Lightning Returns Again (Thank you Square)

[Tilgung]

Once upon a time, many years ago, there was no such thing as MMORPGs. Where did developers get money to make new games back then?

Investors. And from the game sales themselves.

Unfortunately, AAA games cost waaaay more money to make than they used to. And then they sell for about as much as they used to. Well, before inflation is accounted for. I guess technically they cost more to make, but sell for relatively less.

The average cost of producing a video game slowly rose from US$1–4 million in 2000 to over $5 million in 2006, then to over $20 million by 2010.

Assuming XII's budget is anything to go by though, SE puts far more money into it's games than is typical. XII's original budget was $48 million in 2006.