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Ubisoft Announces 50 Percent Year-Over-Year Sales Increase For Holiday Quarter
Ubisoft has reported its third fiscal quarter sales and earnings, with good news following a rocky set of releases. Despite the massive problems facing Assassin’s Creed Unity and other issues with Far Cry 4 and The Crew, the company reports sales increases of nearly 49.5 percent (at constant exchange rate) for the holiday 2014 quarter.
The company shipped two Assassin’s Creed games, Far Cry 4, and the Crew during the period ending December 31, 2014. This led to revenues of €809.7 million ($916 million) up from €519.7 million ($587.9 million). The increase was to be expected after the late stage delay of Watch Dogs out of the Holiday 2013 season (and away from the launch of both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4).
Ubisoft exceeded its forecast for the quarter. The publisher had previously projected sales of €730 million ($825.8 million).
Ubisoft’s digital sales (full-title and add-ons) are following industry trends. Revenues are up 157 percent for the holiday quarter and represent 21.2 percent of the publisher’s total sales (compared to 15.3 percent in the same quarter last year).
We’ll have more from Ubisoft’s earnings call, which is scheduled to take place shortly.
Our Take
Ubisoft’s marked increase during holiday 2014 is no surprise, given the delay of Watch Dogs last year. It’s also no wonder that retailers placed big orders for the Assassin’s Creed titles and Far Cry 4, though following the problems with Unity I wonder how sell-through to customers was impacted.
Ubisoft also hasn’t discussed the liability implication yet of it’s cancelation of the Unity season pass and game giveaway. These carry a cost that will impact the publisher’s finances.
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