It’s no secret that making video games is hard, especially developing a big budget title like Eidos Montreal’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The triple-A action adventure continues Lara’s saga towards becoming the Tomb Raider but it’s a story that’s very costly to tell.
Eidos Montreal boss David Anfossi spoke to Games Industry Biz about how new models have to be tried for single-player. Experiments akin to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice are taken as an example of a smaller game that retails for lower cost and takes less resources to make.
However, when asked about trying new things and experimentation, Anfossi revealed that Shadow of the Tomb Raider takes $75 million to $100 million to develop. That’s only development costs by the way.
“Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and other different AAA single-player games, cost $75 million to $100 million. And that’s production only; it’s close to $35 million on the promotion. So there’s definitely a pressure. We cannot avoid it. But, at the same time, for us to have these incubation projects and to try small things…that gives us the opportunity to test, prepare and secure some stuff, and remove some risk.”
Releasing on September 14th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, Shadow of the Tomb Raider will also have a Season Pass with seven “paths” for new missions, narratives, weapons and more. What are your thoughts on the game’s budget though? Let us know in the comments.
