News and Reviews

Introduction The video game industry thrives on massive budgets, with AAA titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) and Grand Theft Auto V costing hundreds of millions to develop and market. However, a hefty price tag doesn’t always guarantee success—just look at Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch. As studios turn to microtransactions and DLCs to recoup costs, indie gems like Hades and Stardew Valley prove that creativity can outshine big budgets. But is the industry’s spending spree sustainable? Let’s dive in. What Makes a Video Game Expensive to Develop? In order to develop a video game, it goes through generally three stages: pre-production, where the idea of the game is created; production, the idea is developed into a code, the characters, world, and soundtrack is made; and post-production, the game goes through testing to ensure it works correctly. To accomplish this, most companies have large development teams.Once the video game is created, companies spend millions on advertisements or they feature Hollywood A-listers to pique gamers interest in their product. Even after the game has been released, gaming companies are working on DLCs, updates, and multiplayer servers to entice gamers into spending more. The Most Expensive Video Games Ever Made Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) ($250M) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 reportedly spent $40-50 million on the game, and 3-4 times that amount in marketing. The risk paid off, when it broke multiple records, including being the fastest game in the series to reach $1 billion in revenue. Recently, due to an update, this game has started to receive many negative reviews on Steam. Grand Theft Auto V ($265M) Grand Theft Auto V had a budget of $100 million to create, and spent the rest on marketing, along with the Grand Theft Auto Online multiplayer, and multiple DLCs. Despite being over eleven years old, and hints of a sequel coming soon (hopefully), GTA V continues to be one of the top selling games. Rockstar Games did a fantastic job with this game and GTA VI is rumored to have a budget of $2 billion, just imagine what they will be able to accomplish. Cyberpunk 2077 ($400M+) Even with spending $400 million to make and market Cyberpunk 2077, the hype for this game died as soon as it was launched. Frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and multiple bugs caused Sony to pull the title from the PlayStation Store quickly. It’s taken years and various patches to finally get this game to 25 million copies sold. There’s talks of a second in the series, and after the slow start that this game had, the creators should be ready for the next release. Star Citizen ($500M and Counting) I had to research this game because I’ve never heard of it, despite it being available for seven years and has the talents of Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, Henry Cavill, and Sophie Wu. Despite it’s whopping $500 million and up budget, this game is only in the Alpha stage. This game has been in development since 2012 and it’s still in development. The video on the website looks great, but twelve years is a long time to wait for a game that hasn’t been fully fleshed out yet. Red Dead Redemption 2 ($540M estimated) Rockstar’s second entry on this list, Red Dead Redemption 2 had an estimated development budget of $170-240 million, and $200-300 million in marketing. This open world Western has been around for six years now and hasn’t slowed down yet. It’s grossed almost $1 billion dollars to date. There is a third installment in development, and if Rockstar keeps the current pattern, it will be a hit. Do Expensive Video Games Always Mean Better Quality? Some games have had massive hits with their larger budgets, like GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. Cyberpunk 2077 has only just now come into some success with additional DLCs, causing more expenses. Some indie games, such as Hades, Cuphead, Stardew Valley, and Undertale, had smaller budgets and enjoy better engagement with players. Are Big Budget Games Sustainable for the Industry? Microtransactions, DLCs, battle passes are not going anywhere as long as these games continue to have massive budgets. Game play innovation is being overlooked for better graphics, more star power. Mid-budget and indie games have the potential to outperform the more well-known games for much less. Conclusion – Are Expensive Games Worth It? The video game industry operates through three main stages—pre-production, production, and post-production—often requiring massive budgets, especially for AAA titles. Some of the most expensive games ever made, like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022), Grand Theft Auto V, Cyberpunk 2077, Star Citizen, and Red Dead Redemption 2, have spent hundreds of millions on development and marketing, sometimes exceeding $500 million. However, a bigger budget doesn’t always guarantee success, as seen with Cyberpunk 2077’s rocky launch. The industry’s reliance on costly games has led to microtransactions, DLCs, and battle passes, but indie games with smaller budgets, like Hades and Stardew Valley, continue to thrive, proving that creativity and engagement often outweigh high production costs.

Introduction 2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year for gamers, with highly anticipated releases across multiple genres. Eternal Strands kicks off the year with its breathtaking world and telekinetic combat, while Wuchang: Fallen Feathers brings a dark, soulslike experience set in the Ming Dynasty. Will: Follow the Light offers an open-world adventure through the frozen North, and South of Midnight delivers a beautifully crafted Southern gothic tale. Pokémon Legends Z-A earns a runner-up spot, teasing an exciting return to Lumiose City. Topping the list, Doom: The Dark Ages reinvents the FPS classic with medieval weaponry, mechs, and even a cybernetic dragon. With so many exciting titles on the horizon, 2025 promises to be a year to remember for gamers! Eternal Strands Available January 28, 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC In this third-person action-adventure game from Yellow Brick Games, you play as Brynn, a young warrior trying to recover her people’s cultural home. Harness her telekinetic force, fire, and ice powers to destroy your enemies and traverse the land of the Enclave.The vivid colors are beautiful, and the weapon and magic combat options look very interesting. I’m excited to see how the environment will affect the combat. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Available sometime in 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a third-person soulslike game set in the final years of the Ming Dynasty. Wuchang, a female pirate, awakes to a mysterious illness called Feathering plaguing the land. Utilizing a variety of weapons, fighting styles, and even Feathering, help Wuchang discover the reason behind the disease. The multitude of combat options makes this a great option for gamers that enjoy various types of fighting. Will: Follow the Light Available sometime in 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC In Will: Follow the Light, players control Will, a man stuck in the far North trying to return to his loved ones. Players can explore this vast landscape by boat, sled dogs, or just walking around. I’m a big fan of games that go at their own pace, and not following a guide around is a plus. And who doesn’t enjoy the thought of dog sledding in the mountains without actually being in the cold? South of Midnight Available April 8, 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, and PC South of Midnight is a third-person action-adventure game set in a fictionalized Deep South. Join Hazel as she tries to find her mother after a hurricane sweeps their house away and destroys her hometown. While on her journey, Hazel learns she is a Weaver- someone who can mend broken bonds and spirits. I love the art, the music, the setting of this game. Some of the weapons include weaving hooks, a spindle, and a distaff, all of which I cannot wait to attempt to use. Before we reach number one, I wanted to share a runner-up. Runner Up- Pokémon Legends Z-A Available sometime 2025 on Nintendo Switch 2 Besides number one on this list, the Pokémon series has been in my life since I can remember. For Christmas 1998, my mother gave me a maroon Gameboy Color and Pokémon Red version, sparking a love for handheld games going on 27 years.At the time of this article, little is known about the latest installment, besides being set in Lumiose City. It’s currently going through redevelopment plans to shape the city into a place that both Pokémon and people can enjoy. Doom: The Dark Ages Available May 15, 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC The Doomslayer is back and better than ever in this first-person shooter. Set in the Middle Ages, the eighth game in the series is set to reveal the origins of the main character. Equip your Shield Saw and parry, deflect, and block your enemies attacks, while also using it as a weapon. Or take advantage of the new melee weapons, the flail, electrified gauntlet or the mace. Another new feature is the cybernetic dragon used to attack enemies from the sky, and the Atlan mech suit that the slayer can control to defeat larger enemies. My mother and father played this game on the Super Nintendo when I was a kid, this is THE game for me. Am I blinded by nostalgia? Possibly. I’ll find out May 15 for sure. Final Thoughts 2025 is set to be an unforgettable year for gamers, packed with groundbreaking titles across every genre. From the telekinetic combat of Eternal Strands to the dark, soulslike challenge of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, there’s something for everyone. Open-world adventures like Will: Follow the Light and the Southern gothic charm of South of Midnight add even more variety, while Pokémon Legends Z-A teases a return to Lumiose City. But leading the charge is Doom: The Dark Ages, bringing medieval mayhem with mechs and a cybernetic dragon. Get ready—2025 is going to be epic!

Everything We Know about Grand Theft Auto 6 Rockstar Games has kept much of the game under wraps, but here’s everything that’s currently known, including the release details, setting, characters, and more. 1. Release Date and Platforms After years of speculation, Rockstar confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released in Fall 2025. This marks the return of one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. The game will be available initially on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with a later PC release likely following in 2026, just like the previous titles in the series​. 2. Return to Vice City The game will return to the neon-lit streets of Vice City, a fan-favorite location from GTA: Vice City (2002). Set in the state of Leonida, the modern version of Vice City will offer a dynamic, expanded map that promises to be even more immersive. Familiar locales like Starfish Island have been glimpsed in trailers, suggesting that classic spots will be revisited. However, whether iconic places like the Malibu Club will make an appearance remains unclear​ 3. Multiple Playable Characters One of the exciting features of GTA 6 will be its dual protagonists, Lucia and an unnamed male character. While rumors have referred to the male character as Jason or James, his final name hasn’t been confirmed yet. Lucia and her partner will take on criminal missions, with their dynamic compared to Bonnie and Clyde, adding layers to the storytelling and gameplay​. 4. Cutting-edge graphics and AI As expected from Rockstar, GTA 6 will leverage the latest technology to push the boundaries of realism. The game is expected to feature AI-powered animation and a more immersive open world with upgraded graphics, physics, and artificial intelligence. This means everything, from vehicle handling to environmental interactions, will feel more dynamic and lifelike​. 5. Expansive Online Experience Much like GTA V, GTA 6 will feature a robust online mode. GTA Online was a huge success, and Rockstar is likely to build on that with an even richer online experience. This could include new game modes, heists, and even more customizable features for players, ensuring the online world stays fresh long after the initial release​. 6. Story and Gameplay Though details are sparse, leaks suggest that GTA 6 will involve a lot of action and intrigue, with a focus on crime and complex characters. The game is set in the modern day, moving beyond the 1980s setting of Vice City, and will likely explore new themes related to contemporary culture​. As the excitement around GTA 6 builds, fans are eager for more trailers and updates. Rockstar has promised that the final product will exceed expectations, setting new standards for open-world games. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to the franchise, GTA 6 is shaping up to be one of the most revolutionary gaming experiences of the decade.