Do you want to kick off a mobile games development process but still wonder how much it will cost you? In this post, we've gathered basic information concerning mobile games development costs.
As the gaming industry keeps expanding and developing at a high speed, the market gets filled up with unique and interesting options. Studios drop dozens of games every single day so players get overloaded with options. Needless to say, the market is highly competitive these days. Users have plenty of offers to choose from. It takes developers and designers to put a good deal of time and effort into developing a game that will reach the top and win users’ attention.
Have you come up with an idea for a mobile game? Great! You are about to start looking for a mobile games development company to help you turn your concept into reality. You may have a lot of questions on your mind at that moment. You probably wonder how much it will cost to create a mobile game. We are here to figure everything out for you. Now, let’s get down to the point.
The most important thing you should know at the beginning of a mobile games development process is that cost depends on numerous factors. To understand how much you will have to spend on implementation, you need to carefully consider all the crucial factors.
Here are some statistics:
Mobile games are developed either for AppStore (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Mobile games development costs usually vary from $3000 up to $150000 according to the game type, some special options you want to integrate, etc. It is obvious that a simple mini-game is cheaper than a complex one. For instance, the development of the Genshin Impact account across both iOS and Android was part of an overall budget that reportedly approached $100 million, covering various platforms. Additionally, certain features are about 20% more expensive for iOS in comparison with Android.
The game development cost is decided on by the team of developers. To provide the numbers, specialists study the GDD carefully, look through all the requirements, and take a look at the list of assets and other technical documents.
Factors that affect development costs
If you are aware of them, you can easily manage them to make your project as profitable as possible.
Game type and complexity
Mobile games development costs depend on the category and genre. The more complex the game is, the higher the price. Every feature costs money. There are small games, medium games, large games, casual games, social games, business game apps, and mid-level or high-level games. What type of animation do you want - 2D or 3D (a 3D game is more expensive as a rule)? Everything is important in terms of establishing the price.
GDD
GDD stands for game design document. In case you still do not know what it is, read our post where we gathered basic information on this topic.
So, a GDD is highly important for the whole mobile games development process. Creating a good game design document is the right way to a successful result. However, this is also a time-consuming process that requires much effort and money.
Game engine
Mobile games development cost depends on the platform you choose to work with. You can opt for native iOS or Android game development, but in this case, the overall price will be high. Alternatively, you can save money with Unity. It is a more affordable option since Unity is the platform for mobile games creation that has many features you can use. Of course, other game engines come at various prices. Take time for research before making a decision.
Game testing
Testing is an essential stage of development. You cannot release a game without testing it for bugs first. As we have already mentioned, the market is full of options today. If a game is not good enough, gamers will abandon it without a bit of hesitation and move on to the next one. Players have little to no tolerance for bugs in games.
Consider again, that the more complex your game is, the more testing it requires. Mobile game testers have hourly rates. The more work they have, the higher the price.
Marketing
Just developing an excellent game does not mean it will immediately break records and become a hit. There is always a place for smart marketing. This is what makes games popular. After spending a lot of money on the development, you must be willing to get a profit. Let’s be honest, games are developed to generate revenue. But to get your investments back, you need to invest in marketing first. Sounds interesting, right? It’s impossible to deny the fact that the overall success of any game depends much on how well it is promoted.
Employing a free video editor to create dynamic and engaging marketing content can highlight your game's thrilling gameplay and immersive graphics. This approach can attract potential players, significantly enhancing your game's visibility and appeal, and serve as a cost-effective strategy to stand out in the competitive gaming market.
We also strongly recommend you calculate marketing costs at the very beginning to fit your budget. In general, marketing costs make up at least 30% of the whole budget.
The development team
One more important factor is who is going to create a mobile game. Freelance developers or a professional mobile app development studio? Each option has its pros and cons. When you choose with whom to collaborate, consider the game's complexity. You can turn to freelancers so they will create a simple game for you. This way you will reduce your expenses. For larger and more complex projects it is better to address a team of professionals.
But be ready to pay at their rates. By the way, think about outsourcing from other countries. This can make a significant difference to the game development cost. Different countries have different game developers’ hourly rates. Just for you to compare: in the USA an average developer gets $100 per hour while outsourcing an Indian developer will cost you $30 per hour.
Each factor listed above must be thoroughly viewed in the process of deciding on the mobile games development cost. After all, it is in your best interest to deliver a unique and lucrative mobile game. But to get a profit you need to invest.
At HitBerry Games, we know all the slightest details about how things work in the gaming industry.
HitBerry Games as a mobile app development studio has strong skills and prolonged experience in mobile games development. We’ve been in the industry for 12+ years. Our mobile apps development studio brings together high-skilled and dedicated talents in mobile games creation. We provide outsourcing tasks to enhance your in-house team as well as full-cycle mobile games development services for enterprises and start-ups.
We apply a personalized approach to each project. Our main goal is to create a mobile game that is lucrative, stunning, and meets all the client’s expectations and requirements.
Trust our expertise and experience and let our company create a mobile game that will reach your business goals. Contact us now!