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Konami nine-month profits tumble 40.4%

April-December 2009 revenues slip 18.4 percent, suffer from unfavorable comparison to same Metal Gear Solid-ified period in 2008.

Within days of Capcom, Nintendo, Microsoft, Namco Bandai, Tecmo Koei, and THQ delivering earnings reports, Konami has joined the financially divulgent crowd.

Konami's April-December 2009 earnings didn't stack up compared to the 2008 success of Metal Gear Solid 4.

Konami's April-December 2009 earnings didn't stack up compared to the 2008 success of Metal Gear Solid 4.

Unfortunately, given unfavorable comparisons to the same Metal Gear Solid 4-earnings-packed period in 2008, the last nine months of 2009 saw the Japanese publisher's revenues slip 18.4 percent to ¥190.9 billion ($2.1 billion). Profits experienced an even more steep decline, sinking 40.4 percent to ¥10.6 billion ($116.7 million).

Of Konami's four divisions, Digital Entertainment--aka games--saw the steepest decline in nine-month revenue, falling 32.5 percent to ¥100.4 billion ($1.1 billion). The biggest release for the period was World Soccer Winning Eleven 2010, released in the US and Europe as Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PSP, PC, and PlayStation 2. The publisher also called out the Japan-only Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu baseball series, which saw several installments ship for the Wii, PSP, and PS2. The company also said the 360, PS3, and PC game based on the Saw horror films "enjoyed strong sales" in non-Japanese markets, but it did not offer any specific figures.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 helped keep Konami profitable.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 helped keep Konami profitable.

By territory, Konami sold 5.17 million games in Japan from March to December 2009, with 3.36 million games in North America and 6.73 million games in Europe--an across-the-board decline. Add the 240,000 games from Asia, and the company sold a total of 15.53 million games during the period. Of those, 6.96 million were soccer games, 1.02 million were baseball games, 1.26 million were television animation tie-ins, 1.03 million were music games, 4.62 million were classified as "other," and just 650,000 were games from the Metal Gear franchise. By contrast, Konami sold 4.5 million Metal Gear games during the last nine months of 2008, most of which were Metal Gear Solid 4.

For the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, Konami is now predicting net income of ¥16 billion ($175.7 million) on net revenue of ¥310 billion ($3.4 billion). Current-quarter releases of note include the international launch of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories for the Wii, PSP, and PS2 and the localized version of THQ's Darksiders for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in Japan.

53 Comments

  • kamizuka

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 1:16 am GMT

    MGS4 is the best thing that ever happened for konami

  • rhinoballz

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 2:11 pm GMT

    As someone who defected from Pro Evolution to Fifa, they NEED to completely overhaul Pro Evolution to bring me (and many others) back to the franchise.

  • RhythmMan

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 3:31 am GMT

    What do they expect? With so few mainstream titles being released it's no suprise they're losing money.

    If any developer took as long between games, then they would lose money too. You can't sell what you're not releasing.

    Case in point, Rockstar is losing money because GTA IV came out a couple years ago now, and they don't have another hit game to fill the time until the next GTA. Some commpanies make money in spurts, with a few big titles, some release many titles and have constant income. EA releases many more games, but I'd argue the quality lacks at times, lol.

    Anyway, it's market strategy...Konami takes years to release new titles.

  • lestat23l

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 8:44 pm GMT

    I too want Suikoden 2 on PSN, that would be amazing, i never had the chance to play it.

  • Guzthon

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 7:33 pm GMT

    Oh man, that hurts. Konami should relaese games right now. Like: Z.O.E., new Contra game (2D for the PS3, XBOX 360 and Wii), Castlevania Collections, Suidoken, etc.
    Any updates of Metal Gear Raiden: Uprising?

  • Aentikraist

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:54 pm GMT

    aaaaand the new castlevaniaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i still dont get why the stupid gameboy advance had so many castlevanias and psp just 1 mmm........................ its actually a cool really cool game but KONAMI we NEED MORE CASTLEVANIAAAAAAAS FOR THE PSP advance sucks in comparison with psp graphics so why u holding back?? and the castlevania for the 360 how much long u gonna take??

  • Aentikraist

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:50 pm GMT

    i neeeeeed metal gear RISING for the 360 where is iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for the 360 remember konami at least put a decent trailer not just black clouds and lightnings plz or even better a metal gear acid real version for the ps3 and the 360

  • lamprey263

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 3:53 pm GMT

    they really haven't released any good games in a while, if anything I'd like to see one really solid Silent Hill game, don't know why people still think MGS4 is all that, it was one long horribly written cutscene with brief bits of gameplay in between and I can do without another one

  • Heshertonfist

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 2:24 pm GMT

    haha boo-hoo, "We're only making hundreds of millions instead of billions."

  • terror_ninja

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 1:32 pm GMT

    If MGS4 was on Xbox 360 it probably would have sold more because in 2008 there were a lot more 360 owners than PS3 owners but I think Konami made a good call only releasing it on PS3 as the 360 probably would have had to have multiple disks and wouldnt have been as near as good as on PS3.

  • Jak_Napier

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 1:29 pm GMT

    that sucks.

  • Yannick_18

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 1:25 pm GMT

    I want Suikoden 6 for Playstation 3 please!

  • Magatsu23

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 1:24 pm GMT

    Z.O.E. on PS3/xbox360 now. that would be AWESOME.

  • jadefury27

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 11:48 am GMT

    @NDegree: I agree.
    Konami's turn around on releases is pretty sad unles you count all the retreads of classics. The new castlevania and a possible z.o.e. sequel will give the company breathing room...if they ever come out. i would love to see a whole new take on a contra game, maybe something inspired by the gears or lost planet franchise. Kojima is a mad man so i know the new castlevania will be intresting to say the least.

  • yanyatkai

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 11:45 am GMT

    More MGS and Castlevania games, please!

  • AgentA-Mi6

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 11:40 am GMT

    Castlevania and MGS Rising and peace walker can't come soon enough I guess

  • HerbalVideogame

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 11:28 am GMT

    I want Suikoden II on the PSN. NOW please.

  • Charliesix

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 11:22 am GMT

    Konami profits were at $116 million, even with their 40% tumble. Profit is yummy.

  • TripSe7en

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 11:16 am GMT

    If Kojima wasn't behind the helm for the new Castlevania game, I could potentially be worried about Konami, but since Kojima is working on the new Metal Gear AND the new Castlevania, I think they will be able to ride out the storm.

  • Cabal23

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 10:58 am GMT

    @ TheKungFool
    Yeah but they actually have to do something with those properties.

  • jadefury27

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 10:57 am GMT

    Snake? snake!
    SNNAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKEEE!

  • TheKungFool

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 9:59 am GMT

    Konami will be fine.
    CastleVania, Silent Hill, DanceDanceRev, ProEvSoccer, Contra....they've got some great properties.

    And just for the record....we another SUIKDOEN please

  • real_nimrod

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 9:51 am GMT

    wow, i didn't realise just how important PES was to Konami...(when they say 'soccer' i asusme they mean that or one of its regional counterparts)...If nearly half of their 09 games sales are from it, you'd think they'd bother trying, else see their market share eroded by EA...

  • Cabal23

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 9:41 am GMT

    Oh yeah, get rid of the exclusivity too. That is like chopping off one hand before you get to bat.

  • HavocV3

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 9:28 am GMT

    and people WANT MG Rising to be exclusive?

  • Waldkrieger

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 9:09 am GMT

    Ohh, how sad. We'll all have to live off toast and water now. Like I care. Quit making stupid sports games and you might do better. Sports games are about as fun as a elevator ride.

  • Evilnator

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 8:22 am GMT

    They should try something new.

  • eal-zubieri

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 8:17 am GMT

    MGS4 is one and a half years old and every body knows that old games sales less but konami thinks other wise.the strangest thing is they never release any thing about the MGS Rising not even a trailer of the gameplay but i hope its great like the last releases .

  • NDegree

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 7:57 am GMT

    Konami should think out of the box. They have to make approximately 3 to 4 games every year instead of 2. Reboot Contra and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and bring new hardcore IP's. Thats the way to go I think????

  • nocoolnamejim Site moderator

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 7:37 am GMT

    A new Suikoden game might help improve those profit figures, particularly if it wasn't banished to the handhelds and actually appeared on the main consoles.

    I understand Metal Gear is Konami's cash cow, but there's more than one segment of gamer out there.

  • AngelCage-2

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 7:20 am GMT

    what where they waiting for??? Money coming from nowhere?

    Make downloable reeditions of the 3 NES castlevanias (specially Dracula's curse, my favorite!) make a REAL current gen castlevania that kicks the old glory of castlevania (C3, SC4, Simphony and the like ... i'm not that sure about that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow thing... too much GoW if you ask me ) and you will get a truckload of cash... I can even say that i could prefeer a Old School, awesome 2D graps, no MetroidVania, more like the first one Castlevania... I could buy a wii only for that game.


    A zone of the enders could never be a bad idea and that's it. You can't get lots of money, hoping for people to get old games. Work and you will gain.

  • DamageIncM

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 7:14 am GMT

    lol Did you see the picture of the prototype PS3 with the boomerang? XD
    I wasn't even into PlayStation (maybe 2) when I saw them showcase that one and even I was like "What the heck kind of boomerang-controller is that!?". XD

    PES is kinda "meh" to be honest, I tried them and they're quite "old" compared to FIFA 10.
    Now, I'm not some kind of FIFA-fanboi or something, I don't even watch real soccer.
    While I loved the '90s FIFA-games, was disappointed in the ones of the previous decade and very impressed by the last one, I must go with FIFA and I hope they'll keep going in this right direction.

  • Jhoalot

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:59 am GMT

    They almost don't release games.

  • sunio

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:48 am GMT

    make another konami world crossover game again or ZOE 3

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:29 am GMT

    One trick pony.

  • wonzan

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:29 am GMT

    yup ZOE3 would rock!!
    Oh and I hope this fiscally bad problem doesn't affect any of the games that Konami is releasing in the near future (castlevania and MGS rising come to mind). Please don't rush them!

  • Gen007

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:19 am GMT

    well Konami's problem is they put all their eggs into one basket. they released MGS4 and thought it would carry them for 2 years. Then they go and release a bunch of crap on the side. It shouldn't be like that for them, they have so many great franchises under their belt but we never hear about anything but MGS. i guess its a gift and a curse for them.

  • GodsPoison

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:13 am GMT

    Hey Konami how about you get on Kojima's @ss about getting us Zone of Enders 3 before the world ends in 2012!!!!!

  • Cabal23

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:08 am GMT

    Konami is nothing without Metal Gear. That is the problem. How about some new franchises instead of old rehashed ones. A little innovation goes a long way.

  • elbert_b_23

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 6:08 am GMT

    konami is great company people just need to buy the games they make

  • FaintRain

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 5:58 am GMT

    @Black_Adder_

    TOTALLY MAN,PES is the best soccer game ever

  • FaintRain

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 5:55 am GMT

    Go Konami!

  • Raziel_125

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 4:27 am GMT

    This only shows how much mgs is worshiped...
    Afte it no matter how many games they launched they still had losses.

  • FabioPizzini

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 3:26 am GMT

    Odd, after MGS4 Konamy make a lot of game for WII and still get losses?

  • Everiez

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 2:46 am GMT

    I want Suikoden, Castlevania and ZoE.

  • MATERAZZI_23

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 2:22 am GMT

    Good thing for Konami that people of the world love football/soccer.

  • coldsauce09

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 2:08 am GMT

    suikoden, or a castlevania game pls... make castlevania easier so it will sell at the west.

  • jesse_jax

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 1:51 am GMT

    Obviously metal gear solid sales are going to drop after a year of it being out. Its on release when you get the majority of sales.. not a year later... wtf is gamespot on?

  • Black_Adder_

    Posted Feb 4, 2010 1:50 am GMT

    Suikoden was one of coolest games on PS2 and I'm Pro Evolution Soccer fan from PS1 times (still remember the first Japanese version - looked like the one from those arcade games where you must insert a coin to play) It's a shame that Japanese versions always are a bit better (Winning eleven). If anybody finds FIFA boring and annoyingly easy - try Pro Evolution Soccer. It's much more realistic and requires some brains to play on hardest difficulty - I've seen some FIFA fans struggling in PES even on easiest difficulty level

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