Ubisoft posts 45 per cent rise in Q4 sales

French publisher Ubisoft has issued results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31 2005, revealing that revenues have jumped to â'¬221 million - up from â'¬152 million in the same period last year.

The 45 per cent rise in revenues will more than cover a third-quarter drop of 18 per cent.

Total revenue for the year was â'¬537 million, representing an annual growth of 6 per cent. Ubisoft will not publish an annual earnings statement until June 16, but did reveal that net income, excluding exception items, for the 04-05 fiscal year totals â'¬16-22 million. Long term debts now stand at â'¬82 million, down from â'¬119 million a year ago.

Ubisoft said the boost in revenues was due to the success of its best known brands. Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 sold 1.7 million copies, while sales for games in the Splinter Cell series have now topped 5 million. The Prince of Persia series has also shifted 3 million units.

The publisher concluded by confirming that it plans to take on 600 new members of staff over the course of the next 12 months, bringing its total number of employees to 2900.

It also revealed that seven Ubisoft titles will be published on the Nintendo DS in the next year, along with five on the PSP and four on Microsoft's next-generation console.

"The products for the new generation of consoles presented at the international E3 videogame trade show in Los Angeles will be a yardstick for the new stage we have now entered," said Yves Guillemot, president and CEO of Ubisoft.

Ubisoft titles slated for release over the coming months include Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith for DS and GBA and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for PS2 and Xbox.