For several weeks now, the supposed development cost of Gears of War E-Day has been fuelling discussion across the internet. Estimates are flying around, figures are being disputed and nobody seems to agree on the final bill. Some point to a budget of $500 million, an absolutely colossal sum for a video game, while others reckon that figure actually covers several projects in the franchise. The debate has just taken a new turn, though, thanks to Jason Schreier. The Bloomberg journalist, renowned for the reliability of his industry scoops, spoke up in a recent YouTube video and confirmed that the $500 million is indeed a real number.
It's a statement that inevitably reignites questions about the profitability of The Coalition's latest game, especially given its early sales. "That's a real number. That's the reality. That's what we're looking at, that's what it costs to make AAA games. Especially in North America these days", Jason Schreier explains. It's a confirmation that lends weight to the information doing the rounds in recent months, even if one question remains: does that $500 million apply to Gears of War E-Day alone?
Because on the sales front, the early estimates are a long way from putting a smile on Microsoft's face. Tom Warren, a journalist at The Verge, reckons the game has passed 400,000 copies sold on Steam and Xbox since launch. That figure doesn't account for players accessing the title via Game Pass, but it remains particularly low for a production of this scale. The question now is whether the revenue generated by the subscription will be enough to offset the relatively modest direct sales. Another piece of information does put Schreier's figure into perspective, however. According to insider MrMattyPlays, the $500 million corresponds to the budget for a complete trilogy, rather than the development of Gears of War E-Day alone. That pot would also cover the game's story DLC. If that proves to be the case, the real cost of the first instalment would be far lower than the initial figure suggested. For now, it's hard to say which interpretation is correct.
Available on PC and Xbox Series X|S, Gears of War E-Day can also be played via Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Microsoft still hasn't shared any official sales performance, and subscription-related revenue remains unknown. But the debate around its budget shows just how dizzying the sums poured into AAA productions have become, to the point where a figure of $500 million can now circulate without being immediately dismissed as implausible.
