Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier has revealed that Microsoft's investment in Halo Infinite surpassed the $500 million reportedly spent on Gears of War: E-Day. While the latter figure was already considered substantial, Schreier indicates that the financial commitment required for the Halo project was even greater.
Schreier provided context regarding these figures, emphasizing that development budgets in the AAA sector are accounting data whose meaning can vary significantly depending on the company and specific project. He noted that an executive from a game studio told him that the budget of a game "depends on who you ask." The majority of these costs stem from labor, which companies often calculate using a monthly burn rate per employee. In North America, this rate typically ranges between $15,000 and $30,000 per person, covering salaries, benefits, office space, and equipment. Consequently, longer development cycles naturally inflate these expenses.
Regarding the specific case of The Coalition and Gears of War: E-Day, Schreier clarified that the reported monetary investment might include activities not strictly tied to that title. An insider suggested the studio may have also handled technical support for other Xbox teams, developed tools for Unreal Engine 5, and created custom technologies, all of which could have contributed to the $500 million figure.
Despite Halo Infinite being technologically less advanced than The Coalition's newer shooter, Schreier confirmed that its budget was higher. This increased expenditure is attributed to a series of collateral reasons linked to Halo Studios, which was known as 343 Industries at the time and has since been downsized to a support team role.
Sources: Everyeye.it.