Ubisoft reports Christmas sales decline, expects record Q4 figures

French publisher Ubisoft has announced details of its third quarter sales performance, revealing that despite good performance from all of its titles, a reduced line-up meant that overall revenues fell year on year.

Both of the company's major titles for the quarter performed strongly, with Prince of Persia Warrior Within selling 1.9 million copies in its first month while Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 shifted 1.4 million units in seven weeks.

However, the total sales figure fell 18 per cent year on year, from 228 million Euro in Q3 2003/04 to 186 million Euro in the same period this year, as Ubisoft moved many of its major titles into the fourth financial quarter.

As a result, the publisher is expecting record results in the current quarter, which runs through to the end of its financial year on March 31st, and includes the launch of titles including Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and key new brands Brothers In Arms and Cold Theory.

Ubisoft is projecting fourth quarter earnings of 220 million Euro, which will leave its overall sales for the year up by ten per cent - a reversal of the first nine months of the year, which have seen sales down by 11 per cent.

The company, whose future has been the target of intense speculation after Electronic Arts acquired a 20 per cent shareholding in late December, is also targeting growth of at least 12 per cent in 2005/06, which would bring sales to over 600 million Euro.

"Ubisoft is well on its way to meeting its fiscal-year objectives," according to CEO Yves Guillemot, "and can count on an excellent year in 2005/06. This proves that our unique assets, brands and studios, are generating significant growth and profitability."