Mobile Game Development Cost – All Factors Affecting Prices

Hi folks,

I hope you are doing well!

I think you are searching for a cost estimation of mobile game development for your business.

Am I right? Yeah 🙂

let’s get depth information about this together…

Do you know that there has never been a better time to develop a mobile game app in the USA and in the international market?

Believe me, I am telling the truth.

If a report by Statista is seen, the revenue in the US mobile games segment is expected to reach $20.25 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $29.5 billion by 2025. The average revenue per user would be $121.30.

In simple words,

Mobile game market to grow more than expected in the US

Which will provide wide opportunities for new, innovative sports to the people. Over the past two years, we’ve seen games like PUBG Mobile and COD: Mobile reach $2.6 billion and $500 million in revenue in 2021, respectively.

So funny 🙂

If you are planning to develop a mobile game,

So the first thought that may come to your mind is how much mobile game app development costs.

In this post, I have tried to answer all your questions related to mobile game development costs.

How Much Does It Cost To Develop Mobile Game App?

Let us first tell you the cost, then after that, we will discuss the rest. So the cost of mobile game development goes from $20,000 to $3,00,000 and it depends on several factors including the type, design, story, testing, and so on.

Mobile Game Development Cost According to Game Type:

Let’s move forward to know more about factors that affect mobile app development costs.

Factors Affecting The Mobile Game Development Cost

• Game Story, Plot, and Character
• Design
• Game Categories and Genres
• Game App Testing
• Marketing of Your Game App

If you are looking for a reliable mobile game app development partner who can implement this type of application, you can contact us.

We are an award-winning web app and mobile development company providing all-inclusive mobile game development services.

Does Mobile App Platform Make a Difference in Cost?

Actually, Android-based games and iOS-based games are the two common choices among mobile game app development companies. However, you can choose Windows games and other open-source OS, as well. The platform will significantly impact your development expenses. 

In iOS, for instance, adding specifications like administrative systems and payment integration is 10-20% more expensive than on Android. However, Android development could be slightly costlier if you want it to run on older Android versions. 

Of course,

If you choose native development for both platforms, you’ll need to incur more expenses. You can opt for hybrid development as well, though you might not get the exact native-like performance. 

2D vs. 3D Games: Will It Make a Difference?

2D games are, of course, less expensive than 3D games. Simple 2D games, like Red Ball, Sudoko, Flappy Bird, etc., can be developed for $5-20k. However, if you want a comprehensive 2D game development costs could surge to $50-100k. 

Android 3D mobile game development is costlier than 2D mobile game development. Depending on the game’s type and complexity, 3D game development cost $20k and $250k. 

How Complex Is Your Game?

The type and complexity of the game you want to develop will have a substantial influence on the overall game development cost. In general, mobile games are categorized into the following types:

• Mini-Games: Temple Run, Subway Surfers, etc.
• Mid-Level Games: Cut the Rope, Angry Bird, etc.
• High-Level Games: Clash of Clans, Hay Day, etc.
• AAA Games: PUBG Mobile, GTA, NFL, etc.
• Real Money Games: DraftKings, FanDuel, etc.

The higher the game’s level, the costlier it will be to develop. The category of the game – action, arcade, racing, sports, etc. – will also make a difference. 

If you want to develop a complex game, make sure to have a bigger budget. For example, battle royale games like PUBG, COD Mobile, etc., are gaining popularity. However, these games require myriad features, such as gyroscope, voice integration, high FPS, HDR graphics, etc. All these features contribute to the mobile game app development cost. 

Is There a Difference Between Single-Player and Multiplayer Games?

Multiplayer games often fall under the high-level and AAA games categories. If the game enables players to interact with each other, features like internet capabilities, voice integration, etc., would be needed. This will add to the development costs, thereby making a multiplayer mobile game app more expensive than single-player games. 

Are There Any Pre-Development Costs?

Let’s say you want to develop a multiplayer, open-world game like Gangster New Orleans, where people can develop their character, complete missions, and play and compete with other players. But that’s all you have in mind – a rough idea of the game. 

The game app developers you work with will turn your idea into a well-devised game-designed document (GDD). This document will strategize your game’s story, characters, levels, and more. This process is integral as it will lay the foundation of the upcoming mobile game development process. 

The GDD discusses the following aspects:

• Storyboard
• Game Levels
• Gameplay
• Game Environment
• Target users
• Plot and Characters

Storyboarding is an essential step of the pre-development process. Your game’s success and failure will depend on the level of engagement it provides to the players. If your game doesn’t have an engaging story, people won’t play it, regardless of how great the graphics or gameplay is. 

Creating the game’s plot and characters determines the quality of the story. Developing a game is similar to writing a novel. You need a mesmerizing plot with effective characters that the players can relate to. 

All of this requires time and effort, hence the pre-development costs. 

The pre-development expenses will vary depending on the type and quality of the game. The development company’s hourly mobile game development rate will be another factor to watch out for. 

For instance, if the pre-development process will take 50 hours, and the developer charges $100 per hour for the project, the pre-development cost will be $5,000. 

Read More: Mobile Game Development Process step by step

Wrapping Up – General Mobile Game Development Cost

Let’s quickly wrap up this post by creating a general estimate of the game app development cost. When planning your budget, keep these two factors in mind. 

First, the hourly development rate of the company. 

Development companies in Southeast Asia might charge $20-50 per hour, whereas companies in the US and Europe could charge $80-150 per hour for the same work. You can also develop a game in-house by hiring full-time developers. However, it’s not recommended as your expertise and capabilities will be restricted. 

The second is the complexity of your app. As discussed, 2D and simple 3D games can cost $20-60k, whereas complex, high-level games can cost up to $250k or even higher.

Looking for high-quality mobile game development services at affordable costs? Get in touch with us now to discuss your project.