'GTA IV' named most expensive game ever

Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto IV has been named the most expensive video game ever created.

According to a list compiled by Digital Battle, the open-world crime epic had a budget of $100 million (£65.5m) and took a development team of around 1,000 people three and a half years to finish.

Sony's Gran Turismo 5 came in second place, with a budget expected to reach $80m (£52m) by the time it is released later in the year.

Shenmue registered third at a cost of $70m (£45.8m), followed by Too Human at over $60m and Metal Gear Solid 4 at exactly $60m.

Rockstar featured again on the list in eight place with its mysterious L.A. Noire project, which is costing $50m (£32.7m) to develop.

The list in full runs as follows:

1. Grand Theft Auto IV - $100 million
2. Gran Turismo 5 - $80 million
3. Shenmue - $70 million
4. Too Human - $60 million+
5. Metal Gear Solid 4 - $60 million
6. Halo 3 - $55 million
7. APB - $50 million
8. L.A. Noire - $50 million
9. Final Fantasy XII - $48 million
10. Killzone 2 - $45 million