Gears Of War: E-Day Cost Half A Billion To Make, Apparently
Multiple reports have emerged claiming that Gears of War: E-Day cost $500 million to develop, making it one of the most expensive games ever produced. According to Kotaku’s sources, this figure does not include marketing expenses. The reports come from industry journalists including Chris Dring of The Game Business and Jez Corden of Windows Central.
However, there is disagreement about what the $500 million figure encompasses. While sources confirm the number isn’t inaccurate, Windows Central’s sources couldn’t definitively establish whether the budget covers only game development or also includes additional costs associated with running The Coalition, the game’s developer studio.
The substantial budget appears questionable given the game’s commercial performance. The shooter reportedly sold only 230,000 copies across Xbox and PC platforms at launch. Adding to the puzzle is the revelation that Microsoft cancelled an almost-complete PS5 version of the game, raising questions about the company’s exclusivity strategy given the massive investment.
Microsoft has not officially commented on these claims, leaving the precise budget breakdown unclear. The reports highlight ongoing uncertainty about AAA game development costs and the financial pressures facing major publishers when games fail to achieve proportional sales figures.