Ubisoft financials tease Assassin's Creed 2

In announcing first-half profits, French publisher plays coy with release window for next installment in acrobatic stealth action series.

Ubisoft today reported profits for the first half of its fiscal year (the six months ended September 30), and acknowledged development on a key part of its profit plan in future quarters, the much-anticipated follow-up to Assassin's Creed.

While economic woes seem to be keeping other publishers down, Ubisoft has yet to feel the slowdown's effects. Following up on its second-quarter financial report, the publisher today cast a bit more light on its bottom line for the first half, posting operating income of €24.7 million ($31.9 million), nearly double that of the €12.5 million ($16.1 million) it raked in for the same stretch of the previous year.

While those numbers don't account for the last two months of volatility in the economy, Ubisoft executives were optimistic about their holiday sales outlook. In a question-and-answer session with analysts at the end of a conference call, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot and CFO Alain Martinez said that retailers are being cautious with their day-one orders, but it hasn't been a big issue as they're also quick to reorder when stock runs low. On top of that, they said all indications are that Ubisoft is on track to achieve its guidance for the year.

As for future years, one analyst asked if the second installment of Assassin's Creed would be released in Ubisoft's fiscal 2010. (The original was released to commercial success and mixed critical reception in 2007.) Guillemot flatly refused to give even a hint about the project, but did confirm it was in development.

"We're not answering that question," Guillemot said. "What we just can say is that we are working hard on the product."

508 Comments

  • onlineruler

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 12:58 pm PT

    omg im so joping they are going to make assasins creed 2!

  • Red_Dawn345

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 12:59 pm PT

    assassin's creed 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!My life has meaning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Bloodhawk_DX

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:03 pm PT

    Yeah, yeah...

    Just make sure you make this Assassin's Creed a little less redundant, Ubisoft.

  • I-am-the-Panda

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:09 pm PT

    2010???? Why bother announcing it NOW?? It better be good, with multiplayer and replayability. If they have that ill say 'i do' to Ubi!

  • GaudyMarrko

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:10 pm PT

    If there is gonna be a number 2 I'm defietly not getting it unless I know for certain they got rid of the unbearable repetativeness

  • byrdcjb100

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:13 pm PT

    Here is what they need to add to Assassin's Creed 1. Night and Day 2. Weapons 3. More attack Move Taht would make it even better personally i loved the 1st one

  • Superdude687

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:19 pm PT

    This and Uncharted 2 give my life meaning

  • irongutvi

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:20 pm PT

    i wonder if they'll make a wii version... they gave the DS a assassin's creed game.

  • Moonend

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:20 pm PT

    good news!

  • rogerjak

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    Superdude687 - I am with you dude. I want AC2 badly.

  • solo4321

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:32 pm PT

    I can't wait for Assassin's Creed 2.

  • shade1978x

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:32 pm PT

    I can't wait! Assassin's Creed was incredible!

  • Symphonycometh

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    More adventurous. That'd be perfect for AC2.

  • Altiar25

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:38 pm PT

    i loved the first one

  • Doolum

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:40 pm PT

    oh yeah,assassins creed 2, am looking forward to it

  • Akatsuki398

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:41 pm PT

    I thought there would never be a sequel but here it is fans.

  • DarthVillainous

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:45 pm PT

    Here's hoping they dump that awful Desmond Miles/modern-day aspect to it and just stick to Altair.

  • Fodpea

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:48 pm PT

    Oh no 2010

  • TripSe7en

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:49 pm PT

    I loved the first AC, but I found it had no replay value once I had made it through the campaign. Hopefully Ubi will integrate some multiplayer into the game. I can only imagine how fun the chase sequences could be if they were with another player!

  • senjutsu

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:54 pm PT

    They say ubisoft is french... Well, the french division is making what, rayman and some other games? Mainly they're canadian, all their big names (like assassin's creed, prince of persia, GRAW, rainbow six, etc) are made in canada, mainly in Montréal, Québec.

    Anyway, I disliked assassin's creed. Always the same, I hope the next one will be better.

  • Setsuka13

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:54 pm PT

    Desmond Storyline was lame, but hopefully they'll scrap that and stick with an all 1191 A.D. setting.

  • SlashDementia3

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:56 pm PT

    Isn't AC a trilogy? I hope it's set in a different location, like with Mayans or those Chinese assassins. If the clues are the markings on the floor in the game, I'll be very happy.

  • HaRdNiPs

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:56 pm PT

    sweet that's awesome hopefully they don't misstake PROTOTYPE as AC i don't mean the makers but the fans man they're retarded but i know AC will be a success like the first and PROTOTYPE will be a success to

  • CT-Link

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:58 pm PT

    It would be so cool to have multiplayer! Everyone chasing one dude or a bunch of dudes...it would be awesome....
    But I guess that it would be set in the future right?

  • tiggerboy

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 1:58 pm PT

    I personally loved Assassins Creed and can't wait for the sequal! Maybe you will be a Ninja in the next one.....

  • KFlip

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:08 pm PT

    Not the best game,
    But can't wait till the graphics and multiplayer to come!

  • Search_for_Vali

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:09 pm PT

    I hope they will improve the gameplay aspect. Assassins Creed was fun. I mean, I've finished it. But it was the same routine over and over again. Very repetitive and you couldn't do much. If they would add more depth to the assassination part like in Hitman, it would be awesome.

  • Munkey4098

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:10 pm PT

    i hope with the sequal they flesh out the story a lil more so you dont have to read it in an online interview. i loved the game though and it has the possibility of adding some intriguing multiplayer modes.

  • halo-sum

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:15 pm PT

    Assassin's Creed 2
    Add more side gameplay and submission to let the game can play longer time, please.

  • admiral_picard posted Nov 26, 2008 2:16 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    admiral_picard

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:16 pm PT (hide)

    Why bother with a sequel? The first game was so repetitive and boring. Easily one of the most overrated games made in recent history. Hell, Halo is overrated but it has redeeming qualities - this one had none. It was just plain stupid and the most boring game I've played. I put it in my 360, played it for two hours and got very bored, came back and tried for another two hours even more boring, I just sent it back to Gamefly. Biggest waste of a rental ever...

  • chineolee

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    AC2 has to be more about game-play an less about clever crowd simulation algorithms. Add a few more indoor environments to mix it up, scrap the bland-sounding actor who voiced Altair, and get rid of the futuristic trappings that looked out of place in the first game - like the glowing outlines around NPCs and the stupid HUD.

  • quickspic12

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:20 pm PT

    I CANT WAIT!!!! Assassins creed is one of the best games for the 360

  • Plasmapillar

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:20 pm PT

    This new game will be fully awesome!!!

  • Un4givingAsault posted Nov 26, 2008 2:22 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Un4givingAsault

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:22 pm PT (hide)

    The last one was to repatitive, way to repatitive. worse than GTA... If they put more diversity in hte gameplay i might pick it up. I think the first was a let down.

  • eagles_band

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:28 pm PT

    Glad to hear

  • JoyousOblivion

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    @Un4givingAsault: Learn to use a spell check please, you even mispelled your name...

    I'm looking forward to this game, AC1 was a blast and looked amazing. It was my first PS3 game and definately did the system proud.

  • Sepewrath

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    This is great news, but I was expecting to hear about this game alot sooner.

  • andhyt93

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:59 pm PT

    I can't wait to see what the historical setting will be in AC2. Hopefully, the sequel will tie some of the loose ends together from the first game =)

  • monco59

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:00 pm PT

    Why, the first one was boring enough?

  • iyeee

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:04 pm PT

    awesome!!!!

  • AZisBack

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:07 pm PT

    Hopefully it doesn't have a bad ending like the 1st one.

  • DarkEclipse533

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:11 pm PT

    Wow sounds even better!

  • -E-N-E-M-Y-

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:14 pm PT

    The first didn't suck, it did what a game was supposed to. Why answer all of the questions in the first installment, then there would be no sequel. Anyway, I am patiently waiting for this game.

  • Mike0193

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:17 pm PT

    hopefully it is not as repetetive and hope it gets a better ending ^_^

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:21 pm PT

    Let's hope this game doesn't suck ass like the first one.

  • PlasmaBeam44

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:24 pm PT

    I really wish they would have put some DLC for the first one. Oh well, I'm super freaking excited for this!

  • KokutenNagaki

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:25 pm PT

    AWESOME!

  • tntkng

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:28 pm PT

    Sounds awsome,but please Ubisoft have a better ending than the first game.

  • NatendoWhisky64

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 3:31 pm PT

    Don't change the way we play the game Ubisoft! The first game was amazing, I don't see anything that needs changed. Just give us a new story line, and new places to play in, and I'm ready!

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Assassin's Creed Boxshot
Assassin's Creed

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    93 of 77,680
    (up by 1)
    PS3 Rank:
    21 of 932
    Tracking:
    14,002 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    7,315 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    3,452
  • Number of Players:

    1 Player

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. assassins creed
    2. ubisoft
    3. ps3
    4. assassin
    5. creed
  • Mature Rating Description

    Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs