Petz help breed profitz for Ubisoft

Casual brands a big factor in French publisher's serious 36 percent revenue increase; Assassin's Creed hits 6 million-unit milestone.

Launching a new hit franchise with Assassin's Creed may be the most visible success that Ubisoft achieved over the last year, but the French publisher spread the love around a little more broadly in its fourth-quarter financial report today.

Assassin's Creed was just one of a few big wins to which the company attributed its 36 percent full-year sales increase. The publisher also said that existing brands such as Rainbow Six, Rayman, Settlers, and Ghost Recon all turned in strong sales performances. Furthermore, its Games for Everyone range of casual games, which includes the Petz, My Coach, and Imagine series, tripled its sales over the course of the year.

For the 12 months ended March 31, Ubisoft racked up revenues of €928 million ($1.46 billion), up from €680 million ($1.07 billion) for the previous year. The Wii- and DS-centric Games for Everyone line accounted for nearly a full quarter of that haul, bringing in a total of €230 million ($361 million).

As for the most recent quarter, revenues were up a more modest 10 percent to €217 million ($340 million), which was still above Ubisoft's original guidance. The publisher's gamble on a Rainbow Six Vegas sequel paid off, with Rainbow Six Vegas 2 coming in second on the March sales charts in both the US and the UK, and more than 2 million copies of the tactical shooter shipped to retailers. Assassin's Creed also continued sneaking off of shelves, with the stealth action game now having shipped 6 million copies worldwide.

Looking ahead, Ubisoft executives said in a conference call with investors that 2008 appears set to be another record year for the company, in part due to the company's recent purchase of the Tom Clancy brand. The battle plan calls for continued emphasis on building existing franchises and expanding the casual lineup with games like a new Wii party game. To help the publisher achieve that, it's ramping up the hiring process, looking to hire an additional 500 employees for new offices in Singapore, China, and India, with an extra 400 being added to the mix in more established studios.

30 Comments

  • MatrixtheNEO

    Posted Sep 10, 2008 10:15 pm PT

    i agree with awarapan about farcry being the best game of the year

  • awarapanmovie

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:19 am PT

    On this Year these games will in hard Competetion
    1/GEARS OF WAR 2
    2/Tom Clancys Conviction
    3/Far Cry 2
    4/Left For Dead
    5/Tom clancys End War
    6/Fallout 3
    7/Brothers in Arms HELLS HIGHWAY
    8/Alone in the Dark
    9/Project Origin F.E.A.R
    10/Mafia 2
    11/FreeLander
    These Are the Top Ranking Games For PC
    And i m not Confirm About GTA 4 Releasing In November 2008
    And The Winner Of This Competition Will Be Ubisoft Montreal For
    FAR CRY 2

  • awarapanmovie

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:09 am PT

    I think This Year will Hard Competition Between SCi Fi FPS Games
    and i i think that FarCry 2 Will Be the Game Of the Year and Leave all
    Others and will got 9.7 or 9.5 Ratings

  • Artemios

    Posted May 11, 2008 2:00 am PT

    Ubisoft always made great games, just the majority of people wheren't attracted to them for a period of time. This year is their year!

  • 255Utah

    Posted May 8, 2008 4:24 pm PT

    hmmm. 6,000,000 sounds like money...

  • markimsoad

    Posted May 3, 2008 3:31 am PT

    fantastic 6 millions!!!! its a great number!

  • dulun19

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 11:51 am PT

    Ubisoft is doing well recently due to all the good games they released!

  • kono11

    Posted Apr 26, 2008 7:04 pm PT

    then, how about the next Naruto?

  • dead888

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 10:33 pm PT

    I am happy for ubisoft....and Jade Raymond

  • redskinStu

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 8:22 am PT

    WHO IS BUYING ALL THESE RB6 GAMES??!??

  • Dragonahcas

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 1:16 am PT

    I have posted a blog about Casual Gamers/Games check it out. Its quite relevant to this post about their "Casual Games"

  • ObiKKa

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 12:48 am PT

    I'm really happy for Ubisoft with their Assassin's Creed, even though the gameplay mechanisms were so one-dimensional, and that it was being led by a very stupid producer with absolutely ZERO taste for good video games (Raymond).

    Thief anybody? Yes, I meant that franchise from Eidos.

    All this is good news for Ubisoft as they're trying to shackle off the ominous grip by EA. I read last year that EA's market share of Ubisoft has actually been reduced from 20% down to almost 15%. I hope all these good news continues this trend... Man, oh so man, I love Splinter Cell! Bring it on!

  • iAkuma

    Posted Apr 25, 2008 12:45 am PT

    They're getting pretty good. Can't wait to see the next of their franchises. LOL at the headline...

  • pikaby

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 7:03 pm PT

    Haha, the headline officially owns

  • arkadiyk

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 6:50 pm PT

    can the next assassins creed have aa x 16 on it? i love the eye candy
    hahahaha

  • belwyrm

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 5:03 pm PT

    Sure seems like a lot of games I've been playing lately pop up the Ubisoft Logo at the start. Still waiting on word of an Assassins Creed sequel.

  • IKKF

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 4:26 pm PT

    Man, I love the headline.

  • Drower

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 4:02 pm PT

    okassar, Assassin's Creed is actually on three systems, if you don't count mobile version and such. Still a lot.

  • okassar

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 4:00 pm PT

    Assassin's Creed got 6 million sold,hellz yes.Even though it's on two systems,that's still a lot.Great game.As for Petz,why wouldn't a company want to draw kids that didn't really game before or casual gamers that love pets and make a lot out of it?It's all about the cash,they don't necessarily have to make a good game,they can lower the input and quite possibly make more profit.I hope that doesn't translate into the gaming industry getting any more casual than it already is,I've had enough.

  • Jebril

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    The difference lamprey is that one actually makes good and new games, the other just gives you the same game you bought last year.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 3:43 pm PT

    It really helps that Ubisoft ports their games on many platforms, though, people like Ubisoft. EA does the same thing but people give them crap for it.

  • revelations

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 3:36 pm PT

    You rock Wii ownerz.

  • chico129

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    Meh, EA couldn't afford Ubisoft, EA may be a huge company and be filled with money... More than any other company even... But Ubisoft is still a bit big to be taken over I think.

  • AlphacRebel

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 2:04 pm PT

    it might be soon, EA already has some of Ubisofts shares

  • Lord-Viru

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 1:42 pm PT

    I wonder when EA will try and buy Ubisoft, that would be deeply worrying for the Tom Clancy franchises and Creed.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 1:41 pm PT

    Wow some good numbers

  • kid3887

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 1:39 pm PT

    Yeah men is good for ubisoft ^_^

  • JCM28PR

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 1:24 pm PT

    Its good to be Ubisoft

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