Ubisoft announces upturn in revenues

Ubisoft has issued a new financial report showing an impressive upturn in revenues for the first six months of FY 2006, attributing the rise to healthy sales of Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable titles.

Sales for the first half of the financial year, ending September 30, stood at 153 million Euro - an increase of 19 per cent. Second quarter sales were up by 64 per cent over figures for the same period last year, standing at 110 million Euro. The company did not publish profits for the first quarter or total six month period.

In the first half of financial year 2006-2006, sales of DS and PSP titles made up 19 per cent of revenues, according to Ubisoft. The publisher also stated that console and PC titles such as Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Lockdown, Far Cry Instincts and Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood have performed well since they were released in September.

Ubisoft still ranks in sixth place behind other independent publishers in the US market, but claims fourth place in the German and Canadian markets, third in the UK and Spain, and is the second most successful independent publisher in France and Italy.

The publisher predicts that movie tie-in Peter Jackson's King Kong and Prince of Persia sequel The Two Thrones will be key titles this year, and forecasts third quarter revenues of approximately 250 million Euro - a 36 per cent increase on last year's figures.

The forecast for full year sales stands at EURO 600 million, with profits before miscellaneous expenses of 38 million Euro expected.