BusinessJan 2026 4 · 4 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Prototype a Mobile Game in India in 2026
Prototype cost estimates vary wildly online because most don't specify scope — a paper prototype and a polished vertical slice are very different line items.
Why this matters now
A scoped, single-mechanic playable prototype from an Indian studio typically costs a fraction of a full vertical slice, and answers the “is this fun” question just as well.
What we're actually seeing
Studios that treat this as a one-time fix rather than an ongoing practice tend to see the gains fade within a quarter — the teams getting lasting results build it into their regular process.
Our recommendation
Never commission a full vertical slice before a cheap, scoped prototype has validated the core loop — it's the highest-leverage money you'll spend on the project.
Written by
Sandeep Kumar Tiwari
Founder & CEO, Enixo Studio
Leads studio strategy and full-cycle production at Enixo — from first pitch call to live-ops handover.
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2 comments
JinxTheRogue 2 days ago
This is exactly the kind of breakdown I needed — saved for the next sprint planning.
PixelPilot 1 day ago
Curious how this holds up on lower-end mobile hardware?
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