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."
