Activision Unveils $700 Million Development Costs for Black Ops Cold War

Recent revelations from a court case have shed light on the staggering development costs associated with three prominent titles in the Call of Duty franchise, spanning from 2015 to 2020. Patrick Kelly, the creative lead and franchise director at Activision, disclosed that the financial outlay for each of these video games fell between $450 million and $700 million. Notably, the 2020 release, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, surpassed the $700 million mark over its lifecycle.

The insightful financial data was uncovered by Game File, marking it as one of the highest confirmed budgets within the video game industry. This information emerged amidst a lawsuit connected to the tragic 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where the perpetrator was reported to be an avid player of Call of Duty. While Activision has previously articulated to CBS News that “millions of players worldwide enjoy gaming without resorting to horrific acts,” Kelly’s statements regarding the game budgets were used as a backdrop to stress the series’ global appeal.

Activision Invests $1.8 Billion in Three Call of Duty Titles

Astounding Budgets for the Leading FPS Franchise

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Season 3

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Cover Art

As the spokesperson for Activision Blizzard concerning the public lawsuit, Patrick Kelly highlighted the extensive budgets and impressive sales figures of these games in December 2024. He pointed out the dedication of hundreds of employees working on these military-themed shooters throughout their development phases. The stated budgets encompass the entire lifecycle of the games, including downloadable content (DLC), map packs, and assorted updates; however, precise marketing costs remain undisclosed. The budgets revealed indicate that Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, which debuted in 2015, racked up development costs exceeding $450 million, ultimately achieving sales of approximately 43 million copies following a three-year production period.

Such development figures stand out as some of the rare officially confirmed numbers within the gaming industry, as most figures tend to derive from estimates or leaks.

In addition to Black Ops 3, the reboot of Modern Warfare in 2019 incurred an expenditure of over $640 million, but even with such considerable investment, it sold around 41 million copies. The standout among these figures was the 2020 title, Black Ops Cold War, created by Treyarch and Raven Software, which absorbed an astounding $700 million in development costs while selling 30 million copies. Interestingly, despite investments growing significantly over this five-year period, total game sales experienced a decline.

Our Perspective: Huge Budgets underscore Call of Duty’s Role as Activision’s Cash Cow

Black Ops 6’s Inclusion in Game Pass Benefits Activision

Patrick Kelly’s disclosure in light of the Uvalde lawsuit illustrates the massive expenditures required for Activision’s annual releases. Although the decline in sales may seem disheartening, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, accompanied by the integration of Black Ops 6 into Xbox Game Pass, ensures sustained high player engagement for the Call of Duty franchise moving forward.

Call of Duty titles consistently perform well in terms of sales during their launch years, a trend that highlights the financial scale of production that surpasses even critically applauded titles like The Last of Us Part II and Grand Theft Auto V, which had respective costs of $220 million and $265 million, inclusive of marketing expenses. Activision’s substantial investments reinforce its status as a game developer with lucrative prospects, despite the controversies linked to the franchise. While some fans may express mixed feelings regarding the series’ yearly releases, the colossal budgets suggest that Activision is likely to continue enjoying significant financial benefits, even after more than two decades of producing Call of Duty titles.

Sources: CBS News, Game File

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