Among the comprehensive list of numbers in Ubisoft's first half fiscal 2009-10 report, measuring performance in April through September 2009, one figure stands out: the French company's reported €52,027,000 in not-profit. That's right, Ubisoft's profits are down by more than €70 million (over $100 million) from the same period last year to rest firmly in the red.
From a profitable first half of fiscal 2008-09 of roughly €24 million to just over €52 million in losses in the first half of fiscal 2009-10, Ubisoft's profits have experienced a year-over-year change of -316.53 percent. However, CEO Yves Guillemot remains steadfast that projected sales figures for Assassin's Creed 2 and Avatar will ease Ubisoft's financial woes. This is, after all, the most important Q4 in the company's history.
Reader Comments (35)
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:03PM (Unverified) said
Maybe they should stop making stupid Imagine games for the DS and completely remove themselves from Wii development.
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:08PM (Unverified) said
Oh, c'mon! Those game have to be pure profit! I mean, they just tweak the sprites and ship a new version, right?
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:12PM (Unverified) said
I think the profit margins for the wii/ds are higher than the next gen consoles, the development costs are alot cheaper for DS/Wii and take into account the fact that most AAA games dont even break even, i think i read that they need to sell about 1.2 - 1.5 million.
From a business stand point they need to more on the DS/Wii
Reply
From a business stand point they need to more on the DS/Wii
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:26PM (Unverified) said
The problem is, the devs who have put a lot of time into their Wii and DS games usually get burned. Can we blame Ubi for taking the easy way to profits?
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:31PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
COME ON WII VITALITY SENSOR...UBISOFT NEEDS YOU
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:35PM TwEE said
"The problem is, the devs who have put a lot of time into their Wii and DS games usually get burned. Can we blame Ubi for taking the easy way to profits?"
Ubisoft has been peddling crap on the Wii for years. You're sugesting they were influnced to do this by wacthing other 3rd parties put AAA effort into thier wii games only to watch them fail.
I say they thought very little of the intelligence of the expanded market that Nintendo helped to create and so in an attempt to crab as much cash as they could, started releasing poor quality products, because "heh these "casuals are stupid" and will buy anything... and now its all falling apart.
Reply
Ubisoft has been peddling crap on the Wii for years. You're sugesting they were influnced to do this by wacthing other 3rd parties put AAA effort into thier wii games only to watch them fail.
I say they thought very little of the intelligence of the expanded market that Nintendo helped to create and so in an attempt to crab as much cash as they could, started releasing poor quality products, because "heh these "casuals are stupid" and will buy anything... and now its all falling apart.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 5:05PM borland502 said
"Ubisoft has been peddling crap on the Wii for years."
Probably a better business plan for 3rd parties than making an effort.
Reply
Probably a better business plan for 3rd parties than making an effort.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:12PM Pure Black World Tendency said
Perhaps they should make that next Splinter Cell multiplatform, and make some more money?
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:14PM (Unverified) said
Well we dont know how much MS paid to keep that exclusive, that probably cushions the blow of no ps3 sales, if only a little.
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:22PM NaeemTHM said
I'd be pretty surprised if Conviction stayed exclusive for very long. I mean all Splinter Cell games have found there way to the Playstation sooner or later.
Anyway, Assassin's Creed II was freaking amazing and blows the first out of the water. I really hope that game sells millions of copies because it damn deserves it.
Reply
Anyway, Assassin's Creed II was freaking amazing and blows the first out of the water. I really hope that game sells millions of copies because it damn deserves it.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:22PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
Well it is coming out for the PC as well but I do see your point. This game would have sold well on the PS3.
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:20PM The Blank Mage Returns said
Man, and here I though they were doing well.
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:20PM The Blank Mage Returns said
WHY MUST MY EVERY POST CONTAIN A SPELLING ERROR?!
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:21PM CrabBattle said
Those bastards made far cry 2. And ruined prince of persia ( although they redeemed themselves in the last game). And i HOPE red steel 2 isnt a piece of crap like the first.
IMO ubisoft is just another studio. Oh and f*** you guys for the crappy pc game's support.
Reply
IMO ubisoft is just another studio. Oh and f*** you guys for the crappy pc game's support.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:27PM (Unverified) said
Profits are evil in socialism. As a French company, they're just doing what comes naturally.
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:51PM Guibs said
this is not news and was expected. When you decide to "delay" some Q4 launches for Q1 2010 launches to avoid releasing games during the heavy holidays period, you have to be ready to see declines in profits for that quarter.
Then again, profits will be better in Q1 2010 than last year so it will all even things out.
Reply
Then again, profits will be better in Q1 2010 than last year so it will all even things out.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 4:58PM arrrgh said
exactly what i was thinking
they've been heavily invested in some big games coming specifically AFTER the april-september 09 period. Wait for the q4 statement before passing judgment on their situation.
seeing as how Ubi is apparently known to be a great employer and opening up shop in Toronto, I want to see them succeed.
Reply
they've been heavily invested in some big games coming specifically AFTER the april-september 09 period. Wait for the q4 statement before passing judgment on their situation.
seeing as how Ubi is apparently known to be a great employer and opening up shop in Toronto, I want to see them succeed.
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 5:03PM borland502 said
I'm going to be one sad Panda if Activision is the only thriving company this year. Creativity apparently only pays in warm fuzzies and a sense of pride.
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 5:23PM Ghede said
I firmly believe shovelware is the harbringer of the console apocolypse. They are releasing games that are as bad, if not worse than ET every day. Eventually, their market will burn out and stop buying games. You want to imagine the Wii with even fewer profitable 3rd party releases?
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 5:23PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said
I think it's obvious at this point AC2 will be a runaway success and I expect the new Splinter Cell to be successful in it's own right next year. However, I have some serious doubts about the avatar game moving units. I've never been a big fan of Ubi but with all the content across varied platforms on the horizon they shouldn't have a fiscal issue next year.
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 5:34PM Shagittarius said
I'm gonna go ahead and say they are going to be disappointed with Avatar's performance. Yeah I'm Psychic.
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 6:37PM Chibi Chaingun said
It's on mine. Looks to be a lot of content in it too. 2 campaigns, multi, XP system, Strategy metagame, and a Pandora encyclopedia. Not to mention plays in sterescopic 3D. (I have nVidia 3D Vision)
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 6:39PM Shagittarius said
Chibi all DX games will play in 3d with the nvidia drivers. traceroute Chibi -> Ubisoft.com
Reply
Posted: Nov 30th 2009 7:32PM Chibi Chaingun said
Hehe, yeah I have nVidia 3D Vision and have tried lots of games in 3D, HOWEVER, Avatar is one of the first to develop the game with it in mind. The 3D settings on the demo had some serious depth, best I've ever seen. However, nVidia is still tweaking the drivers for the Avatar game so there were some issues.
Reply
Posted: Dec 1st 2009 12:58PM (Unverified) said
hmm they shouldve spent their money on the production of beyond good and evil 2 instead of imagine BS well hopefully theyve learned by now that we demand bg&e2 NOW!! >=)
Reply
Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.
Featured Stories
GameStop sees majority of digital sales from cash; won't pursue used PC game sales
Posted on Feb 10th 2012 5:45PM
The most popular posts
in the last 7 days
- Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 221 comments
- Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 154 comments
- David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 107 comments
- Blizzard taking Valve to court over 'DOTA' trademark 107 comments
- Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments








