How much does it cost to develop a game: a complete breakdown of costs for PC and other platforms by Yevhen Kasyanenko

Today we are here to help you plan and allocate your budget for a game project wisely. After all, we have already implemented dozens of game bots, applications, and programs. The experience our developers have gained will help you understand:

• what factors play a key role in planning a budget for a game project;
• how much it costs to create an online game;
• how much money will actually bring results.

Read on, it will be useful and informative!

What determines the price of game development?

The cost of game development is essentially everything you need for a successful project. That’s why every element, including graphics, sound, programming, algorithms, promotion, and subsequent updates, requires time and careful analysis.

“It is important to understand that a mistake in calculations can lead to project delays, lag, and additional expenses. That is why the cost is equal to the attention, approach, and tools that will be used in the development of the game universe,” emphasizes the expert.

Price is also equivalent to scale. Mobile games do not require high investments compared to AAA projects, which require large teams and servers for optimization.

Clarity in genre and gaming platform will also help avoid unpleasant financial surprises and take into account hidden costs. For example, a casual game with basic graphics can cost $10,000–50,000, while a photorealistic shooter for PC will definitely exceed $10 million.

If you are using complex animations and real physics, such as for VR games, take into account the cost of mechanical components, performance, and devices. For clarity, let’s take Hollow Knight as an example. The project exceeded its budget of $50,000, and Cyberpunk 2077 exceeded $300 million. Therefore, it is very important to understand the end result and take into account the subtleties of absolutely every process. This will make it much easier for you to accept the project, both morally and financially.

Main items of expenditure

When creating a game project, there are both important and indispensable processes, as well as additional ones. With knowledge of which expenses are unavoidable and where you can save money, it is quite easy to determine the weight category of the project in material terms.

For example, finding a specialist, purchasing a license, making technical decisions, conducting testing, and collecting data for marketing are important aspects that should be included in the game creation process. Processes related to algorithm settings, graphics, and sound design are selective but may require the involvement of additional specialists.

Development: team and technologies

Game development should start with putting together a team of specialists. This will be one of the most expensive stages, as you will need:

• programmers;
• game designers;
• 2D/3D artists;
• animators;
• sound engineers;
• testers;
• managers;

Understanding the level of game complexity also allows you to choose the right development organization method. There are three main methods:

1. In-house. This is a full-time staff with maximum involvement, where everyone works as a single internal system within one company.
2. Outsourcing. You can also entrust development to third-party studios and game developers. This can save money.
3. Freelance. This is the cheapest method, but the difficulty lies in controlling the process and deadlines. Here, there is a greater risk of getting the undesirable quality of work.

“Programming, testing, and gameplay design are things you can’t skimp on! One mistake can ruin all your efforts and kill the project’s reputation,” says Yevhen Kasyanenko.

Tools and technologies for creating a game and their cost

The necessary budget will also depend on the choice of programs used in development, for example:

• Unity — suitable for cross-platform games and mobile applications. However, commercial use requires a license, which costs from $2,000 per year.
• Unreal Engine is a high-quality tool for AAA projects. The cost of a license will exceed $2,500–3,000.
• Godot is a free assistant with accessible code.
• Autodesk Maya is a 3D modeling program with a monthly subscription starting at $300.
• ZBrush is necessary for sculpting and costs about $40 per month.
• FMOD is a sound program that is available for free for indie developers. The license costs about $500.

Graphics, animation, and sound

The complexity of the graphics affects the visual perception of players and can encourage them to visit the app more often. Here, it is important to clearly define your preferences:

• 2D animation will be cheaper, as it uses pixels and flat images, pictures, characters, and objects.
• 3D is more expensive because it can make the project more vivid and realistic thanks to models, textures, lighting, and shadows.

Sound is important to immerse the gamer in the virtual world and make them literally feel what is happening. At the same time, they should remain comfortable.

Paid sound effects can be ordered from a performer, author, composer, or recorded in a studio. The cost can start at $500. But the composition will be unique, non-repetitive, and fully convey the theme of the gameplay.

Free methods can be found in online soundtrack archives, where the simplest effects are available. However, the uniqueness of the sound will be minimal.

“If you want to stand out in the gaming marketing market and hook your audience, I recommend focusing on uniqueness and creating your own soundtracks by hiring a composer,” advises our leading expert.

Testing and debugging

You can lose millions of dollars because of a simple mistake in the game code. That’s why as much as 20% of the budget for creating gameplay is spent on testing. And we’re not just talking about bugs or freezes, but the risk of hacking.

There are two testing methods available in development. We’ll walk you through them in detail using a comparison table.

Both testing formats have their pros and cons. Therefore, the method should be chosen based on the characteristics of the future project.

“In particular, all bugs must be tracked before the game is launched. To do this, conduct closed testing, create beta versions, and use server stress tests. After all, the stability of the playing field is important for any player. Otherwise, the gamer will choose another project, and this will be fatal for the development of your game,” says Yevhen Kasyanenko.

Marketing and promotion

Creating a game does not mean engagement and demand from users from day one. Marketing is a basic setting that contributes to market recognition.

Therefore, marketing costs can often exceed development costs. This is especially true for mobile games, where competition is high. The main items of expenditure where the budget goes:

1. SEO — optimization of information about the game project on the Internet, which allows it to be found by popular user queries in search engines.
2. ASO — promotion of mobile games for iOS and Android.
3. Target — advertising campaigns on social networks such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, which allow you to find your target audience based on hobbies, age, interests, location, language, etc.
4. Trailers — a way to visually show the gameplay, idea, graphics, genre, and hook the user.
5. PR campaigns are collaborations with influencers, bloggers, media, and fans with the goal of making the game go viral.

“Even an innovative and very modern game may not pay off, fail to generate interest, or cause damage if a balance between quality and budget is not found,” says our expert.

That’s why the KISS Software team has compiled a list of the most common mistakes that can disrupt the structural part of development:

1. Lack of a marketing strategy. An advertising campaign allows you to get your project noticed. Otherwise, there are many situations on the market where good games remain in the shadows, without receiving the necessary financial support for promotion.
2. Launching the campaign too late or too early. It is important to start engaging people and generating interest before the game is launched. But don’t make users wait too long. While the project is still in development, you can prepare a demo version to maintain interest.
3. Ignoring player feedback. Not knowing and understanding your audience can cause dissonance. After all, the success of any project lies in analyzing the behavior, reactions, and engagement of the target consumer.

Breakdown of game development costs by type

“Even if you take into account the amount of money spent on developing and launching a game, it’s important to understand that all investments are investments in the future. After all, game projects are now at the peak of their popularity and development, and you can now earn real money with them,” advises the expert.

That is why it is important to assess the complexity of the project, the level of graphics, sound quality, platforms, and team resources.

Below, we offer a look at the different scales of games and their price categories.

How much does it cost to create a mobile game?

Mobile games can be considered an affordable option for creating a game project, as follows:

• A simple game from a small team of developers can cost between $5,000 and $50,000. Good examples are Flappy Bird and 2048, which have simple functionality and an intuitive interface.
• The average level, where more complex mechanics, sound, and animation require a more complete team of developers. The price for such a project can range from $50,000 to $300,000. Examples include Subway Surfers and Angry Birds, which feature bright graphics, non-flat images, many features, and the ability to make purchases.
• Large gaming projects require investments of $500,000 or more, including integration with AR, open-world, and other complex servers. Often, the budget can reach several million dollars.

How much does it cost to develop a game for PC and console?

To develop gaming applications for PCs, you need to use more resources, including detailed graphics, high resolution, and a serious storyline:

1. Indie projects that use 2D or 3D graphics often cost around $50,000. Examples include Hollow Knight and Stardew Valley. These games are notable for their perfect animation, genres, and musical accompaniment, which completely immerse the player in the atmosphere.
2. AA games are unique in their concept and are a transitional class between indie and AAA gameplay. Their price starts at $500,000. They are developed by medium-sized studios.
3. AAA games represent the highest level of game universe development, with top-notch graphics, sound design, features, and hundreds of hours of gameplay. Examples include the well-known GTA, The Witcher, and Cyberpunk 2077. Development costs start at $10 million, and development can take more than 5-7 years with constant updates.

Is VR game development expensive or not?

VR can be considered the most expensive segment. Developing this type of game requires special technical equipment, high-quality graphics, and the implementation of non-standard gameplay.

You can start with a minimum of $100,000. However, it will still be important to consider the optimization of motion trackers, helmets, and sound. If you skimp on this, the gamer will not be able to fully immerse themselves in virtual reality, which is a failure.

“The physics of movement and interaction with objects in the virtual universe is a very delicate matter. You need to take into account the individual characteristics of people in order to make the equipment universal,” says Yevhen Kasyanenko.

How can you save money on game development without compromising quality?

Below are some key strategies that can help you optimize your budget:

1. Use ready-made programs. Developing your own engines is a time-consuming and costly process that can drain millions. Instead, you can use ready-made solutions: Unity for mobile games, Unreal Engine for AAA projects, and Godot for small applications.
2. Launch an MVP before scaling up. We cannot stress enough the importance of launching a test prototype of your game before investing thousands of dollars in it. This really saves time and money.
3. Outsource specific tasks. To save money, you can also use the services of freelancers, but the level and quality may not always meet your expectations.
4. Search for investors or crowdfunding. If you have a brilliant idea but lack the financial resources to implement it, the best method is to search for investors. 

Options include:

• Crowdfunding, where players take on sponsorship if they are interested. Here you can focus on the idea and motivate your audience using hooks.
• Publishers, where well-known publishing houses publish information about the game and connect with sponsors, and the profits from sales are shared as a percentage with the owner.
• Grants are provided by large gaming platforms, such as MegaGrants, or government funds allocate funds for promising projects.

If you follow your ambitions and clearly state your position in the market, you can competently formulate the value of your game and attract investors.

Why is it important to work with professionals?

“A game should work like a Swiss watch so that people admire it and come back to it with pleasure,” notes our expert.

Here is a list of the most common mistakes that damage a project and negatively affect player reviews:

• Incorrect calculation and distribution of the budget, namely, focusing on secondary risks rather than the main ones.
• Incorrectly set game code, which causes lag, freezing, and slowdown.
• An inexperienced and uncoordinated team that does not work as a single entity.

A professional approach allows you to avoid mistakes that will need to be redone. Edits during the process may only concern minor details that will not affect the overall picture. This approach clearly optimizes and speeds up all implementation processes and allows you to quickly enter the market.

KISS Software takes care of all the details to ensure that a successful and fully packaged project is launched on the market in line with your business goals. Our team, led by Yevhen Kasyanenko, works clearly and cohesively, attracting the best experts in each niche. In addition, we accompany you from the idea on paper to the release, participate in updates and improvements to the game universe.

Bottom line: how much does it cost to create a game in 2025?

Each project is unique and requires a competent approach and implementation based on the customer’s idea and budget. However, we can provide average prices for the most popular game segments.

To find out the exact cost, ask your questions, and discuss any details, please contact us via the feedback form! It’s free. We will help you calculate the budget for your game and select an effective strategy for developing your business!