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Capcom up for the year

Japanese publisher overcomes industry-wide slowdown to post increased sales and profits in year-end fiscal report.

The transition phase to next-generation consoles is traditionally a period in which the industry slows to a crawl as gamers' interest in the current generation wanes. That's been true of the current transition, but while many publishers are posting disappointing numbers as a result of the slowdown, Capcom appears to have weathered the first leg of the changeover better than some of its peers.

Today the company released its year-end fiscal results, and it posted gains in both net sales and net income. For the 12-month period ended March 31, Capcom reported a profit of 6.9 billion yen ($62 million) off 70.3 billion yen ($632 million) in sales.

Capcom touted the worldwide success of Resident Evil 4 for the PlayStation 2 as a key part of its growth, and also noted the strong performance of Monster Hunter 2 for the PS2 and Monster Hunter Freedom for the PSP in its home territory of Japan as surpassing the company's expectations. "These titles are growing into the flagship products of Capcom," the company said in its report.

However, not everything the company tried this year met with success. Onimusha Dawn of Dreams (PS2), Without Warning (PS2, Xbox), and Beatdown (PS2, Xbox) were singled out as titles that struggled and/or underperformed. Another problem for the company was the slumping North American gaming scene. For the full year, Capcom's sales in North America declined more than 18 percent from the year before, with an operating income down 88 percent.

Looking ahead, Capcom plans to implement a number of changes to its management structure to better handle the increasingly competitive and costly game market. The company is also looking to install a performance-based incentive program for its staff, focus its efforts primarily on its core business of making games, and "strengthening and exploring" its multiplatform development strategy.

Capcom's annual report also confirmed that it had suspended operations at Maximo development house Capcom Studio 8. It also indicated that the company had dissolved Capcom Eurosoft, a subsidiary responsible for distributing games throughout Europe.

73 Comments

  • viet1125

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 9:23 am GMT

    Dawn of Dreams on PC... That's just a dream!

  • jasongm

    Posted Jul 3, 2006 12:39 pm GMT

    Capcom definitley needs to bring Monster Hunter 2 to North America!

    (I also know that now japanese players are paying a monthly fee for the online portion of the game... i guess we'll also have to pay then)

    Dead Rising and Lost Planet are the icing on the cake!

    Capcom needs to work harder to get Street Fighter 2 Hyper fighting for the 360 market place!

  • lunaticsynapse

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 5:16 pm GMT

    Yeah, the US wants Monster Hunter 2. PLEEEEEASE.

  • dbaby7654321

    Posted May 31, 2006 9:49 pm GMT

    WHERES THE MONSTER HUNTER 2?????????????????

  • cursedwolf

    Posted May 26, 2006 9:38 am GMT

    wow this means good old Monster hunter 2 will be realeased in the US for sure

  • lageasy311

    Posted May 25, 2006 8:12 am GMT

    Capcom just needs to give me all their money, so i can continue to pay them, and while I'm at it i'll stick them on my feet and skate around paul bunyans giant skillet so i can cook his flap jacks!!!!!!!!!!

  • ultimate_zero

    Posted May 24, 2006 7:58 pm GMT

    Make more Mega Man games and I'll be a happy camper

  • IcemanX5

    Posted May 24, 2006 5:40 pm GMT

    Devil May Cry, multi-console........! Just do it already. You did Onimusha, Resident Evil and who knows what else. Just do it....lol...... :-)

  • LordGamer0001

    Posted May 24, 2006 3:26 pm GMT

    thats alot of money.

  • LordAndrew

    Posted May 24, 2006 12:20 pm GMT

    I like how Capcom just pretends that Player's Choice Game of The Year Resident Evil 4 for the GameCube doesn't exist.

  • lordxymor

    Posted May 24, 2006 10:00 am GMT

    Man, Onimusha DoD flopped? Wth, it's the best Onimusha so far.

  • Psiphor

    Posted May 24, 2006 9:31 am GMT

    vicmangoku1, you want some classic Nintendo games eh? Here goes, and please don't be so fanboyish as to dismiss some just because they appear colourful and 'for kids'...

    Classics 1 to 5, Every Mario Kart game yet made, from the original SNES version, through to arguably the best so far.. The DS version. (That's 5 classic games already but I'll carry on in case you think this is cheating.)

    Meteos for the DS... Check out the rave reviews from gamers and journalists alike.

    Resident Evil 4 on GameCube... It's reputation is legendary spawned the PS2 version, which some say, despite it's extra levels and weapons, does not play as well as the GCN version.

    Pikmin 2 (The first Pikmin was class, but the sequel is even better). Here's hoping Mr Miyamoto brings this to the Wii.

    Super Monkey Ball 2 (Again better than it's already fine prequel). High hopes for the Wii version: Banana Blitz.

    Metroid Prime (Only played the first one on GCN, so can't judge Echoes).

    Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker... Yes it's cartooney but the game is vast and endlessly playable.

    Wario Ware Touched on the DS... Inspired!

    Denki Blocks on the GBA... Challenging and addictive puzzle game.

    Advance Wars on GBA... Great turn-Based strategy game.

    Super Mario 64 on the N64... Ushered in the 3D platform revolution with style.

    Super Smash Bros Melee... Bring it on!

    I could go on, but I've more important things to do than this... Now let's see how many really good games you can list on non-Nintendo systems.

  • grayfox_2k

    Posted May 24, 2006 8:26 am GMT

    GOOO CAPCOM

  • Sanguis_Malus

    Posted May 24, 2006 7:36 am GMT

    Capcom need to release some of their strong IP's such as Onimusha & DMC on more platforms.
    They need to come correct for the next gen or they will lose out in the long run.

  • decebal

    Posted May 24, 2006 7:31 am GMT

    That's what happens when you make good games.

  • ssj4_2004

    Posted May 24, 2006 6:31 am GMT

    I really love Capcom's games. It's good to see them recovering, it would be A shame if they were bought out by one of the bigwigs.

    vicmangoku1.... Rofl what A fool

  • chrisdojo

    Posted May 24, 2006 4:53 am GMT

    ok, now abandon sony and make some Wii or GC games.

  • ewjim

    Posted May 24, 2006 2:18 am GMT

    I want Monster Hunter 2, NOW! Why it's still only in Japan?!

  • Cynaru

    Posted May 24, 2006 12:58 am GMT

    wth @ them not mentioning phoenix wright

  • drangel_jam

    Posted May 24, 2006 12:14 am GMT

    start making redefined classic franchises just like the RE4 game. where's SF?

  • MrPuzzlez

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:28 pm GMT

    Is it me, or should Nintendo buy the MegaMan mascot.... because Capcom's just throwing him in WAY too many mediocre titles. MMBN6 LOOKS awesome, but I wanna know when are they going to upgrade the sound engine... We're tired of cheaply made rehash, Capcom!

  • vicmangoku1

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:26 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • jgrumpy

    Posted May 23, 2006 10:21 pm GMT

    Good work keep the game coming and coming!!

  • gnarlychar

    Posted May 23, 2006 8:36 pm GMT

    Anyone find it funny that they didn't mention pheonix wright?

  • volumesoxxs

    Posted May 23, 2006 8:30 pm GMT

    I think they should focus on the DS and the PS3 next year

  • gedec

    Posted May 23, 2006 8:16 pm GMT

    Why can't they release RE 5 for the Wii. I really don't wanna waste my money on another system or wait 10 years till the ps3 or 360 sells for $80. There's no way i'm gonna buy either of those crappy systems for any more than that.

  • playwrite

    Posted May 23, 2006 8:12 pm GMT

    oh, so us GC ResE4 owners don't matter do we? phht. jerks.

  • nintendorocks

    Posted May 23, 2006 8:07 pm GMT

    Capcom is one of the strongest companies out there. Keep up the good work and keep up the great games!

  • nacho4511

    Posted May 23, 2006 8:03 pm GMT

    I just think Capcom is being a little quiet right now, but everyone knows they have fire power with Resident Evil and lost planet. They also have many other games who are always solid when it comes to sale.

  • mil-key-lik

    Posted May 23, 2006 7:36 pm GMT

    Capcom is the best company ever.

  • guardianlegend7

    Posted May 23, 2006 7:19 pm GMT

    Onimusha 4's story and tedious puzzle solving really brought the game down. But overall it's still a blast to play, IMO. And if they had fine tuned the 2 player mode, they woulda had a big hit. Now what the heck is this Monster Hunter 2? (goes to look)

  • AlexandriaZ

    Posted May 23, 2006 7:12 pm GMT

    I don't care, give me Phoenix Wright: Justice for All and I will be set.

  • sinceps1

    Posted May 23, 2006 7:10 pm GMT

    But will they sell?

  • Terren82

    Posted May 23, 2006 6:55 pm GMT

    Good for them. A new generation of games doesn't mean that the current one is dead. There's plenty of games still perfectly capable of production on the PS2.

  • sinceps1

    Posted May 23, 2006 6:49 pm GMT

    TheChronoMaster
    To faridmon:

    Ever heard of a little thing called, "Phoenix Wright"?"

    It sold out right? I know about it but have never seen it.

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted May 23, 2006 6:37 pm GMT

    I want more DS games....NOW!

  • John_of_Fire

    Posted May 23, 2006 6:05 pm GMT

    Good to see them coming out on top. They had a few duds (without warning, and Final Fight) but I am looking forward to what they have in store. Capcom Collection for GBA is going to be another great set of retro games. And praise God that were getting a real game like Lost Planet on 360 instead of another Dino Crisis 3.

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted May 23, 2006 6:00 pm GMT

    great for Capcom, i hope the others do a good job as well

  • marc_man3001

    Posted May 23, 2006 5:44 pm GMT

    Bravo Capcom

  • IsmirZone

    Posted May 23, 2006 4:46 pm GMT

    With Street Fighter Alpha Anthology they sure to make more money.

  • Bombbay12345

    Posted May 23, 2006 4:23 pm GMT

    Yay Capcom! Keep making games like RE4!

  • x-wing20

    Posted May 23, 2006 4:07 pm GMT

    I want Resident Evil 5

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted May 23, 2006 4:05 pm GMT

    Lost Planet + Dead Rising = $$$

  • terdoo

    Posted May 23, 2006 4:02 pm GMT

    I cant wait till lost planet!!!

  • WolfSkill5544

    Posted May 23, 2006 3:42 pm GMT

    Bring more of the good games Capcom.

  • skylinedude05

    Posted May 23, 2006 3:26 pm GMT

    good for them

  • waynehead895

    Posted May 23, 2006 3:21 pm GMT

    I'm glad that Capcom is making games for the 360, atleast 3 for right now. (If they don't cancel RE5 for the 360) I look for more. I wonder will streetfighter make the next-gen jump?

  • jks22112

    Posted May 23, 2006 3:12 pm GMT

    That's sad that Onimushaawn of Dreams is selling bad. Especially since the sucess of the first 3 Onimusha games. (Which has delined per game, 3 never even made Greatest Hits, I believe) And Especially because DOD is without a doubt the best Onimusha game.

  • PiMacleod_basic

    Posted May 23, 2006 3:01 pm GMT

    it's good to hear that they're doing good....so, please Capcom, PLEASE, get back to working on a NEW Street Fighter game...not a rehash of an old one. Not a collection of hits. Not a collection of fighters from different games in one (Capcom Fighting Evolution SUCKED)...

    A NEW STREET FIGHTER. You know, maybe the elusive part FOUR that's been due, since Third Strike is about eight years old now. out of all of their franchises, that's the one I want to hear about.

  • devilscry

    Posted May 23, 2006 3:01 pm GMT

    Capcom needs to release Street Fighter 4 already

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