Ubisoft Announces Increased Revenues, Plans

Major French-headquartered publisher and developer Ubisoft has announced the revenue portion of its latest financial results, revealing sales for the first half of the financial year ending September 30 up 19% to 153 million euros ($182.7 million). Sales for just the second financial quarter up an even more impressive 64% year-on-year to 110 million euros ($131.3 million), though the company did not disclose its profits for either the quarter or the half-year. Ubisoft is pointing to the successful launch of titles for the DS and PSP, which accounted for 19% of sales in the first half of 2005-2006, as part of the reason for its revenue increase. It also cited positive market response to the titles launched in September 2005 such as Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Lockdown, Far Cry Instincts and Brothers in Arms Earned in Blood Relative strengths in regional markets were also discussed, with some interesting figures highlighted - Ubisoft was the second-best independent publisher in sales terms in France and Italy thus far this year, third-best in the UK and Spain, fourth-best in Germany and Canada, but only the sixth-best in the United States, according to various country-specific sales charts. Looking forward, Ubisoft is hoping for all-time record sales for the company in the forthcoming financial quarter, with Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie and Prince of Persia The Two Thrones particular highlights. Revenue for the third quarter ending December 31 2005 is therefore expected to be around 250 million euros ($298.5 million), up 36% year-on-year. The company also commented that full year sales are expected to be around 600 million euros ($716.3 million), with profit of around 38 million euros ($45.4 million) before miscellaneous expenses. Highlighted titles through the rest of the financial year include Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 4, And 1 Streetball, Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII, and Heroes of Might & Magic V.