15 Most Expensive Games That Flopped

Shenmue – $70 million

For all the fond memories players may have of Shenmue, the Sega property was pretty much doomed on arrival when it released on the Dreamcast. Not only had Sega spent an exhorbitant $70 million on its development and marketing, but it ended up selling only 1.2 million copies by 2001 which wasn’t enough to turn a profit. Sega’s own resources became strained as a result and this only hastened the death of the Dreamcast. Shenmue 3 may be a subject of fondness right now but it’s history is less than positive.