Duration of Game Development: An Overview
In the ever-evolving world of video games, the development process varies significantly across different genres and scales. Let's delve into three distinct categories: indie games, mobile games, and triple-A games.
Indie games, developed by independent studios, often have a unique charm that sets them apart. These games can take anywhere from one year to a decade to develop, depending on the budget and team size. For instance, Among Us, a popular multiplayer social deduction game, was developed in just seven months in 2018, and is still played all over the world. Interestingly, despite yearly releases, Apex Legends, another successful indie game, is developed with a two-year development timeline.
In contrast, mobile games tend to have a more streamlined development process. These games typically take a few months to develop and less than a year to complete, with updates limited to bug fixes and new features. This is due to the simplicity of mobile games compared to their more complex counterparts.
Triple-A games, on the other hand, are the blockbusters of the gaming world, developed by major studios with substantial budgets for both development and marketing. These games can take an average of three to five years to develop. For example, Call of Duty and Apex Legends, two popular triple-A games, are developed over a similar timeframe, with multiple development companies often working together on yearly iterations.
One game that bucked the trend was Cyberpunk, which took about eight years to develop due to its complexity and the developers' aim to launch a groundbreaking product. However, despite high anticipation, the game missed many marks upon release.
Meanwhile, sports games, released annually with minor updates, have a pre-existing framework to work with. This means that their development process is focused more on bug fixes and new features rather than overhauling the game's mechanics.
Each of these development paths offers unique challenges and opportunities, contributing to the diverse landscape of video games we enjoy today.
