Ubisoft Q1 Sales Rise 90.5% To $180.7 Million

Publisher Ubisoft has released its first quarter results, showing sales up 90.5 percent from last year to $180.7 million on strong sales of Rainbow Six Vegas and a "sharp rise" in PS3 and DS software sales. PlayStation 3 titles contributed 21 percent of Ubisoft's sales and the Nintendo DS 16 percent, up from 3 percent the year prior. Ubisoft also said sales of Surf’s Up, Prince of Persia, Oblivion and Call of Juarez were strong, as well as its back catalog of games like Petz and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which accounted for over a third of sales. The publisher says it expects second quarter sales to remain stable at around $141.6 million with the PS3, PC, and PSP release of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, The Settlers 6 for PC, Jam Sessions on the DS, and the European launch of Surf’s Up. For the full year, Ubisoft has raised its sales target in light of its Q1 performance, which exceeded forecasts, as well as the positive feedback it received at this year's E3. The publisher says it expects $1.11 billion in sales for the year, compared to its previous estimates of $1.08 billion. Far Cry 2 and Splinter Cell Conviction, both expected in the fourth quarter are expected (the latter having been delayed) to carry strong sales for the publisher. Ubisoft also notes that for the first half of calendar 2007, it was the 3rd best selling publisher in the U.S., and the second best selling publisher in Europe, France, the UK, and Germany, and reiterated that it was making a "strategic expansion" into the casual games market with its Games for Everyone division with its My Coach and Imagine series of female-focused titles. Said Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, "Ubisoft has made a solid start to the year, and continued to win market share. Momentum was particularly strong during the period for European sales, which climbed 109% thanks to the ramp-up of new-generation consoles and the impact of PS3 game sales, including Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas and Oblivion... Our portfolio of upcoming casual games will enable us to strengthen and broaden our current offering, and to reach new consumers."