Sega Sammy Alters Half-Year Forecast Due To 'Weak' Game Sales

Sega Sammy has altered its financial forecast for the first half of the current fiscal year ended September 30, noting a drop in expected revenue, but an increase in profits. The company cited "weak" sales of new game titles as the reason for the decrease in expected revenue. However, a reduction in the operation expenses for its pachinko machine business means the company has now shifted an expected loss to profits instead. Sales in the amusement machine business have also been "surpassing projections," according to a statement from the company. Sega Sammy had originally forecast revenue of ¥165 billion ($2.15 billion) for the first half of this fiscal year, but has now lowered this expected figure to ¥150 billion ($1.96 billion). Official first-half figures will release in the near future. In terms of profits, the company originally forecast that it would see a loss of ¥3 billion ($39.11 million) for the half. It has now altered this, forecasting profits of ¥2 billion ($26.08 million). For the first half of this fiscal year, Sega Sammy posted losses, blaming "generally weak" video game demand in the U.S. and Europe.