8 min readHow Much Does It Cost To Build A Gaming App?
Saran
Saran
  • 8 min read
  • Jul 4, 2022
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A smartphone is the most convenient instrument with wide coverage that does not require any complicated operations to install a game, and these very instruments are getting even more powerful these days thanks to improvements in microchip processing power. As a result of all of this, mobile games now account for more than half of the gaming industry market, and this trend is expected to continue.

In this article we will clear any doubts you may have on how the costs of a gaming application are decided, and we will give you enough information on how to get your game development done with minimum costs on your end if you ever are going to create one. We shall start by taking a brief overview of how mobile game development is actually done so that you can get a better grasp of the concept.

Stages of Mobile Game Creation

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If you want to know exactly where your money is going, you should first learn about the various stages of mobile game development. This is why we’ve compiled a list of game development stages for you:

  • Research & analysis

At this stage, the market is researched thoroughly as to which kind of game will perform better under current circumstances.

  • Concept Design

At this stage, the concept of the game is developed and agreed upon

  • Technical design

At this stage, technical decisions like the game platform and game mechanics will be decided upon and a roadmap will be created to the actual development stage.

  • Prototyping

Prototyping creates a rough draft of the game without any of minor details, allowing one to grasp the basics and appreciate the gameplay’s convenience.

  • Actual development

In this stage, actual development occurs with iOS or Android app developers coding the game and UX/UI designers creating the design of the game

  • Music production

Creating music according to the circumstances of gameplay is important, and this is done after the creation of the actual game.

  • Testing

The game is then tested for any bugs and performance issues.

  • Deployment

The game is then deployed, possibly with a bit of help from marketing.

So How Much Exactly Does It Cost To Create a Mobile Game App?

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The cost of developing a mobile game ranges from $20,000 to $3,000,000, depending on a variety of elements such as the genre, design, story, testing, and so on. Depending on the size of the game, the following list gives you a rough estimate of what you expect your costs to be.

  • High-level games:

They can cost you around $300,000 and usually take more than 10 months to finish. These can be recognized by their high CPU consumption, performance requirements & employment of techniques like Virtual Reality app development during its creation.

  • Mid-level games:

Mid-level games can take anywhere between 3 to 7 months for development based on various factors and cost around $60,000 to $120,000. They make up most of the mobile gaming space and have considerable quality graphics utilization & gameplay within them.

  • Low-level games:

They can cost you around $20,000 to $60,000 and usually take upwards of 5 months to finish. They are low-space requirement games, and usually not that difficult to develop. They also take less time to develop. However, they can become viral too, if the company that develops them is smart enough. 

Major Pricing Factors

The following questions need to be answered for finding the major pricing factors for a single game. We will expand on each one so that you understand why.

What Mobile App Platform Does Your Game Use?

As a result of the technologies that enable cross-platform creation, the choice of mobile game platforms will not make a significant difference in the context of development processes in today’s markets. Experts, whether they be android or iOS app developers will readily & in due time will create your app for you. However, a slight difference in costs exists in Android & iOS platforms.

On average, creating an iOS game costs 10-20% more than making an Android game. If a game costs $ 25,000 on Android, its iOS equivalent will cost around $ 30,000. Working with iOS is more expensive owing to the integration of the payment system and the admin panel, as well as a huge number of restrictions on App Store applications.

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

Due to the shorter development time and the use of fewer specialists and technology, 2D games are less expensive than 3D games. A simple 2D game in which you must do one action, such as moving blocks or capturing flying pieces, might cost up to $5,000. A more complex 2D game can cost somewhere between $ 25,000 and $50,000.

The majority of mid- and high-level games are three-dimensional. The cost of a mid-level game is from $50,000 to $120,000. A high-end game that employs techniques such as Augmented Reality app development can cost upwards of $150,000 to build.

How Complex Is Your Game?

The type and complexity of the game you intend to make will have a significant impact on the total cost of development. The higher the game’s difficulty level, the more expensive it will be to create. The game’s genre – action, arcade, racing, sports, and so on – will also have an impact. Complex games have a larger budget since they require a variety of features to function, such as gyroscope, voice integration, high FPS, HDR visuals, and so on. All of these features add to the expense of developing a mobile gaming app.

Is your game going to be Multiplayer or single-player?

Multiplayer games are frequently classified as high-level games. If the game allows players to connect with one another, elements such as internet access, voice integration, and so on will be required. As a result, the cost of developing a multiplayer mobile game app will be more than for single-player games.

Are There Any Pre-Development Costs?

If you want to keep the player interested until the finish of the game, you’ll need a compelling tale and fascinating characters. It entails creating distinct character personalities, dialects, and tones, as well as their interactions with the player, and this becomes a major factor in the development process. These are, as you can see, processes that come before the development stage. The actual storyboarding may cost you a bunch and it is important to not forget about that in your budget.

What Are The Rates Different Countries Take To Make A Mobile Game?

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The cost of your project will also be determined by who you choose to work with. For each country and location, the overall price for the creation of a game application is varied. Programmers and skilled freelancers typically set an hourly rate that reflects the scope and complexity of the project at hand. Following is a general overview of how costs differ across various countries.

  • High cost:

The United States is by far the costliest place to develop a game. Local developers charge roughly $150 per hour. It costs a lot because the development of a mobile game normally takes 2 to 4 months.

  • Medium cost:

Europe costs a lot less than the US. Western Europe costs about 80$ an hour, and in eastern Europe the costs are even lower and you can get your work done paying $35-50 per hour

  • Low cost:

When it comes to lesser pricing, developers from Asian countries like India are generally a good choice. They’ll cost you around $30 per hour for game creation.

Why It Makes It Sense to Create Mobile Games with Us

Following are some reasons why it’s a good idea to build your game with us.

  • Advanced technologies are used in game production processes in Nextbrain to provide optimal functionality and simplicity of usage. 
  • We provide our clients with a transparent pricing structure that allows them to see exactly where their money is going. 
  • We create games for both Android and iOS in a variety of genres in order to reach as many gamers as possible.
  • From idea creation through placement on gaming platforms, our clients receive a comprehensive variety of services for the development and promotion of mobile games.
  • In the end, our team of expert artists and game developers collaborate to bring your vision to life and ensure the success of your project. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a lot that goes on before the cost of a game development project is finalized. The complexity of the project and the skill of your development team are closely related to the project, and games these days must beat the market competition. It is almost impossible for people with no experience to make a game that will perform well and keep an audience entertained.

This is why you need to take the help of a mobile app development company that has experience creating such gaming apps. An example of this is Nextbrain, which is a Canadian company that has years of experience creating and developing games that have performed very well on the market.

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