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Shenmue may no longer be most expensive game developed

by Chris on April 28th, 2008

For the past 18 or so years, Shenmue has held the title as the most expensive game to ever be developed at about $70 million. However, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV may have eclipsed Yu Suzuki’s masterpiece.

In talking with the Times Online, GTA IV’s Producer Leslie Benzies said he believes the title may have eclipsed the $100 million mark with more than 1,000 people working on the game. “It’s like making a theatre production, a few movies and an album all to fit into one package,” he said.

It will be interesting to see if Rockstar ever confirms this price, because Shenmue currently holds the record in Guinness Worlds Records Gamer Edition.

[Via Neo GAF]

Tags: Shenmue

6 opinions for Shenmue may no longer be most expensive game developed

Psycho_Echidna
Apr 29, 2008 at 12:40 am

Chris, you managed to talk about GTA IV on a Sega News site … I told you the GTA craze will get you :(
Chris
Apr 29, 2008 at 12:49 am

Hah hah, well, this should be my only GTA-related post on here.
Graham
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:57 am

You’re lucky Psycho_Echidna. I was planning on turning this into a GTA fansite - but Chris and the others brutally savaged me in a small closet, with a small, feisty weasel.
Mike
Apr 29, 2008 at 3:17 am

Gerbils work well too. I wonder if GTA IV lets you do that. Now THAT’s hot coffee.
DiGi Valentine
Apr 29, 2008 at 3:33 am

Gotta remember the time period that Shenmue was released on, though. Turn of the millenium, for a game to be that expensive to make means it certainly was years ahead of it’s time. I would have imagined that if GTA IV was made back then around the same time it would have probably amounted to the same cost as Shenmue did. It’s just things get more expensive as time goes on. I’m pretty sure that if Shenmue had been created around these last few years then it would most probably be reaching for the same cost that GTA is on.
psv
Apr 29, 2008 at 8:36 am

“Gotta remember the time period that Shenmue was released on, though. ”

Ding ding! DiGi Valentine wins. Shenmue was released Dec. 29, 1999 in Japan. GTA2 was released October 22, 1999 in the US and Europe. GTA2 was a top down game much like GTA1, and while having sharper graphics, had nothing on Shenmue. (GTA III was released exactly two years later)