Future’s Games Group sees overall portfolio growth; promising results from unofficial titles

17/02/05 - Future (LSE:FUTR), the international magazine Group, today releases the latest ABC audited circulation figures for the 53 titles in its UK portfolio of 76 monthly and bimonthly magazines that are subject to an ABC audit, including all 12 games titles.

UK circulation highlights:

• Future's UK games magazines were up 5.7% to 654,654 copies per month, and down just 0.8% when excluding the acquisition of PC Zone in the period.

• Overall sales of PlayStation magazines held steady at 323,848 copies while a 6.5% increase for Official Xbox Magazine offset declines elsewhere in the Xbox portfolio.

Mia Roberts, Publishing Director for Future's Games Group said:

"We've announced a mixed bag of ABC results across our Games Group. Despite a drop in sales year-on- year, Official PlayStation 2 Magazine remains a massive title - selling over 170,000 issues a month. Our unofficial PS2 titles, PSW and PSM2 have exceeded our expectations year-on-year, with PSM2 recording a 24.6% sales increase over the last 12 months.

"Both Official Xbox Magazine and our unofficial Xbox World magazine have increased sales year-on-year - thanks to eagerly awaited blockbuster games like Halo 2.

"Multi-format magazines, Edge and GamesMaster have also posted year-on-year circulation increases. Gamesmaster's sales have risen by 15.3% - taking it back to over 60,000 copies a month.

"2005 has the potential to be an exciting year for games as both Sony and Nintendo are due to launch new handheld consoles in the UK.

"We have been pleased with the performance of many of our titles across the Games Group - especially those we have invested in over the past year. We will continue this investment across the group into 2005, paying particular attention to the magazines which have suffered in the last 12 months."

For more information contact:

Will Guyatt, Communications 01225 822517

Matthew Pierce, Assistant Publisher, Games Group 01225 442244

Notes to Editors:

The annual comparisons referred to in the release are stated for continuing magazines, including acquisitions and first time ABCs but excluding closures and disposals.

About Future

Future plc was founded in the UK in 1985. Today, it publishes over 100 special-interest consumer magazines worldwide with strong portfolios in the computing, games, music, sports, motoring, crafts and leisure sectors. It is the fifth largest magazine publisher in the UK and last year was reported as being the fastest growing US magazine publisher at newsstand. Future employs 1,200 people in offices in the UK, US, Italy and France. Over 100 international editions of Future's magazines are also published under licence in 30 other countries across the world. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).