In fact that's believed to be less than they were given initially. Rockstar Games reportedly spent $100m on making Grand Theft Auto IV.
"The $40-50 million that Infinity Ward spent – a number quoted by anonymous sources in an LA Times report – is not as eyebrow-raising as it was several years ago," reports MCV.
Game development budgets have been steadily rising over the years, with PS3 exclusive Gran Turismo 5 estimated at around $60m which is nothing when compared to project's scale points out GT producer Kazunori Yamauchi.
It's safe to say that Activision has more than made back their $40-50m from Modern Warfare 2 sales, probably within the first 24 hours. Currently GTAIV holds the industry record for most spent on a budget, as revealed by Rockstar North's Leslie Benzies.