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How Much Money Does it Cost To Make a VR Game?

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A VR game is an immersive game in which the player is immersed in a fully realized 3D environment where they can interact with the elements of the world.

Ronak Pipaliya

February 28, 2023

The future of technology is supposedly in VR development. VR technology is successfully used in the fields of healthcare, education, real estate, gaming, and architecture. It's also a tremendous way for companies to introduce their products and services to potential clients.

Virtual reality (VR) is a massive technology that is affecting the entire gaming industry. Users enjoy VR games and spend nearly 19.7 minutes playing them on average. As a result, it is safe to conclude that VR is a mainstream trend in the gaming industry.

VR games, like gamers, have become a sensation among investors. Without a doubt, the interest in VR games among gamers has created a revenue-generating market for investors.

This article will provide you with a concise answer to the cost of VR development as well as additional information to help you understand cost. Let us now get right to the point!

1. Virtual Reality Market Overview

Because of its ability to deliver content in an immersive and interactive manner, virtual reality is one of the trending technologies in the gaming world.

Almost 64% of users believe that the best application of Virtual Reality is gaming. In the coming years, as many as 70% of customers want to increase their VR usage. By 2024, it is expected to be a $2.4 billion industry.

Beat Saber is the highest-grossing VR game, with a total lifetime earnings of $69.7 million. Half-Life: Alyx grossed $64.6 million in its first six months.Twitch viewers watched 17.3 million hours of virtual reality gaming content in 2020.

However, some companies are questioning whether the investment is truly worthwhile. Is the cost of developing a virtual reality mobile app too high to justify the investment? How much does virtual reality cost when it is incorporated into an app or software programme?

A VR solution can typically be developed for $30,000 to $150,000 or more, depending on the size and complexity of the game. In this article, we have given a detailed breakdown of the costs and requirements associated with virtual reality game development.

2. Great Benefits of VR Game Development

Most of the games can be successfully transformed into VR and provide an immersive experience to users:

  • Enhanced User Engagement

They appear to be more appealing to avid and casual gamers looking for an immersive experience. When compared to flat-screen games,

VR players become more involved because they have a variety of tools at their disposal, including hand controllers and a headset.

  • Cutting-Edge Capabilities

The introduction of controllers marked a turning point in the development of player interaction in VR environments. The gaming environment is now subject to player control.

We may also expect virtual reality technology to advance in the near future from the simple act of donning a headset for a visual experience to the introduction of genuinely immersive experiences that appeal to all of our senses.


  • Greater Immersion

VR provides greater immersion and increases in-game engagement. Developers have begun to incorporate VR into their development goals, resulting in more creative game releases than ever before.

Only time will tell how much of an impact VR will have on the gaming landscape.

  • Expanded Content

The development of gaming content is now being helped by VR technology. Thanks to VR, genres like shooters, adventures, and simulations have transformed.

Adventure and racing video games are expected to be the most widely played VR game genres in 2020, according to studies.

Users expressed interest in VR racing games to the extent of 48% and in VR adventure games to the extent of 73%.

3. VR Game Development Cost: A Detailed Breakdown

If you are unsure whether you have the time or desire to learn how to make a VR game on your own, you should hire a development team. When hiring VR game development services, the following is how the VR game development process looks:

  • Research And Development

The developers will conduct extensive research for you as the first step. This is required to determine how the most recent technologies can be applied to your project.

The development phase is concerned with putting theory into practice. At this point, experts begin the creation process.

Throughout the process, they will have to test and adjust their ideas until everything works properly.

  • Planning Game Design Document

Planning necessitates special attention because the more time and money you invest in it, the fewer problems you will face during the development process. The cost of game design begins at $3000 and varies depending on the complexity of the game.

When you hire a developer, make sure to clearly explain your ideas and vision. The more information you provide, the better the outcome.

For an additional fee, the developers can assist you with a user story and design plan. Of course, you must know what you want and have a clear mental picture, but there is no need to highlight every single detail.

  • Platform And Software

Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Microsoft HoloLens, and PSVR are among the platforms for virtual reality games.

Because they differ in functionality and features, the prices vary accordingly. Before you begin planning your expenses, you must decide which one you want to follow.

  • Visual Design

When it comes to virtual reality experiences, design and graphics are everything. Before applying for development services, make sure you know what your future game will look like.

2D or 3D? While 2D is a low-cost game design option, it may not be the best option for VR. Simultaneously, a 3D environment with all the details, character figures, items, and landscape will set you back $10,000-$300,000 or more. Everything is determined by the degree of complexity and quality.

Camera that rotates 360 degrees. Panoramic views are essential in VR games. The cost of this incredible feature will be determined by the graphics.

  • Other costs

Hardware and software:- Making a professional title necessitates the use of professional software, which can have exorbitant licensing costs for a business.

A variety of hardware (computers, equipment, VR headsets, etc.) is also required for anyone wishing to create a VR game.

Cloud & computing:- Cloud services are commonly used by studios to store digital assets and to meet the diverse computing needs of development.

Voices & music:- To convey dialogue, emotion, realism, and other information to players, nearly all major gaming titles use music, sound effects, a score, voices, or some combination of the four. While some businesses use stock sounds, most original audio is created or recorded by specialists.

Marketing:- Because a marketing campaign can make or break a game, it is not uncommon for the marketing budget to account for a sizable portion of total spending; sometimes even half or more. Some businesses spend millions on online advertising, promotional events, and print media.

Miscellaneous:- Many unanticipated and unpredictable costs can be incurred during the creation process. Accounting, legal operations, content translation, and communication costs are examples of traditional expenses.

4. Factors That Influence the VR Game Development Cost

Each technical project is more complicated than most people realize because it contains the ins and outs that only experts can consider. The following factors can influence the cost of custom VR game development. Being aware of these factors can help you plan your VR solution.

  • The Time Frame

There are two possibilities, depending on business plans; a company may require a ready-made VR solution in the shortest amount of time; or a company is willing to provide specialists with the time necessary for high-quality development at a normal work pace.

As a result, more developers and time are required for the first case, resulting in a higher price, and vice versa.

  • Developers' Expertise

Specialists are essential for productive work and flawless results. If you outsource VR training development to a team of junior developers, your project will take too long to complete, and it will most likely contain bugs and errors.

This will broaden the scope of the editing and fixing work, increasing working hours and the final price.

  • The Level of Equipment

To complete tasks at a normal work pace, complex software development requires a lot of power. Assume you want to play a modern game on a computer that is ten years old and does not meet the game's technical requirements.

You will be constantly kicked out of the system, and your computer will shut down. That is why top-tier companies frequently invest in equipment in order to complete projects on time and within budget.


  • Level of Content Detailing

Modelers working on VR training strive to create an immersive environment based on various scenarios.

However, due to business objectives and resources, realistic high-poly modeling isn't always the best option for a company. So the price can vary depending on the level of realism and detailing required by the company.

  • Specific Needs

A fully customized software solution with multiple training scripts and high functionality necessitates more time and several additional specialists.

However, customization raises the cost only temporarily but is more cost-effective in the long run because it meets all of the company's needs.

5. How Much Does It Cost To Make a VR Game?

As you might expect, the cost of virtual reality development varies depending on a variety of factors, including the country in which it is built, the number of people involved, the amount of content, and the quality of content.

In the most developed game development market, relatively simple and low-end VR games (think 3D Pong) can cost upwards of $5,000, while most mid-tier titles range between $20,000 and $100,000. The development of massive AAA and multiplayer titles can easily cost millions of dollars.

Skyrim VR (often referred to as the best VR RPG title) is estimated to have cost at least $10 million to develop. Another major VR title, "Robo Recall," is estimated to have cost $3.8 million to develop.

Unfortunately, due to the makers' reluctance to share this information, accurate figures for many popular titles are not always available.

The cost of developing a VR game varies depending on the country.

CountryCost
North America
$40-$240
Latin America
$15-$50
Western Europe
$40-$180
Asia
$15-$80
Eastern Europe
$25-$70

The total cost of the game can sometimes be estimated partially based on its genre, gameplay type, and category.

Simple games with a single navigation mechanic (e.g., running a race, jumping over obstacles) have previously cost between $3,000 and $10,000.

Type of VR game
Estimated cost
Simple games with a single navigation mechanic (e.g., running a race, jumping over obstacles)
$5,000 to $8,000
VR Shop
$5,000 To $15,000 for backend and $11,000 To $35,000 for UI
Cinema in VR
$10,000 to $35,000
VR gaming app with complicated graphics)
$20,000 to $80,000
Horror VR games
$30,000 and $90,000
VR shooter game
From $65,000 for 1 level and $30,000 for every next level
VR gaming app
$50,000 to $200,000
MMORPGs (Massively multiplayer online role-playing games)
$100,000 and above

Conclusion

The development process can also be difficult for those who have never built such products or titles before; as a result, many people/companies with VR game ideas hire game developers to handle the process, or at least a portion of it if you’re unsure about how to build a VR game.

Today, thousands of companies operate in the virtual reality development market and provide such services, but only a small percentage of them have the necessary experience to handle large and complex projects in this field.

Vasudnhara Infotech is a leading game development company with over a decade of experience developing games for a variety of audiences and platforms. We are no strangers to virtual reality or other cutting-edge technologies such as mixed and augmented reality, and we take on projects in this field with confidence using the top development engines.

Contact us today to turn your idea into reality and rule in the gaming world!

FAQ's For VR Game Development Cost

A game that can be done within one month can cost $5000-$8000, the horror VR game taking 3-6 months' costs $20,000-$80,000, while the MMORPG ranges at a price higher than $100,000. The complexity of the games affects the pricing of the entire process

While it's not impossible to create a virtual reality game from scratch, working with an experienced game development company is the best choice.

By 2025, revenues from virtual reality (VR) gaming environments could reach $400 billion USD, while the value of the Metaverse as a whole could reach $1 trillion.

According to a survey conducted between late 2021 and early 2022, JavaScript was the most popular coding language used by software developers in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) projects, closely followed by Python.

Depending on the size of the virtual environment, the number of digital assets, and the number of interactions, VR game development could take 1–8 weeks or longer.

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Ronak Pipaliya

Project Manager at Vasundhara Infotech, a leading software development company. His great planning and execution qualities led to several successful projects.

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