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130°

GTA Publisher: Game Development Getting More Expensive, Risky

Take-Two Interactive, which wholly owns Grand Theft Auto studio Rockstar Games, says that the games business is still growing, but that it's also becoming more expensive and risky.

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bloomberg.com
getrektedmate4123d ago

They sold more than 55 million copies of GTA 5 and yet they are complaining development is getting expensive? Wow just wow

pompombrum4123d ago

And how many other games sell 55 million copies? How many other games have such a strong reputation among gamers and casuals alike as the GTA series? Most publishers don't have the luxury of such an established franchise.

Bansai4123d ago

Then stop forking money out to the marketing department so much, we really don't need to see giant ads on buildings across the whole world to know I'm buying this or that.

freshslicepizza4122d ago

without good marketing some games can potentially flop. people complained all the time of sony's lack of marketing for many of their games on the ps3 that didn't sell well.

i don't get why some people cannot connect the dots here. games cost more money to make than they used to. which translates to studios shutting down because they couldn't sell enough copies, less ip's due to risk factors, more dlc being sold, season passes now being sold, single player campaigns short, online tacked on.

then you have consumers who have this idea multiplayer games should not cost $60 even if the production costs are the same as a single player game. or they think all dlc content should have been included.

yet not one person can explain how because costs have risen that game prices and content should remain thw same.

GreetingsfromCanada4123d ago (Edited 4123d ago )

For starters gta v shipped 45 million and absolutely no other retail game comes close, but more importantly creating a modern AAA can easily cost over 100 million and with operating income for EA being only 120 million in 2013 1 game can make or break a company's year and stock price. Even making a new ip with AAA backing is very risky for the year's earnings.
Edit: If I'm not mistaken Take two (2k) posted losses for 3 years maybe more before GTA V came around.

DougLord4123d ago

The kids on here don't get the business side of this. One guy actually called me a liar when I said games have gotten a lot more expensive. He said they cost just as much to make on PS2. The kids on here want to yell and scream about season passes and DLC, and pretend it's developer greed ignoring the fact that graphics teams are 10x what they used to be. You used to be able to make a game with 3 or 4 people in a basement. Now team sizes are HUNDREDS of people. And with used games and Steam, game prices fall faster then ever.

Roccetarius4123d ago

If your modern AAA game can cost over 100 million, then something is terribly wrong with your budget.

C-H-E-F4122d ago

I think they spent more money than it took to make Avatar to make GTAV... and Avatar took 10 years to make... That makes sense... if you want a game that is of QUALITY you will be dishing it out... GTAV is lucky to have a great reputation and track record... So if you have a new IP on a GTAV budget lets say uhh DESTINY... then you will see how 500 million dollars will not get you anywhere near that billion that GTAV made.

SaveFerris4123d ago

Did he say NBA 2K bigger than Madden? Whoa.

_LarZen_4123d ago

Making AAA games is expensive and a big risk. It's therefor it's so refreshing to see Indie games that is relative cheep to produce and that is pushing gameplay more then these big AAA games.

Pintheshadows4123d ago

Making a good indie is still expensive.

Seafort4123d ago

CDProject RED disagrees. They made The Witcher 2 for $10.8 million. It's probably one of the best RPGs ever made.

It doesn't have to be expensive if they manage their budgets correctly.

dreamoner4123d ago

It's cos living in their country is not expensive. They're paying less to their employees. Tho W3's budget should be more than 3x of W2, I'm thinking much more.

Pintheshadows4123d ago

Oh, I don't disagree Seafort, but $10 million is still $10 million.

The problem is that most developers don't live within their means and go entirely over the top. This includes indies.

_LarZen_4122d ago

Depends...but sure it can be. But not xxx million type of expensive :)

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4122d ago
Seafort4123d ago

It's only more expensive due to the marketing budget or lack there of.

Publishers spend much more on marketing than they do on the actual game development.

To me that is their problem if they want to spend $100mil+ on marketing but the customers shouldn't have to pay for their extravagances.

Increasing the price of games + DLC due to this expense is BS by the publishers.

No excuses can be made by the publishers that game development expenses has increased therefore it's riskier to make games now than it was. If they want to wine and dine gaming press, pay for TV adverts, billboards and pay off game reviewers for good reviews that's on them not the gamers.

Lighter94123d ago

You have to spend money to make money.

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60°

Take-Two CEO Once Again Side Steps Grand Theft Auto 6 Price Point

Strauss Zelnick says price of GTA 6 is being carefully considered and that Rockstar is focused on "making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth."

Kuma31d ago

If GTA 6 abandons everything that made GTA 5 great, it will crash and burn right out of the gate. GTA 5 was funny and not at all PC. My worry is that they will cave to the PC crowd and ruin the vibes.

Eonjay31d ago

They got freaking BBLs twerking on the top of trucks for the gram, the freaking Flordia joker, and dude running down the stree in their undies and you are worried about it being 'too PC'? The internet has runied gamers. It doesn't matter how non-PC they make the game, you will all listen to the grifters telling you not to believe your lying eyes lol.

gigoran831d ago

"Rockstar Games’ co-founder and former VP of Development Jamie King said he envisions GTA 6 as a game that’s “maybe not quite as edgy or quite as funny” as its satirical predecessors."

oh yeah, totally internet grifters spreading rumors...

blacktiger31d ago

That's part of the plan, they destroyed you but they need to destroy the shareholders? Only 1 shre holder is the true elite that don't care

1nsomniac31d ago (Edited 31d ago )

Meh.., if it’s above £55 I ain’t buying it.

Rockstar are genuinely not half the company they used to be. I was a die hard GTA fan I’ve purchased every game and expansion and spin off day 1.

My opinion of GTA6 is that I can take it or leave it. Not bothered. They burnt too many bridges.

DaReapa31d ago (Edited 31d ago )

So they're actually leaving the door open for an L.A. Noire sequel? Nice!

VaNdAl31d ago (Edited 31d ago )

He should just come out and say it already it's getting stupid it's going to be a 100 bucks $200 for the special edition🤡🤡; 29315;🤣♿

Storm2331d ago

I won't be getting this game until I can get it for $70. SHoot, I could wait for it to be even lower. I don't need the game that badly as my backlog is still huge and I am enjoying playing other things.

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40°

Report: Take-Two lays off the head of AI and multiple team members

The head of AI at Take-Two says his time with the company has reportedly 'come to an end.'

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linkedin.com
50°

Take-Two hires Perfect Dark studio leads for new studio

Take-Two has hired Perfect Dark studio head Darrell Gallagher and creative director Brian Horton to start a new studio under 2K.

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gamedeveloper.com
jjb1981171d ago

This is great news as long as it it focused on SP games and not live-service