Mobile game sales up by 50 per cent for Gameloft

Mobile games publisher Gameloft has published its Q4 financial report, revealing sales of EUR 21.8 million - up 41 per cent from the same period last year.

During the course of 2005, sales of Gameloft's mobile titles rose by more than 50 per cent. There was a significant rise in the popularity of downloadable games, which now account for 91 per cent of the company's sales.

Just 1 per cent of Gameloft's revenues came from jeuxvideo.com, which was sold last June for EUR 22.9 million.

Quarter four saw a healthy rise of sales in Europe for Gameloft, but overall the market split evened out over the course of 2006. North America is catching up with 41 per cent of sales, while Europe is still just ahead with 43 per cent. The remainder is divided amongst other territories, mainly in Asia and Latin America.

Full year sales were up by 46 per cent compared to 2005 to reach EUR 68.4 million. As a result, Gameloft has slightly exceeded the EUR 68 million target set last September.

The company claims to be the leading mobile gaming business in Europe and the second largest player in North America. It launched 45 games in 2006, with best-sellers including Platinum Sudoku, Deal or No Deal, 2006 Real Football and Mission Impossible III.

Gameloft expects 2007 sales to reach between EUR 90 million and EUR 100 million, with an increase in the operating margin of more than 10 per cent. More than 50 games are due for a release during the course of the year, including Lost, Desperate Housewives and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon.