How much does a game trailer cost?

A simple gameplay trailer costs about $500 to $3,000, a polished gameplay trailer $3,000 to $15,000, and a cinematic trailer $20,000 to $100,000 or more.

How long should a game trailer be?

Sixty to ninety seconds for a launch trailer. App Store previews must be 15 to 30 seconds, and social cuts work best under 30 seconds.

Should a game trailer show gameplay or cinematics?

Gameplay first. Store visitors want to see what they will do in the game, and Steam's own guidance is to show gameplay quickly.

When should I make a trailer for my game?

Before the store page goes live, then update it for the demo, festivals and launch.

Can I use any music in my game trailer?

Only music you have licensed for commercial online use. Using the game's own soundtrack is the simplest option.

Game Trailer Cost: Gameplay, Cinematic and Store Video

The short answer

A simple gameplay trailer costs about $500 to $3,000. A polished gameplay trailer with motion graphics, sound design and licensed music costs about $3,000 to $15,000. A cinematic trailer with custom animation costs $20,000 to $100,000 or more. For most indie and mobile games, a tight gameplay trailer is the right choice and the best value.

Types of trailer

Type	What it is	Typical cost	Best for
Gameplay capture	Edited footage from the game with titles and music	$500 to $3,000	Store pages, early announcements
Polished gameplay	Planned shots, motion graphics, sound design	$3,000 to $15,000	Launch, festivals, publishers
Cinematic	Custom animation, story, no direct gameplay	$20,000 to $100,000+	Large reveals with marketing budget
Store video	Short cuts made to each store's rules	$300 to $2,000 per version	App Store and Google Play listings
Ad creatives	Many short variations for user acquisition	$100 to $1,000 each	Paid campaigns

These are market planning ranges, not quotes. Length and custom animation move the price most.

What the stores expect

Steam. Valve's guidance is to show gameplay quickly. Players on Steam want to see what they will actually do, so long logo sequences and slow cinematic openings lose them. Your first trailer on the page should be the gameplay one. See Steam wishlists for how the page works as a whole.

Apple App Store. App previews are short videos of 15 to 30 seconds that must show the app in use, captured on the device. You can provide up to three per localization, and they autoplay muted in many places, so the message must work without sound.

Google Play. The preview video is a YouTube link shown on the listing. Google asks that it shows the real experience early and avoids misleading content.

Our guide to App Store Optimization for games covers how video fits with icons and screenshots.

What you are paying for

Concept and script. The one idea the trailer must land, and a shot list.
Capture. Recording clean footage, often with debug tools, free cameras and hidden interface.
Editing. Pacing cuts to music and keeping only the strongest seconds.
Motion graphics. Titles, logo animation, callouts and end card.
Sound design. Effects mixed so hits and actions feel strong.
Music. A licensed track, a commission or the game's own soundtrack. See how video game music is made.
Versions. Different lengths, aspect ratios and languages.

Capture is harder than it looks

Good footage rarely comes from normal play. Editors need specific moments, performed cleanly, from flattering angles. Ask your developers for a capture build with a free camera, the option to hide the interface, time controls and cheats to reach any level. An hour of developer time on these tools can save days of capture.

A structure that works

0 to 5 seconds: the most striking gameplay moment. No logos first.
5 to 20 seconds: the core loop, shown clearly.
20 to 45 seconds: variety, such as new areas, enemies, abilities and modes.
Last 5 seconds: title, platforms, date and the call to action, such as wishlist now.

Sixty to ninety seconds is plenty for a launch trailer. Shorter is better for social feeds.

Cinematic trailers

Cinematics create a mood and can travel well in the press, but they do not show what the game is. For small teams they are rarely the best first spend. If you want one, pair it with a gameplay trailer, and consider rendering it in the game engine with your existing assets, which costs far less than custom pre-rendered animation.

Mobile ad creatives

User acquisition runs on volume. Teams test dozens of short videos to find the few that perform, then make variations of the winners. This is a production line, not a single trailer, and it should have its own monthly budget. Playable ads are a related format covered in playable ads development.

Timing

Have a trailer ready when the store page goes live, because a page without video converts poorly. Update it for major milestones: demo release, a festival such as Steam Next Fest and launch. Give editors two to four weeks for a polished gameplay trailer.

Legal points

Music must be licensed for commercial and online use, including on platforms that scan for copyright.
Footage must represent the real game. Stores and regulators act on misleading videos.
Age ratings may need to appear, depending on region and platform. See game age ratings.

How to lower the budget

Make one strong 60-second gameplay trailer and cut the shorter versions from it.
Build capture tools into the game.
Use the game's own music.
Skip voice-over unless it adds something specific.
Plan vertical and horizontal versions before capture, not after.

Getting a quote

We produce trailers and store videos for the games we build, and for finished games from other teams. Send us a build and your launch date. Entry packages are on the offer page, and our indie marketing guide explains where the trailer fits in a launch plan.

Sources: Steamworks: Trailers · Apple: App previews · Google Play: preview assets. Checked November 11, 2026.

Game trailer cost: gameplay, cinematic and store video