Ubisoft Revises Fiscal Prospects; Announces New Games

Officials from French publisher Ubisoft have released details of the company’s updated projections for the fiscal years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Despite the delay of Rainbow Six: Lockdown, the company is still expecting to register sales of over €215 million ($288m) for the fourth quarter of the is year. Net profit should amount to €18-22 million ($24m-$29m), while available net cash flow should equal €30 million ($40m) - as opposed to the +€10 million ($13m) initially projected. For fiscal year 2005-2006, the company is continuing to estimate a 12 percent increase in sales and operating income of more than €55 million ($74m). As a result of these projections ,net profits of over €28 million ($37m) are expected, with an available net cash flow of more than €40 million ($54m). At the same time, the company revealed details of its new line-up for the coming months, with much of the third and fourth quarter titles being previously unconfirmed. For the Christmas period the company’s big titles will be Peter Jackson’s King Kong, a sequel to Brothers in Arms (the second game in the series in just one year) and new Ghost Recon and Prince of Persia titles. For spring 2006, the company is planning a next generation first person shoot ‘em-up currently named Killing Day, as well as its newly announced basketball title and two new titles under the Might & Magic brand. Perhaps most interestingly, the company is planning on releasing thirty-two products during the fiscal year 2005-2006, with three for the Nintendo DS, five for the PSP and four for the next generation Xbox, showing its relative supports for the new handhelds and the beginnings of the next-gen hardware.