Did you just have the best idea for a mobile game? That’s fantastic. Your next thought after considering the idea for your game will probably be how much it will cost to implement. When determining the cost of developing mobile games, there are many elements to take into account. In this post, based on our vast experience as a mobile game outsourcing company, we want to discuss some of the most crucial of them.
The average cost to build a mobile game ranges from $ 3,000 for simple mini-games to $ 150,000 for more intricate multi-player games. Mobile games are often developed for the AppStore (iOS) and Google Play (Android). The choices you want to incorporate, such as payment systems or other administrative duties, may also affect prices. For instance, the cost of these features is 20% higher on iOS than it is on Android.
Game type and complexity
Before supplying a mobile game development cost, the game development team studies all the specifications and factors that will be examined in the form of a GDD document, an asset list, and other technical documents. The cost of the game increases with complexity:
Small Games
The easiest games for game developers to create are those with simple features like preserving the score or payment systems. They won’t be bothered by simple game controls or simple 2D graphics, and skilled game developers might make such games in a matter of days or weeks. Small games are unlikely to spend more than $5,000. Instead, the cost may start at $ 20,000 if you want a little game with a lovely 2D or 3D interface, more levels, and a few extra options for players. The majority of these games will run you between $20,000 and $40,000 in price.
To minimize the risks and costs, we recommend that you create a prototype game to validate your idea and see the potential behind it.
Medium Games
These games advance in complexity and provide players with a variety of levels to explore, as well as diverse characters, a more intricate plot, sound effects, visual effects, an appealing and user-friendly interface, and minigames included into the main game. This kind of game might cost anything from $60,000 to $120,000.
Large Games
Large titles offer players an engaging storyline and rich content. Although they are usually free to play, they have incorporated a well-thought-out monetization system. The budget for this type of game may exceed $ 150,000.
Factors that influence mobile game development cost
There are various aspects that affect the expenses, which apply to practically all mobile game development, regardless of the type and scale of the game you build.
2D or 3D mobile games
The cost of developing a 2D mobile game can range from $ 5,000 to $ 20,000, but if the game has more features, it might cost as much as $ 50,000 to $ 20,000.
A 3D game is more expensive than one with 2D graphics. Such a game has a starting price of $ 20,000 and can
Pre-Development Costs
For the game development process to be well structured, game developers will create a strategy in the form of a GDD document that will include all the game details. This step is essential because it will be the basis of the whole project.
The process of creating the GDD document requires time and effort, which leads to pre-development costs. These expenses are calculated based on several factors, including the cost per hour of work. For example, if the pre-development stage lasts 30 hours and the development team charges $ 100 per hour, the pre-development costs will be $ 3000.
Mobile game engine
Unity and Unreal Engine are the two most popular mobile game engines. They often have no impact on the price of developing mobile games. However, if your game’s specifications are too intricate and the engine used to produce it needs to be modified, more fees may result.
Single-Player and Multiplayer Games
Multiplayer games can cost more than single-player games since they have more options to choose from. For instance, the internet connection feature and player-to-player interaction both increase the ultimate production cost of a mobile game.
Marketing
Even though your mobile game is entertaining and visually appealing, it still needs clever marketing to get noticed. After spending a few thousand dollars on the expenditures of developing your mobile game, you should seriously consider investing in advertising to recoup your costs and turn a profit. It is advisable to include the expense of marketing from the outset of the cost list in order to stay within your budget.
Because of how crucial the marketing budget is, large publishers can spend more on advertising than on the expenditures associated with creating mobile games. However, in typical situations, the cost of marketing accounts for at least 30% of the total budget in order to reach the target audience and turn a profit.
When the development is finished, the game development company you work with can suggest the most efficient distribution methods or help with those as well. Give marketing the significance it deserves because it will determine how well the game is promoted.
