAA games. A developer must put a lot of effort and time into increasing the overall budget. The high expectations set by past AAA games sometimes push graphic designers to elevate their skills to increase user engagement.

Costly Creation Tools

There are immense pressures to meet strict deadlines and deliver the best possible results when it comes to AAA game development. These concerns often motivate developers to use the best possible creation tools (Quality and Time often take precedence over Money).

Some developers intentionally use advanced tools like game engines to develop a more complex or labor-intensive enterprise to save themselves from the hard work. They are usually expensive to license.

Vocal element

An excellent voice artist dramatically enhances the overall experience of a game, just like a talented actor or musician does. But these seemingly minor details don't come for free!

Assurance of quality

As playtesters, testers, and developers work hundreds of hours on the roll to fix bugs; this stage often escalates the rummy game development cost. These costs are often deferred until later versions because of the trend of rolling out a "known shippable."

Business/Marketing

Market research plays a critical role in AAA games. A developer must sell fast and sell well to make up for the vast dent created by producing an AAA game. Publishers lavishly spend money on marketing because game success is related to this aspect. Moreover, the assumption that a costly advertising campaign is guaranteed to increase sales is also one of the main factors responsible for driving AAA games' prices up.

Pre- and post-release support

Any game that ignores its release and post-release support could be fatal. Since AAA games are designed to earn well, keeping audiences satisfied becomes crucial. It is necessary to maintain the reputation and memory of the game.

What is the cost of developing an AAA game?

Games cost differently. It takes a lot of time and effort to develop a game. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the probable costing, but estimating an exact figure for developing an AAA game is quite challenging.

In terms of development costs alone, Squaresoft's Final Fantasy VII and Sega AM2's Shenmue were estimated to have consumed around $64–72 million* (inflation-adjusted) and $72–107 million* (inflation-adjusted), respectively. In addition to the advertisement campaigns, the development costs of these games surpassed the advertising costs as well.

Recent years have seen these numbers increase considerably, with Grand Theft Auto V developing for approximately $291 million* (inflation-adjusted) and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 costing approximately $298 million* (inflation adjusted).

You can get a rough approximation of game design, art design, graphics, programming, audio, testing, quality assurance, marketing, etc., by factoring in individual costs for each stage. According to most game developers, a AAA game's development cost lies between $60 and-80 million. Again, this varies depending on what features are added, what deadlines are shortened, what platform is used, what graphics quality is considered, etc. The size of the teams, the level of expertise, the geographic location, the reputation of the developer, etc., affect the game's development cost.

AAA Game Costs: The top 3 factors

Costs should be calculated individually as there are several factors. Learn about the most critical factors that affect the final AAA game development cost.

An AAA-quality game: What Studio and Where to Choose?

Globally, you have access to many competencies. Find the best option for your business by visiting the websites of millions of AAA Mobile game development companies. There is no need to limit yourself to local developers and designers. If you live in the USA or UK, you find their hourly rates too high.

How big is your development team?

If the work is done from scratch, AAA video game development requires 100 professionals. However, if you wish to speed up and release the game before the sensational projects hit the market, make sure that the team members are well trained and increase the number of AAA developers so that you can succeed in this endeavor. Also, plan your budget accordingly!

How Long Do AAA Games Take to Develop?

Your concept and 3D models may be well-designed, but all you need to do is implement a fully functional project and release it within half a year. The shorter the deadline, the more triple-A game developers must meet the deadline. As a result, the budget is increased. Indeed, the final cost will depend on how much work must be done to complete the project and how fast it must be completed.

Conclusion

It is estimated that the world's video game industry is the most lucrative entertainment industry, even though triple-A games are expensive to develop. The risks of making the wrong product are high. Success is creating something valuable for yourself and working with real professionals.

Due to our extensive AAA expertise, we can fulfill your needs - from art production to game release and support.