Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Ubisoft Sees 42 Percent Drop In Sales In First Quarter 2014
Ubisoft has announced its first quarter 2014 financial performance, with significant drops year over year. Compared to first quarter 2013, which included the release of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Ubisoft's sales dropped just over 42 percent.
The good news is that sales reached 76 million euros ($91.6 million), surpassing the expectations of 70 million euros. Positive performance against target was attributed to a 56 percent increase in back catalog sales of Far Cry 3, Assassin's Creed 3, Just Dance 4, Rocksmith, and Rayman Origins.
Additionally, Ubisoft's new mini-AAA titles (Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon and Call of Juarez: The Gunslinger) drove digital performance up 26 percent to 34 million euros ($44.5 million). Second quarter sees Splinter Cell: Blacklist on August 20 and Rayman Legends on September 3. Sales targets for the upcoming quarter are 200 million euros ($262 million).
Ubisoft also announced that online racer The Crew is still on track for release by March 31, 2014. An unannounced title, which was previously also slated for 2013-14 will now be included in 2014-15 (April 2014 to March 2015). No mention was made of The Division, Ubisoft's MMO shooter set in a post-pandemic world.
Our Take
The remainder of Ubisoft's year looks strong, leading off next quarter with Splinter Cell and Rayman Legends. Third Quarter is even more powerful with Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and the eagerly anticipated Watch Dogs. Ubisoft should be ready at the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launches, giving them a leg up with cross-generation titles that take advantage of the new hardware.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
