10 Best Practices on Mobile Game UI Design that Actual Gamers Love
Looking for an estimate of how much game development costs? You’re in the right place. As an experienced mobile app development agency, we’ve seen it all and developed them all. As a result, we have insider experience on various factors that influence the price of such a project. If you’re looking to learn how much you’ll need to pay for game app development so that you can plan your budget better, read below as we break down this often-elusive matter. Let’s dive right in
What is the average cost of development?
The truthful answer is that it depends. We know you may be tired of hiring that answer, but anyone who gives you an exact estimate right off the bat is outright lying to you. A lot of unique factors affect the price of game development. And even if the app you’re building is a mirror match of another, the price difference can still be very significant.
That said, typical game app development costs can be anywhere between $20,000 and $80,000 on average. Sometimes this figure can be much lower or higher to the tune of millions, depending on a few important factors that we’ll discuss shortly in this article.
A look at development costs for some popular mobile game apps
Some of the biggest brands often make huge investments in mobile game development. It’s only natural that the higher quality you’re looking for, the deeper you’ll need to dig into your pocket.
That being said, understanding how much the top brands are paying can be pivotal. It can help you figure out a great budget and get the app you’re looking for of the right quality.
Without further ado, here’s how much it costs to build some beloved game apps you might know:
- Pokémon Go – $200 million, this was a bit on the very high end since it incorporated virtual reality and other expensive technologies.
- Genshin Impact – This game cost its developer $100 million to build
- Candy Crush – $500,000 was the amount it cost to develop this game’s initial concept.
An assessment of the game app market revenue
Building a high-quality mobile game often requires a huge financial investment. But just like any great business idea, it’s worth it because it ensures very high returns in terms of in-game earnings and other potential sources of revenue you could make.
But don’t just take our word for it, here are some important statistics that prove how lucrative a mobile app game can be:
- The mobile games market is valued at $98.74 billion globally according to Statista
- It’s growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.39%
- By 2027, this market will reach $118.90 billion in value
- Mobile game user penetration will increase to 23.3% by 2027
- 27% of gamers spend between $1 and 29$ in-game
- 40% of mobile gamers spend at least $30 or more on in-game purchases.
So as you can see for yourself, building a mobile gaming app can be a very profitable venture.
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Unique factors that affect game app development costs
1. Genre and Category
Are you building a multi-player shooter game like PUBG Mobile? Is it a strategy board game like Candy Crush? Of course, the first case will require more intensive game design to build an open world compared to Candy Crush. Consequently, the expenses for building this game will be much higher.
Even in the case of a specific genre, other complexities can inflate development costs. If you’re building a fighting game, for instance, the more diverse fighting styles you add, the more complex and costlier development gets as well.
2. Number of Features
Going for a simple game with just a few simple features like an endless runner? In this case, you’ll need fewer elements for actual in-game play. So development is simple and will therefore require less expertise and personnel.
On the other hand, if you’re going for a complex design with multiple features, more resources will be required. Throw in complex technology-based features like virtual and augmented reality and you may need to spend even more.
3. Game Development Technologies and Tools
When it comes to building mobile game apps, Unreal Engine and Unity are among the most popular. Of course, there are a ton of other options available. Depending on which one you’ll use, you may end up with varying costs for building your mobile game.
Beyond these engines, the tech stack and game-building tools used overall will also play a part in costs. Some of these software solutions are essential to acquire and require special licensing and skillsets, which affect the final price of your game development project.
4. The Timeframe of the Project
The cost of your game is directly proportional to the time spent developing it. In other words, the longer the game development time, the higher the costs you’ll incur in the end. So this also means that the larger the scope of your project, the more expensive it will be.
If you have a simple storyline and fairly simple gameplay, then it could take between 2 and 4 months on average. The larger and more complex your game gets, the more costs it will attract in terms of developer working hours and resources.
5. Maintenance Needs
Your app’s maintenance needs will also affect the initial game development cost. For example, fixing bugs and releasing updates requires additional work hours which inflate pricing.
Other maintenance costs may also be related to redesigning the project, and paying the server fees if you’re building an online-based app or maintaining a landing page for your game. The lower the maintenance needs of your application, then the lower the initial costs are likely to be.
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Never stop learning – The key to mobile UI success!
In order to figure out how much it will cost you to build your game app, it’s important to reach out to an experienced mobile app marketing agency like Dot Com Infoway. Based on the technologies you want to use, the features you plan to incorporate, target platforms, and other factors, we can help you get a more accurate estimate for your game app development project. So reach out to us today to get your mobile game app development cost estimate today for your next project.
