“原神” as the most ambitious game developed by miHoYo has quickly become one of the most popular card games on mobile, console, and PC platforms since its launch. Its popularity is not only reflected in its user base but also in its continuous content updates. The budget for the release of “原神” was one billion dollars, and two years later, it is estimated that the game will cost approximately five billion dollars for development. According to statistics compiled by Reddit forum user KeiraFaith based on official information from miHoYo, this includes an initial budget of one billion dollars and an annual cost of four billion dollars. In 2021, miHoYo claimed that the budget for “原神” would increase from one billion dollars per year to two billion dollars per year. If this budget remains until September 2022, “原神” will cost approximately five billion dollars for development.
Currently, “星际公民” leads with a development cost exceeding four billion dollars, followed by “赛博朋克2077” at three billion and six hundred million dollars. This means that “原神” will surpass both of these games in terms of development cost by the end of the year, becoming the most expensive game in history. The development cost of “原神” includes the creation of new content in major updates, such as new characters, in-game events, different regions like Liyue and Inazuma, and the main storyline. Server maintenance and studio expansion are also factored in. However, according to media reports, “原神” generates an annual revenue exceeding three billion dollars, indicating that despite the substantial costs, miHoYo has achieved substantial returns.
The success of “原神” demonstrates that by continuously updating and adding new content, such as new characters and storylines, it can encourage players to invest both time and money. With the release of 3.0, miHoYo is expected to earn even more.