Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Ubisoft Says Current-Gen Software Sales Down, PC Sales Up
As part of its financial report, Ubisoft has updated its breakdown of software sales by platform. Current-gen software has dipped, while PC has grown.
At the halfway point in fiscal 2015 (ended March 31, 2015), Ubisoft’s current-gen software sales amounted to 47 percent (32 percent on PS4, 15 percent on Xbox One, 0 percent on Wii U). That has shrunk to 40 percent, with PlayStation 4 software now representing 27 percent of sales and Xbox One games accounting for 12 percent. Wii U accounts for 1 percent.
This can be attributed to a shift in the schedule, with a major title like Watch Dogs absent from Ubisoft’s year so far. The second half of the year includes six major releases, including Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and The Division.
PC software jumped from 15 percent at the halfway point last year to 20 percent in the current year. Xbox 360 sales have dropped from 14 percent to 10 percent. PlayStation 3 software has declined from 17 percent to 10 percent.
Ubisoft is also posting a significant gain in the “others” category, which is where its mobile titles exist. In the first half of fiscal 2015, that category represented only 6 percent. It now accounts for 18 percent of software sales.
[Source: Ubisoft]
Our Take
I expect to see significant shifts once third and fourth quarter results are in. Most publishers don’t report breakdowns like this, which is unfortunate as this gives us a snapshot of current-gen uptake and purchase habits.
We’re seeing mounting migration from last-gen consoles, and I suspect the upgrade pace will quicken through the holiday such that by this time next year, last-gen software sales are below 5 percent. This will be driven in part by publisher development migration, but these two factors push each other. More software means more upgrades, which in turn drives publishers to leave last-gen behind.
This story was originally published November 4 at 11:22 a.m. CT.
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.
