An unnamed analyst estimated that BioShock Infinite cost $100 million to make and another $100 million will be spent on marketing expenses. Even if that number is high-balled, a 200-person development team working on a project for over four years can easily push a budget into tens of millions of dollars.
As has been noted by the NPD, the sales of retail products has been diminishing for the past few years, putting pressure on both developers and marketers to put their best foot forward in making a game a success. As Irrational Games creative director Ken Levine said, “It’s getting harder to ask someone to spend $60 on something that’s merely a good effort.”
Source: New York Times
