The approximate costs for developing an AI RPG varies with the immortalization and extent of the game. For instance, AAA RPGs featuring complex A.I., like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) can exceed $100 million in costs, including development, marketing and post-launch support. These funds are mostly devoted to designing AI systems that work to implement complex behaviors and emotional responses in NPCs, something that’s become a hallmark of modern-day AI RPGs. Known for the Witcher series, CD Projekt Red is said to have invested $80 million plus developing and marketing Cyberpunk 2077 (2020), a chunk of which went towards AI elements when you bear in mind the number of NPCs in the game and how they respond to players’ actions.
A midtier AI RPG will often cost between $20 and 5 million or so depending on the AI integration. These games have less NPCs or a less advanced AI mechanism but can still have decision trees and emotional responses. Games such as Divinity: Original Sin 2 (2017), known for branching dialogue and AI-driven quest outcomes, were created for a little over $10-million.
Continuing to operate an AI RPG after its initial launch also comes with significant operational costs. On top of that, maintaining the servers, updating AI models, and rolling out new content can run a game company several hundred thousand dollars a year. Some prominent examples include Fallout 76 (2018), which needed to maintain regular updates for an active player base or risk losing players to competitors, at great cost for the studio — reports suggest that Bethesda spent $40 million in the first two years on post-launch support and updates.
Furthermore, the cost of creating AI RPGs is likely to be significantly higher than traditional RPGs due to the increased complexity and need for machine learning and cloud computing resources. The deployment of AI applications on cloud computing can cost anywhere from a few cents to over a dollar ($1.00) per user per month, depending on the scale and complexity of the deployed AI systems. That means the cost associated with AI can go well beyond initial development and continue over the game’s lifetime.
Hiring AI specialists is essential as well.AI engineers’ salaries range from $80,000 to $150,000 per year, with that number depending on the level of expertise and where exactly the developers are located. The AI systems that are involved in the RPG usage are complex, meaning that this technology must be constantly innovated and refined, and in turn, the costs this incurs increases. As video game programming legend John Carmack once said, “The cost of innovation is high, but unmatched in terms of quality and the experience of players.”
Ultimately, there is a vast range of costs for AI RPGs depending upon their overall project size and tech requirements, with AAA rpgs hitting over $100 million and mid-tier games between $5 million to $20 million. The roll out of AI systems plays a big part in these costs, both in terms of the initial building cycle, and ongoing server upkeep and updating. If you want to understand the economics and technologies behind Ai RPGs, visit this Ai RPG platform.