Kotick expects 'no exception' in rising dev costs for next-gen

'In every single console transition we've seen an increase in expenditure'

Development costs will increase for studios creating games for next generation platforms, the CEO of Activision has said.

[NukaCola]

LoL, of course for AAA titles cost will rise. What I find funny is this douche has profited the most off a game that has ran off a modded engine from 2004. I am pretty sure the COD costs lest than the price of printing the game on DVD and this idiot wantsw to talk about costs. If Killzone 4 or Halo 5 come out, yeah then maybe it's justified at $65 or something, but unless they get a new engine and new ideas for once, then future COD games should cost no more than $40. Hell COD has some of the most expensive DLC and a $50 server app. Screw you Kotick.

[guitarded77]

I'm not gonna defend the CoD engine, because it is time for a new one... but many of the tools we use in computer science are just refined originals. From programming languages to hardware (chip architecture). I don't know the specifics of the CoD engine, but sometimes it's better to make a piece of software better by just upgrading. But like I said, I don't know the specifics... they could be making the right decision by staying with it, they could be wrong. I hate Activision and Bobby Kotick, but unless we know the specifics of the engine, we can't really say they're doing the wrong thing from that perspective.

Oh, I didn't disagree with you... just my 2 cents on the engine thing.

[LOGICWINS]

The problem doesn't lie with Kotick, it's with gamers. They're the ones who have popularized COD to the point that a $50 DLC pass is deemed acceptable. Kotick just happens to be the guy getting rich in the process.

[TheGamerDood]

He's already over charging for his outdated games as it is and now he wants to charge even more for supposedly next-gen games? lol Actually I was thinking just the opposite, that the cost of next-gen games should actually go down since they'll be going all digital.

The state of the COD franchise as it is, isn't all that great so I don't think he's in a position to dictate anything. The market and consumers will decide what they're willing to pay for a next-gen game and he should feel lucky to get any part of that cake.

[0pie]

he want the dev cost higher so he can charge more for his activision shity games.

[NastyLeftHook0]

this tells me they want to keep call of duty the exact same way as its always been! OUTDATED!

[majiebeast]

I bet he is just saying that so he can make cod 70-80$. Its not like cod takes much to make. One guy he gets paid in 1 6 pack of beer, then he updates the textures and churns out a turd of a storyline.

[LOGICWINS]

This will change very soon. People are beginning to open their eyes. It looks like Sony's coming out of the gate first this generation and IF Killzone 4 is demoed on the 20th, it's going to be a tough act to follow for any other shooter coming out in 2013.

Sorry, but Activision is a mediocre publisher. They aren't concerned with pushing boundaries, but more about making money.

[dcbronco]

This is just pure greed. I knew Kotick would want to use the next generation as an excuse to try and raise prices. I don't believe it will cost more to make the games. I believe it will start to cost less.

Based on everything I've read, the hardware is getting easier. More complicated in design, but with the goal of allowing the programmer more freedom with how they use it. That didn't always seem to be the case. I've heard over and over how hard Nintendo was, each Playstation was. For all of the fanboy hate, gamers can thank Microsoft for making tools a priority. Sony and Nintendo have started to do the same.

That brings cost down. And as programmers get used to the new architectures that use HSA and program like DirectCompute and AMP C++, that trend should continue. If this is another 8 year cycle, cost will definitely go down. Which should lead to more innovation.

Kotick is just greedy corporate trash.

[1nsaint]

The funny thing here is that activision spends more than 6 times as much on marketing then on development costs.

And that the development costs would rise is a given,
Most Devs are gonna have to buy new hardware and buy or create new engines

But rising the games price because of the high dev costs would be a dick move, but if there is money to be made i wouldnt be suprised if some companies will try it.

Luckily the norm is that high dev costs doesnt mean higher prices, look at GTA 4 and Red Dead Redemption which both have cost over 100 million to develop.

[dcbronco]

Sure, you have to buy new development kits. But that's a normal part of the business and they would have had to do that anyway. That's the type of stuff they will write-off.

But better tools will bring their development cost down. That has been one of Microsoft's selling points to devs. This generation proved it true with the difference in cost for the 360 and the PS3.

[elhebbo16]

marketing, licencing and all that mumbo jumbo cost more to make than the actual game itself.

[jc48573]

I don't think I have own a single activision game this gen.

[-Falaut-]

Why am I not surprised coming from this clown.

Publishers all want you to believe that they are the poor poor sods that toil away at bringing these wonderful entertainment experiences to your living room all while not making any money. All while costs are going up so they HAVE to find new ways to expand their income through DLC and microtransaction. oh rly!!! nom nom nom, let me eat all that up.

Publishers have been pushing streamlining of content creation, resulting in very efficient studios and things like asset banks. Yet here there are people like Bobby who are trying to feed us some BS that costs are going up while they churn out their most successful IP on a 10 year old engine. F*** YOU!

cheers

[TongkatAli]

I've seen so many Black Ops ads its killing my brain cells.

[NastyLeftHook0]

like the one with that guy in a tux!

[esemce]

This is BS and will be used by some publishers to try and increase game prices.

[XboxInnovation]

People love complaining about cod but as long as you're still complaining it only means you still care.

[Reborn]

Complain? Sure, but there's a pretty strong justification behind it. Rather than what most seem to think is.. "the hate wagon". Plus... lol. Why would people not care? The series was extremely enjoyable (for most) back at COD4. I just don't get why companies dodge focusing on enhancing features, that make games good, to apply new ones.. which change it up completely (and not always for the best).

Yes, partly, its down to gamers. They put so much money out buying, and buying it over and over. So Kotick - like any business, looks to capitalize. I would never buy their season pass. It's just ridiculous.

I would expect costs to rise on games where its acceptable. The question with COD is... how far will it go?

COD needs a wake up call.

[Ashlen]

Oh man i'm getting excited for next gen, potentially 70$ games and no re-sale. AWESOME!

[hiptanaka]

Activision's dev costs arent too high because they recycle the same engine for their same-generation games. The "rising" costs for Activision will be the increased marketing costs to have posters of Modern Warfare 5 on the back of your cereal box.

[josephayal]

I would gladly pay $100+ Montly to play call of duty

[deadfrag]

STUPID TROLL YA!

[ShaunCameron]

It looks like the early '90's retail prices will be making a comeback soon, I presume.

[deadfrag]

Im seeing a crash in the videogame industry happening very soon if games prices rise!

[sashimi]

CoD will look exactly the same as it did for the past 4 years in6 years, believe it!