Top-10 Richest Game Developers

Video games have been an amazing hobby for the past two decades or, more specifically, an engaging addiction to millions of people around the globe. With the number of fans, the numbers of game development companies increase significantly. However, few have managed to earn billions of dollars. Remember Grand Theft Auto 5, FIFA 20, Call of Duty, and many other games. So how much are these game developers actually making? Here are the top 10 richest game developers in the world!

10. Capcom - Japan

Value: $3.44 Billion

Capcom has managed to remain relevant for most of the past half-century, from Street Fighter to Devil May Cry and Resident Evil, together with many other lesser-known titles and franchises in between. Capcom had a rough start in the start of this decade but has rebounded in recent years thanks to titles such as Monster Hunter: World, Resident Evil 3: Remake, and Devil May Cry 5.

9. Ubisoft - France

Value: $3.69 Billion

Founded in 1986 by five brothers with Yves Guillemot at the helm, Ubisoft has climbed the long and arduous road of establishing themselves as a giant in the gaming industry. While they’ve still a long way to go to be as big as Electronic Arts, Sony, and Microsoft, Ubisoft may be on its way there as well.

This is largely thanks to Ubisoft’s savvy business moves and successful franchises. This includes their acquisition of the THQ, South Park IP, and the brains behind some of the world’s most renowned gaming franchises in the past decade. In case you don’t know, Ubisoft has developed fan favorites such as Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, Rainbow Six, and Tom Clancy The Division.

8. Valve - United States

Value: $4 Billion

Valve is reportedly worth only around $4 Billion, although Valve is responsible for some of the most financially successful and critically acclaimed video games such as Dota 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and Half-Life. Valve has also its own game distribution platform Steam, which definitely adds to their wealth and success.

7. King - Sweden

Value: $5.69 Billion

King is probably the least recognizable game developer on our list. But because of their success in successfully conducting Candy Crush Saga, they are one of the wealthiest. King released the ideal game at the right time in 2012. Candy Crush Saga combined simple game mechanics with an addictive system of social integration.

If we can learn something from King, we won’t need many games to make billions in the gaming industry. Only one game is enough if you do it right.

6. Nintendo - Japan

Value: $20.11 Billion

Another studio for Japan among the wealthiest game developers. Nintendo is one of the world’s biggest game developers thanks to portable consoles and some exceptional ventures. The first names that will come to your mind when you see the Nintendo logo are Mario, Pokemon, and Legend of Zelda. Nintendo could still be living and kicking the next century with so many successful titles as their games almost never disappoint.

5. Electronic Arts - United States

Value: $22.90 Billion

Electronic Arts are seen more as villains in the gaming industry. This is mostly because of their financial decisions and how they’ve chosen to monetize most of their titles. But still, EA remains one of the wealthiest game developers in the world. They are responsible for most of the sports titles, and in addition to their success, EA acquired multiple developer studios such as DICE and Respawn Entertainment.

4. Activision Blizzard - United States

Value: $29.23 Billion

Activision Blizzard comes fourth in the top 10 richest game developers. Activision Blizzard was founded in 2008 by the merger of American video game companies Activision and Blizzard Entertainment. Activision Blizzard generated $6.5 billion last year, this is definitely still an impressive number for a gaming company, but it is a downward trend for the brand.

3. Sony Entertainment - Japan

Value: $45 Billion

Sony Entertainment currently owns several records in the industry, easily one of the most recognizable names in the game industry. All four of the PlayStation’s consoles are listed as one of the best-selling seven consoles of the world and PlayStation 2 is ranked 1st, selling 155 million units, and with the new PlayStation 5 their future looks bright.

Sony’s success comes from their exclusive games, such as Uncharted, The Last of Us, God of War and many more which can only be played in their own console.

2. Tencent - China

Value: $48 Billion

Whereas Sony is the king of the single-player driven console market, Tencent is its equivalent in the mobile market. Tencent already acquired pretty much every other big game developer in the market, with their net worth standing at $48 Billion as of April 2020.

Not only Tencent is known for their mobile gaming market but have stakes at numerous gaming companies, Tencent holds shares in American video game corporations including Epic Games (40%), Activision Blizzard (5%), South Korean Krafton Game Union (11.5%) and French computer game company Ubisoft (5%).

Although most players are relatively unaware, it seems like it is only a matter of time before Tencent becomes the biggest and most wealthy game developer.

1. Microsoft - United States

Value: $1 Trillion

Microsoft isn’t just one of the richest video game developers in the world — they’re one of the richest companies ever.

The largest software corporation in the world is also the third-largest company in the world! With Xbox Game Studios, the company’s gaming sector, Microsoft made about $11 billion in revenue last year. Of course, the game revenue is generated primarily by Xbox One sales, but Microsoft also develops or owns studios itself. Mojang is a good example. The Swedish Microsoft owned video game studio is known for the Minecraft series, which has recently become the most popular video game in the world. Microsoft Studios has developed games like Halo series, Flight Simulator series, and Gears of War series, etc that are loved among people.

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