Genshin Impact has enjoyed much success since it’s initial launch back in 2020. However, this all comes at a cost, one that requires some very deep pockets.
Redditor KeiraFaith recently broke down the numbers for the game, noting that by the time their second anniversary rolls by in September, they might break the record for most money spent on development.
Genshin Impact’s original budget was $100 million USD, though by the time they actual game launched, it had ballooned up to double that at $200 million.
As of right now, Star Citizen is the most expensive in terms of game development budget, at $400 million. This is in spite of the fact that the game has yet to officially launch. The next most expensive game is Cyberpunk 2077, with $316 million.
Assuming that estimates by developer HoYoverse are still correct, then Genshin Impact also costs $200 million per year to continue development and support. This means it’s only a matter of weeks before it officially eclipses the 2 games mentioned above.
Of course, despite these high costs, Genshin Impact has also enjoyed a great deal of financial success. The game made back half its initial budget in just the first 2 weeks after launch.
Back in May, it was reported to have generated $3 billion, which put the game on track to be making roughly a billion dollars every 6 months.
With Genshin Impact set to release their 3.0 update soon. It seems the hype surrounding the game will continue to run along at a very solid pace. And that despite the high development costs, it may end up becoming one of the most profitable games of all time.