Konami six-month profit falls 81.3%

Konami's MGS4-less fiscal half-year creates substantial shortfall, as net income slips to $24 million on revenues of $1.26 billion.

A week ago, Konami laid out its earnings forecast for the first six months of its current fiscal year, saying it expects revenue to be down 22.5 percent to ¥113.9 billion ($1.26 billion), with profit falling 81.6 percent to ¥2.20 billion ($24 million). Today, the Japanese publisher reported its official numbers for the period, and as it turns out, not much has changed between then and now.

You tell 'em, Revolver!

As expected, Konami said that revenues for the period came in at ¥113.9 billion ($1.26 billion), down 22.5 percent from the ¥146.9 billion ($1.63 billion) it pulled in during the first six months of its previous fiscal year. That period, of course, was highlighted by the release of Kojima Production's top-rated Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which turned in a multiplatinum sales performance upon its debut in June 2008.

Net income during the period was actually slightly better than Konami projected last week. During the April-September window, the publisher's profit slipped 81.3 percent to ¥2.23 billion ($24.6 million), down from the MGS4-inflated ¥11.9 billion ($131 million) from the year-ago period.

The Japanese company's sports-game business led sales for the publisher during the period. Namely, Konami said that its Pro Evolution Soccer (known also as Winning Eleven) and Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu baseball franchises performed well, selling a respective 1.25 million units and 770,000 units across the various games in each series. The publisher also noted that the Metal Gear franchise sold an additional 360,000 units during the period.

Konami still expects to see marginal sales growth during its current fiscal year. The publisher reiterated its previous forecast of ¥310 billion ($3.43 billion) for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2010, compared to the ¥309.7 billion ($3.43 billion) it brought in during its previous fiscal year. Konami anticipates a 47.1 percent spike in net income, though, swelling to ¥16 billion ($176 million) from ¥10.8 billion ($119 million) last year.

76 Comments

  • Omaciel

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 2:20 pm PT

    JAGGERMASTER learn how to type dumb@ss

  • Omaciel

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 2:19 pm PT

    Jaggermaster is a f@g he must have an Xbox

  • Richardthe3rd

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 10:27 am PT

    You'd think with the recent 2d resurgence that Konami would be flaunting some remakes from that era. They had some pretty big names back then; Contra, Gradius, Castlevania of course, even some of the more obscure titles like Zombies Ate My Neighbors.

    Lets face it though, Konami has made some really bad decisions in the past decade. Their focus on rhythm based titles like DDR and their release severance from Treasure really hurt their IP library and disenfranchised some of their more loyal customers. MGS is popular, but it won't carry them alone.

  • Jaggermaster

    Posted Nov 8, 2009 9:36 pm PT

    MILK MILK MILK Metal Gear Solid the RCAPPYEST franchise ever made.

    Kojima is a JOKE.

    Suck it well guys it's MILK

  • jeffv541

    Posted Nov 8, 2009 8:37 pm PT

    @nezardm See I haven't played many of the silent hills, just #1 (read my review it's great) and I guess I played #2 and that one on PSP. I am not really into the whole atmosphere thing, it's creepy and depressing. Now Resident Evils 1, 2, Veronica, The Gamecube remakes, and 4 are good games. I think Silent hill (as decent as it might be/have been) is a weak IP next to some of Konamis classic heavy hitters like Contra and Castlevania. I can only hope that nobody screws up those two series worse than they already have... (cause we're all lost hope for silent hill)

  • nezardm

    Posted Nov 8, 2009 7:34 pm PT

    what in the world are you jeffv541 talking about???? they haven't made a decent SH games since SH3, its all been just down the hill garbage...

  • jeffv541

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 8:00 pm PT

    MGS and Silent Hill are okay, but they are feeble next to thee mighty Castlevania!!!

  • coldsauce09

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 5:56 pm PT

    konami should be just... KOJIMA.

  • Jack_n_Coke07

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 1:44 am PT

    I imagine their profits would fall quite drastically, considering they haven't even released any (known of) games as of late.

    Gamespot has some really bad revenue statements. At least cover a company that's released some games, like EA for example.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 11:30 pm PT

    Silent Hill 4 the room? I dare anyone to start playing that game late one night, in the dark, with the sound up loud. You will be afraid. The Room gets a lot of hate but the premise is terrifying, unpredictable, and the monsters are horrific.

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 10:44 pm PT

    What has konami done this year?

  • cjasko94

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 6:16 pm PT

    MGS4 was the best game I've played this gen. -Twilight Princess I consider a 'last gen' game ported to the wii (as it was on the GameCube).

  • PumpkinBoogie

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 3:49 pm PT

    Ouch...that's a bit steep.

    Well, good thing that got do got some things like new Silent Hill game, a couple MGS titles, and ZOE3 on the horizon. Hell, just Kojima-san's work in itself will get them profits right back up in no time (when they're released), lol. But seriously though, I think Konami should consider with the new SH hopefully doing it in-house like they used to w/ 1-4 (ok, 4 may not have been great but at least it was theirs) stop letting these outsider Western developers doing their franchise. Konami is at the heart of what we know of as survival horror genre--letting anybody else do your material is like simply asking for failure. They need to take a page from Kojima-san and not let other developers touch their (original) properties.

  • HerbalVideogame

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 11:11 pm PT

    Why do I want to puke every time I read one of KittyHeart 's posts?

  • akiwak

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 10:21 pm PT

    They will return to big money once MG Rising is released, the next Castlevania will help keep the momentum then ZOE3 will take over after that.

  • Attoyou

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 9:07 pm PT

    @ bphan

    Even if they would Have Put it On Xbox360 , Their Profits would STILL Fall The NEXT Year.

    i Think One of the bigger companies should just buy Konami.

  • bigboss1203

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 8:07 pm PT

    @ Kittyheart and DRUGGIE. Silent Hill 4 was really akward and wtf a life bar? homecoming was Ok but like Druggie said it had little to no psychological element, ive never played origins. The first 3 are absolutely golden though.

  • bigboss1203

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 8:05 pm PT

    ouch. when MGS: Peace Walker comes out it will hopefully do better. I love Konami and i know they will bounce back

  • WTFitsPauL

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 7:13 pm PT

    No MGS, No Money

  • THE_DRUGGIE

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 6:44 pm PT

    @KittyHeart

    At least 4 was scary to some degree and retained the head games of the previous titles. When I played Origins I felt like I was being treated to a bunch of cheap "BOO!" scares and Homecoming just felt like and action-fest that lacked any kind of psychological drive whatsoever.

  • KittyHeart

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 6:36 pm PT

    @THE_DRUGGIE

    actually i thought homecoming and orgiains were much better than silent hilll 4. #4 was like totally awkwarrd and is considered the worst of the series by many peole.

  • TheSnakeBelmont

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 6:03 pm PT

    ok konami heres wot u need to do: -bring back the japanese SH team
    -Gimme ZOE 3 already !! (ok ill give u time to develop cuz i know kojima just started)
    -And make sure castlevania LOS can hold the candle...please.

  • MagicOneUp

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 6:03 pm PT

    poor ol' konami, they were used to be top of their games but now... starting to become stale, boring... one trick pony... i haven't being interested in a konami games in years... mmm i remember the last time i bought a konami game was that portrait of ruin on the Ds.... MGS mmm starting to become an update of the last

  • THE_DRUGGIE

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 5:34 pm PT

    @KittyHeart

    Only if Konami does it by themselves like they did with 1-4 instead of handing it foreign developers. Origins and Homecoming were abominations compared to the original four.

  • BtmnHatesRbn

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 4:58 pm PT

    Konami is one-trick pony these days. Consider: Metal Gear Solid has been done already. Graphic upgrades and new system don't make a new game. PES has become FIFA with less sales. Castlevania is the same thing over and over again since Symphony of the Night. And DDR or whatever it's calling itself is boring, as the generation who was 15 in 2001 is now 22 and not DDRing anymore.

    So, for some of Konami's past: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on NES, Contra on NES, Gradius on NES, Parodius on PC Engine, Pop'n Twinbee on Super Famicom, Life Force on NES, Vandal Hearts on PlayStation, Mission: Impossible on NES, etc.

    They used to be a company that made so many good games, and now, they're just limited to my opening paragraph.

  • bphan

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 4:31 pm PT

    Should've released MGS 4 for 360. That's what you get Konami.

  • KittyHeart

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 4:29 pm PT

    @Lucifericus

    oh i only mean a new silent hill game to raise konami's profits

  • Triton

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 3:49 pm PT

    Maybe they should have made the Fallujah game after all. Just change the NAME!!! Look what MW2 gonna do to the industry next week...

  • Lucifericus

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 3:36 pm PT

    @KittyHeart, I really doubt that. It's going to take more than a Silent Hill game on the Wii to turn things around.

  • tremor33

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 3:12 pm PT

    @ jinzo9988

    My thoughts exactly. I love Contra.

    What about a next-gen Gradius? that would be pretty sick 2

  • KittyHeart

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 3:07 pm PT

    81% down??

    silent hill shattered memories will change that around.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 2:34 pm PT

    I have to admit, I haven't given Konami much of my money in years. The last Konami game I bought was Castlevania off Live Arcade. That was two years ago...

  • thedevildweller

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 2:34 pm PT

    Considering Konami haven't really released any great games since Metal Gear Solid 4, which is over a year ago, I'm not really worried because as soon as Kojima Productions release something, I'm sure there sales will go out. Konami have been one of my favourite companies for a long time and to tell you the truth... I'm not worried one bit.

  • grey_fox1984

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 2:32 pm PT

    DEATH775

    YES!!! Zone of the Enders 2 was incredible, a next-gen sequel would be amazing

  • grey_fox1984

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 2:31 pm PT

    though a new Contra game could also be really cool, that series is in desperate need of a modern reimagining.... no rules need to be followed except it needs to have a spread shot and two player co-op

  • grey_fox1984

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 2:29 pm PT

    Peacewalker, Rising and Kojimavania.... when those are out, konami will be doing just fine.

    Hideo Kojima is the messiah of modern cinematic gaming. i don't care who knows it and don't care how many people call me a heretic, i worship the man.

  • redskinStu

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 2:22 pm PT

    "no surprise for me, the only thing Konami has is MGS, and castlevania'

    No, that's not true.

    Silent Hill is a pretty well known franchise, very high quality. Good games. One of Konami's best franchises, by far. Better than Castlevania, that's for certain.

  • otaku_momo

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 2:10 pm PT

    no surprise for me, the only thing Konami has is MGS, and castlevania

  • shadowysea07

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 1:19 pm PT

    well thats what happens when you don't release many good games

  • Dante2710

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 1:15 pm PT

    bummer, i wonder what upcoming games they have besides the next MGS game.

  • Evilnator

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:52 pm PT

    once they release Castlevania and Silent hill, they will pretty much be swimming in money xD

  • jinzo9988

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:50 pm PT

    Can we get a decent current-gen Contra? Contra 4 was a step in the right direction after the crappy PS1 games and the soulless PS2 games but for me the double screen ruined it. It's not difficult guys. Third person gameplay, a city, tanks and choppers, a few out-of-city locales like jungles and stuff, aliens, huge robots and explosions aplenty. I don't know why it's so hard to make a decent third person shooter for Contra, there are tons of other good ones out there.

    While we're on the subject of current-gen, can we get a 3D Castlevania game that doesn't suck? The DS games are awesome so I'm not as saddened by Castlevania as I am by Contra, but still.

  • DEATH775

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:44 pm PT

    Konami should make Zone of The Enders for the 360 and PS3. That would definitely help them a lot.

  • UnknownForm

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:29 pm PT

    Well, Konami, you didn't release much for these past few months, and MGS4 was like a year ago...

  • Young_Charter

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:28 pm PT

    I Think they are going to be fine. I mean, They have a couple projects coming out and they have 2 Metal Gear titles to be released. And on the other hand, MGS1 is still selling on the PSN. I mean, I can Guarantee you that if they made a couple more things and goodies for MGS4 Online and what has been asked for which is a "Trophy Patch" things would get very interesting. People love trophies. And to be honest I think that there were plenty of things on MGS4 that a lot of people didn't find. I want to play the game more n more and enjoy the story...but for some reason i just wanna wait for a trophy patch! They had so much difficulties on there and challenges including the online play but they just wont bother to make a trophy patch not even at least 40 trophies..but anyway...enough about trophies. In the long run I have faith in Konami. They could make a 3rd Zone of the Enders and online play would just be a sexy planning including making your own orbital frame. And Castlevania I dnt even need to explain but a brand new project would be better! And a Better Silent Hill game. Don't get it twisted Konami has very popular titles from here to Japan. It's just a matter of time when they start gaing an adrenaline rush

  • rpm12345

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:24 pm PT

    hopefully peace walker will help them

  • Desulated

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:22 pm PT

    I think Konami needs to make more Metal Gear and Contra games-those are perhaps their best two well known series.

  • shii666

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:21 pm PT

    You know... I REALLY want a current gen Suikoden...

  • Ranma_X_basic

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:16 pm PT

    Hey Konami. do me a favor and make a next Gen Contra. since kojima-san is overlooking castlevania lord of shadows and plans on a new zone of the enders game i want contra. and maybe Lifeforce!!!

  • lilmurfer

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:13 pm PT

    i hope they really hold up.

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