Call of Duty's Expansive Dev Funds Unveiled

Record-Breaking Call of Duty Budgets Exceed $700 Million

Activision's recent financial disclosures reveal staggering development budgets for three Call of Duty titles, ranging from $450 million to a jaw-dropping $700 million. This surpasses previous franchise records, with Black Ops Cold War leading the pack.

The escalating costs underscore the immense resources required for modern AAA game development. While indie games often thrive on smaller budgets, the AAA landscape is dramatically different. Blockbuster titles consistently see budget increases year over year, outpacing even previously "expensive" classics. While games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Last of Us Part 2 were considered costly, they pale in comparison to these newly revealed Call of Duty figures.

Court filings from December 23rd, as reported by Game File, detail the budgets: Black Ops 3 at $450 million, Modern Warfare (2019) exceeding $640 million, and Black Ops Cold War surpassing $700 million. The latter's success is notable, selling over 30 million copies despite its immense development time and cost. Modern Warfare (2019) sold even better, moving 41 million copies. Even Black Ops 3's $450 million budget dwarfs the $220 million spent on The Last of Us Part 2.

Black Ops Cold War's Budget Shatters Records

The over $700 million budget for Black Ops Cold War sets a new industry benchmark, eclipsing even Star Citizen's substantial $644 million development cost. This is particularly noteworthy considering Black Ops Cold War's funding came solely from Activision, unlike Star Citizen's eleven-year crowdfunding campaign.

The trend of escalating budgets is undeniable. Comparing the $40 million budget of 1997's Final Fantasy VII (a technological marvel at the time) to current AAA game costs highlights the dramatic shift in the industry's financial landscape. Activision's revelations provide clear evidence of this escalating cost of AAA game development.