Activision Blizzard beating $860 million Jan.-March target

Recession can't stop World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, Guitar Hero as publisher says sales are tracking better than previously announced projections for its fourth fiscal quarter.

While Activision Blizzard has yet to release its earnings report for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, positive results are a safe bet. Today the publisher said that due to its games' better-than-expected performance at retail, revenues and earnings for the quarter are both looking to best the company's previously announced projections.

Not even global poverty can stop the music.

In February, Activision Blizzard told investors it was aiming for $860 million in revenues with an earnings per share of $.08. The publisher opted not to give new projections or any indication as to how far it expects to exceed those totals.

While no specific products were credited with the sales boost, Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick issued a statement saying that the worldwide response to the Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and World of Warcraft franchises remains strong despite the challenging economic environment. He added that performance also bodes well for the company's upcoming lineup, which includes Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 23), Prototype (June 9), and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1).

In other Activision Blizzard news, the company today announced that it is switching World of Warcraft partners in the Chinese market. Previously the publisher had entrusted the game's operation in that market to The9, but going forward it will be licensed to NetEase. Activision Blizzard and NetEase are also working together on Warcraft III and Starcraft II for the Chinese market.

Activision Blizzard is expected to release its detailed results for the quarter ended March 31 sometime next month.

71 Comments

  • havocmerc

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 10:45 am PT

    Good show Old Man.

  • Quofan

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 9:29 am PT

    I like Blizzard but I cant stand the franchises from Activision. Most of them are absolute garbage.

    The only thing from them Im looking forward to atm is Prototype.

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 4:56 pm PT

    Way to go Activison Bliizard. On your Activision half I like some of your Spiderman games and your Guitar Hero (not getting DJ Hero), and on your Blizzard half, I love your RTS's such as Starcraft and Warcraft.

  • gk_of_berea

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 12:41 pm PT

    Wolverine game looks good.

  • ciaxhieu

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 12:34 pm PT

    blizzard is pure quality

  • J0nGalt

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 8:05 am PT

    Gee, lets think why we would care....maybe because these guys make games based on how much money they make? Do you like well designed MMORGs, RTSs and simulators? You better start caring about the $ process, cause thats what determines what kind of games they will make in the future. And yes, how much money a game makes does often determine how good it will be. Not entirely but its a damn good indication, considering its an indication to how well recieved it was and how many people WANT to play it. Its obviously not everything though.

    Im assuming you would prefer a game where no thought was given to what people like, where all the game does is preach the greatness that is not making a profit for the sake of an artfully pretty game with little to know content. Yeah...real fun.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 5:17 am PT

    @ CROSSFIRE5000

    It's like the evening news, you don't always see stories you want to see but it's still on. Because some want to read while some don't

  • CROSSFIRE5000

    Posted Apr 17, 2009 6:45 pm PT

    wow y do we care about the $ procces

  • Diernes

    Posted Apr 17, 2009 9:56 am PT

    money doesnt nessesarily equal a good game, creativity, time and effort do.

    Not everyone is infatuated with Wow. Maybe if they put alot of time money and original creativity into the game it might become good for me.

  • ShawnOfTheDeadz

    Posted Apr 17, 2009 6:37 am PT

    @Adziboy

    Activison is a Publisher who owns certain developers and their IP's. For example the Call of duty series is worked and created by Infiniti Ward and Treyarch. I don't believe that they develope games in house, the only major company i know which did was EA and Blizzard (who used too).

  • LorDaftwager

    Posted Apr 17, 2009 6:18 am PT

    Can you imagine how good WoW would be right now if Blizzard channelled all its profits from the MMO back into the game?

  • japanesegoth

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 10:23 pm PT

    well of course they're gonna be making money when so many people are willing to spend like $15 a month on a stupid game.

  • dallasanderson1

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 10:14 pm PT

    i would have to agree,Inconnux, NFS most wanted was fantastic,and so was dead space, but thats where it ends for EA, they need to pick up their game for sure

  • Inconnux

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 9:18 pm PT

    @ISuperGamerI

    I am not interested in any of those EA titles. Perhaps deadspace, but the generic sports titles released every year are mediocre at best. Much like their NFS series... generic and sub par. EA has improved somewhat (Mass Effect!) but not enough to lose their reputation as a shovelware company.

    As for my Blizzard comment, I would agree with you on Milking the Guitar hero franchise, but when you look at the Blizzard end, everything they create is amazing. Note I didn't say Blizzard/Activision... I only said Blizzard

  • ffviiifreak

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 8:22 pm PT

    most is from gh metallica

  • XeonForce

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 6:41 pm PT

    I like CoD, within reason... but I have to agree with people who hate seeing Activision and Blizzard in bed together, they are like... complete opposites when it comes to game development practices, but hey, opposites attract I guess... as long as Blizzard keeps their IP's in good quality...

  • w4rgasm

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 6:01 pm PT

    I love Activision games... but they do milk it way too much.
    Blizzard, on the other hand, has been my FAVORITE since I picked up Warcraft way back when.

  • Red122

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 5:34 pm PT

    Well just shows how many people dont have lives.

  • monlosez

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 4:49 pm PT

    Warcraft IV and Diablo III. Can't wait for those. Starcraft II, I can pass.

  • Acuatico

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 4:48 pm PT

    I get nauseous whenever I see the Blizzard name attached to Activision.

  • athenian29

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 4:18 pm PT

    That said, the "Blizzard" part remains strong. I look immensely forward to Diablo III, and Starcraft II has me doing the Potty Dance.

  • athenian29

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 4:17 pm PT

    It's hard for me to like the "Activision" part of ActiBliz anymore. After hearing that they refused Ghostbusters because "[It didn't] have the potential to be exploited every year", I've had nothing for disdain for their management. They're greedy and idiotic, and have no idea how games work.

  • Adziboy

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 4:17 pm PT

    But ya know what? Activision is awesome; they never have a bad game, its always decent or amazing, and in my eyes, that's as good as a developer is going to get. Well, developers like Naughty Dog are better, in a way, but they have a period of years between games, whereas activision have games coming out every few months.

  • the1stgeo

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 4:15 pm PT

    way to be act-bliz

  • darkhunterix

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 4:01 pm PT

    Oh ok maybe thats what it was. I think it is too late for me to get into it now though by the time I get to a high level and grind world of warcraft 2 will be out. I'll deffinently be supporting blizzard with my d3 purchase. Don't worry WOW fans lol.

  • JangoWuzHere

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 3:42 pm PT

    darkhunterix

    You must have logged on to a low poplated server or you were at night time hours were everyone is in bed.

  • darkhunterix

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 3:17 pm PT

    Hmmm. Played world of warcraft 3 for a week. Logged onto it and got ready for some of this awesomely rated game. I looked all over for someone to party with and there was hardly anyone. I was thinking to myself where are all of these millions of people at. So... I canceled it and never played it again. Ha. I'm very excited for diablo 3 though. The hack and slash genre really needs a reboot and I'm hoping this does the trick so more games come out in the genre.

  • secretnoob

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 2:28 pm PT

    lulz @ digital

    i super agree

  • zunit88

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    thas alotta money!!!

  • starduke

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 1:46 pm PT

    Activsion can go to *%E%@$, because they wrecked Wolverine for the DS.
    Just because the game is for the DS, doesn't mean it has to be LAME!

  • starduke

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 1:45 pm PT

    Nooooooo! I jsut went on the Nintendo site for the DS version and they have screen shots for the DS version of X-men Origins Wolverine. They are the worst screenshots I have EVER seen! They make Wolvie look like a dork, not the bad dude he is! They actually did it! They wrecked Wolverine! At least on they did on the DS. I hope the PC version is good! Please, Please let the PC version be good! I hate to have to say it, but Wolverine DS is a total fail! We should have a funeral if the other games are this bad. I don't know for what, though. The Wolverine game or for Activision.

  • Thomasdeleo

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 1:39 pm PT

    These guys are made of money for God sake.

  • okassar

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 1:36 pm PT

    I'm glad Activision-Blizzard is taking the throne as the biggest gaming company,because EA has been disappointing for ..what,the past 5 years now?It made some good games,but you expect much much more out of a company that is worth 14 billion dollars.If you're curious,Activision is worth around 20 billion dollars I bought 57 shares in ATVI when they were at $8.80 per.That's like my life savings,but well investedIt's at around 10.50,but apparently,with news like this,that's under priced,and there are rumors that ATVI might start paying dividends.

  • phantom1593

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 1:23 pm PT

    haha just wait untill starcraft, diablo 3 and cod: mw2, you'll see the $$$ coming xD

  • zarum_666

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 1:16 pm PT

    Because "Activision-Blizzard" is a publisher. Blizzard Entertainment is the developer =P

  • PSdual_wielder

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 1:01 pm PT

    So much income yet all they still have are those 5 or so franchises. The only ones actually making decent games right now is Blizzard.

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:49 pm PT

    @coaltango
    Obviously it's going to be a while till WC 4. Blizzard's still perfecting StarCraft 2, then they have Diablo 3. But what do you mean where are the RTSs? There have been great strategy games recently--Warhammer 40k DoW 2, Empire: TW, plus the new Company of Heroes, and Supreme Commander and WiC are still sick. And did I mention StarCraft 2 this year?! That will definitely put the focal point back on the RTS genre (and for PC gaming in general).

  • Gifted_One

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:46 pm PT

    And who says that Warcraft 4 isnt alrdy in the planning stage?

  • great_rulo posted Apr 16, 2009 12:45 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    great_rulo

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:45 pm PT (hide)

    Hey, all your opinion, i think Dead Space is nothing... and i mean nothing at all.

  • Gifted_One

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:45 pm PT

    They think it's good now. Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2. Ummmmm.. Awesome.

  • ISuperGamerI

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:43 pm PT

    @ inconnux

    If you haven't noticed or stopped thinking with such ignorance, you would have known that EA is making quality games these days. Dead Space, FIFA 09, NHL 09 and a bunch of other games are all great and guess what? EA created those games. I think what people should be annoyed at is at Activision for releasing a billion Guitar Hero games that are pointless, but yet, people still keep buying them.

  • great_rulo

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:41 pm PT

    Can't wait for Diablo 3.

  • bongsyas_23

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:31 pm PT

    wonder if they'll ever consider making warcraft 4. well with these kinds of figures, maybe only time will tell.

  • Habby-96

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:17 pm PT

    i agree with Inconnux.

  • Zero5000X

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:11 pm PT

    Why does GameSpot keep calling Activision Blizzard a publisher?

  • Inconnux

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 12:08 pm PT

    Blizzard always makes quality products and that is why they are making money... other companies are losing money ( EA!?!?) because they have annoyed their customers and put out mediocre generic titles every year...

  • coaltango

    Posted Apr 16, 2009 11:42 am PT

    when are we going to play warcraft 4.i mean when is the rts making a return its been 7 years now.

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