PES 2018 Helps Konami Profits Rise Again

Konami, the publisher of the Metal Gear series, has reported a rise in both revenue and profits. The company stated its strong results were due in part to Western economies' continued recovery and "stable performance" of its games lineup.

For the nine months ending December 31, 2017, the company's revenue stood at $1.6 billion, a 9% rise over the same period last year. Operating profit for the same timeframe increased by 30% to $351 million. Its digital entertainment division was the strongest performer for the period in terms of revenue, accounting for over 50% of the company's total earnings.

The publisher attributed its success to "strong performance" of its Japanese mobile games and "stable" performance of its console lineup, specifically citing PES 2018 and Super Bomberman R. Konami also has a substantial health and fitness division, its second-biggest section in terms of revenue.

Despite celebrating Western economies' recovery, the company did warn that "the future remains uncertain because of concerns about political and policy movements and a heightening of geopolitical risks."

On the horizon for the company is Metal Gear Survive, a multiplayer stealth game coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC. The spinoff is set in the same universe as Metal Gear Solid V and takes place after the events of Ground Zeroes. Metal Gear Survive's release date has been set as February 20 in the US and February 22 in Europe.