Joystiq

Capcom year-end results: sales up, profit down, Resident Evil 6 failed to meet projections at 4.9M

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:45:00 EST

Resident Evil 6, Capcom's flagship of horrors for the fiscal year concluding March 31, 2013, certainly has "plateaued," as Capcom put it in today's results. The game, which launched in October of 2012, shipped over 4.5 million units at the time. The company announced today the game sold 4.9 million units. Comparatively, Resident Evil 5 has sold 6.1 million units.

"As a result, [Resident Evil 6] did not meet with our projection," the company's statement reads. "In contrast, Dragon's Dogma became a greater-than-expected hit product in the domestic market, which has high profitability, and became an unprecedented million seller in the recent years as an original title."

Overall, Capcom sales were up 14.6 percent for the year to ¥94.07 million ($950M), with net income down to ¥2.97 million ($30M), which is a decrease of 56 percent from last year. Capcom expects this year to be similar in revenues, but hopes to bring that profit back to the 2012 level. This year's line-up includes Remember Me and Lost Planet 3.

Capcom year-end results: sales up, profit down, Resident Evil 6 failed to meet projections at 4.9M originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FIFA 13 sells 14.5 million in 2013, digital revenue up from FIFA 12

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:35:00 EST

FIFA 13 sold through 14.5 million units in fiscal year 2013, up 30 percent compared with FIFA 12 sales from the prior year. Net revenue from digital sales hit $200 million in adjusted, non-GAAP terms, an increase of 94 percent compared with FIFA 12 year-over-year. The entire FIFA franchise generated $350 million in digital net revenue in FY 2013, including sales from FIFA Online and FIFA World Class Soccer.

By Q3 2013, which ended on December 31, 2012, FIFA 13 clocked a total of 12 million sales.

FIFA 13 sells 14.5 million in 2013, digital revenue up from FIFA 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zynga sees revenues and users decline in Q1, Draw Something 2 out today

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:45:00 EST

Social game publisher Zynga has revealed financial results for the first quarter of 2013. The company posted revenue of $263.5 million, a significant decline from the $320.9 million posted during the first quarter last year. Zynga saw its user numbers decline as well. Daily active, monthly active and monthly unique users fell across the board.

Despite these losses, Zynga recorded a net income of $4.1 million, as compared to a $85.3 million loss during the same period last year. The company identified FarmVille 2 as "a breakout hit with daily audience engagement and bookings exceeding the company's expectations." For the second quarter, the publisher is predicting a net loss of $36.5 million to $26.5 million.

Zynga posted a huge loss of over $200 million for 2012, and today's results follow a string of rocky news for the company, including high-profile departures, game shutdowns and multiple studio closures or consolidations. Earlier this year, J.P. Morgan sold the majority of its stock in the company. At the very least, Zynga is looking to keep its current stable of executives on board with the promise of larger salaries.

Alongside its financials, Zynga announced that Draw Something 2 is launching today. Dan Porter, former CEO of Draw Something studio OMGPOP, left Zynga earlier this month.

Zynga sees revenues and users decline in Q1, Draw Something 2 out today originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft video game division turns a profit in Q3

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:15:00 EST

Microsoft has announced earnings for its fiscal third quarter (ended March 31), drawing attention to the Entertainment & Devices Division (EDD), which handles products like the Xbox, Windows Phone and Surface.

The EDD reported revenue of $2.53 billion, a 56 percent increase over the $1.61 billion reported during the same period last year. The company also cited a "video game deferral" of $380 million - an advance on the launch of Halo 4, according to Gamasutra - effectively lowering revenues to $2.15 billion. Even so, the EDD racked up an operating income of $342 million, up from a $242 million loss during the same period last year.

Sales of Xbox 360 consoles declined, with Microsoft shipping 8.9 million units in the first nine months of fiscal 2013, down 3 million units from the same period last year. Xbox Live subscriptions rose, however, as did Xbox Live revenue. Specifically, Xbox Live membership grew 18 percent and now totals 46 million members. Microsoft did not specify how many pay for Gold memberships.

Microsoft video game division turns a profit in Q3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ's Q2 sees $107 million in net sales, needs more money for delays

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST

THQ posted net sales of $107 million and an operating loss of $19 million in fiscal 2013's second quarter, which ended September 30. This is compared with 2012's Q2 results of $146 million in net sales, and an operating loss of $97 million.

In a bid to stay afloat, in 2012 THQ has undergone corporate reshuffling, has closed studios, laid off staff, rearranged its product line and enacted a reverse stock split. THQ's most recent mainstream launch was Darksiders 2, which sold 1.4 million copies in Q2 2013. THQ CEO Brian Farrell said these sales were "below our expectations."

THQ delayed South Park: The Stick of Truth, Company of Heroes 2 and Metro: Last Light today, citing a need for more time to realize the games' full potentials. This means THQ may seek more money from outside investors and through internal shake-ups in the interim, the fiscal report said.

"The calendar movement for the release of games will likely create a need for additional capital. THQ has engaged Centerview Partners LLC to assist the company in evaluating strategic and financing alternatives intended to improve THQ's overall liquidity, including raising additional capital, preserve the company's ability to bring the best possible games to market during the most advantageous release windows and to help address the $100 million 5% convertible senior notes due August 2014."

THQ's Q2 sees $107 million in net sales, needs more money for delays originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Resident Evil 6, Dragon's Dogma propel Capcom to record first half of fiscal 2013

JC Fletcher — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST

Capcom reported operating income of 6.5 billion yen ($81.6 million) for the first half of its fiscal 2013 (April 1 through September 30), up 134.2 percent from last year. Overall, Capcom claimed that "sales and income for this 6 months period broke the record at all levels for the first half."

The success is attributed to two games which have done better in sales than in reviews, one being Resident Evil 6, of which Capcom had already shipped 3.7 million units to retailers by the end of the half, in advance of its October release date. Yes, one of the best-selling games of the period, from Capcom's perspective, had not yet been released during the period. That's why we're always clear to identify "shipped" versus "sold," if you're playing along at home.

The other big seller is Dragon's Dogma, which became a million seller in Capcom's "more profitable domestic market" of Japan despite less success outside of Japan.

Capcom's social games, including a Monster Hunter card game, Resident Evil Outbreak Survive, and the Beeline games The Smurfs' Village and Snoopy's Street Fair also contributed.

Resident Evil 6, Dragon's Dogma propel Capcom to record first half of fiscal 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox division earnings down 1% compared to last year

JC Fletcher — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:30:00 EST

In today's most incremental news, Microsoft reported that its Entertainment and Devices Division, responsible for the Xbox 360 and Windows Phone, earned $1.95 billion in revenue in the first quarter of its fiscal 2013, down 1% from the same period last year.

1.7 million Xbox 360 consoles were sold in the quarter ending September 30. This is a 29 percent drop from last year. Microsoft expects division revenue (from Xbox, Windows Phone, Skype, and everything else the Entertainment and Devices Division manages) to continue dropping in the next quarter, but rise in "low single-digits" for the year.

Xbox division earnings down 1% compared to last year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix sees losses in fiscal Q1, but handheld and social games help

JC Fletcher — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST

Square Enix faced net losses of 2.077 billion yen ($27 million) in the fiscal quarter ending June 30. The Digital Entertainment division, responsible for home and mobile video games, reported that "sales of console games were weak" in the quarter, but sales of portable games, specifically the Japan-only Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D, were more positive.

Square's mobile and social games, including the browser game Sengoku Ixa and the mobile Final Fantasy Brigade, also performed well.

Back in May, the company forecasted that the fiscal year would end with net income up 48.5 percent, a forecast that it's holding to even following this slow quarter.

Square Enix sees losses in fiscal Q1, but handheld and social games help originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take-Two's first quarter of fiscal 2013 is down and out, projections still high

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:49:00 EST

Take-Two's net revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 clocked in at $226.1 million, down from the previous year's $334.4 million. Take-Two hit a gross profit of $39.4 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $123.2 million in the same period last year. The company's GAAP loss was $110.8 million, up from the previous financial period, which saw an $8.6 million loss.

Major contributors to Take-Two's finances during the first quarter were Max Payne 3, NBA 2K12, Spec Ops: The Line and catalog sales in the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises. Catalog sales accounted for 26 percent of Take-Two's net revenue, up 50 percent year-over-year. Digital revenue grew 33 percent and accounted for 14 percent of this period's net revenue.

Take-Two has adjusted its fiscal year 2013 outlook slightly, expecting $1.7 - $1.8 billion by March 2013, rather than the $1.75 - $1.85 it reported in May. Take-Two still has to launch Borderlands 2, NBA 2K13 and XCOM: Enemy Unknown this fiscal year. This leaves a probable gap of $600 - $700 million in sales, considering the year runaway hit Red Dead Redemption launched Take-Two reported just $1.45 billion in revenue.

On a related note, Grand Theft Auto 5 is still categorized as "TBA" for both its platforms and launch date.

Take-Two's first quarter of fiscal 2013 is down and out, projections still high originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Max Payne 3 shipped 3 million, sales 'lower than anticipated'

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:23:00 EST

Max Payne 3 has shipped 3 million units since its launch for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in May, Take-Two Interactive announced in its first quarter 2013 financial report today. Max Payne 3 and Spec Ops: The Line both sold fewer copies than Take-Two anticipated, leading to first quarter results below the company's expectations, CEO Strauss Zelnick said.

Still, "the outlook for our slate of upcoming releases is stronger than ever," Zelnick added. "Early consumer enthusiasm suggests robust demand for our extraordinary lineup of upcoming releases, particularly Borderlands 2, NBA 2K13 and BioShock Infinite. We continue to expect fiscal 2013 to be one of the best years in Take-Two's history."

Max Payne 3 shipped 3 million, sales 'lower than anticipated' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft sales up in last quarter thanks to Ghost Recon

JC Fletcher — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:30:00 EST

Ubisoft sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2012-2013 (which ended June 30) are up 27.2 percent over the last year, coming in at €131 million ($160.6 million). The company attributes the better-than-expected performance to surprisingly high sales of Ghost Recon Future Soldier, indicating that Ubisoft didn't think to ask the title character about the future of his own game. In addition, digital distribution was a boon for Ubisoft, including free-to-play games and the phenomenon of Trials Evolution.

For the second quarter, Ubisoft expects to come in short of last year's performance, because Driver: San Francisco did so well last year.

Ubisoft sales up in last quarter thanks to Ghost Recon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA spending $80 million on next-gen development over next year

David Hinkle — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:47:00 EST

According to EA's results for fiscal 2012, the period from April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012, it's been a good year. The publisher saw growth across many sectors, but perhaps most surprising was talk of investing $80 million in development of games for "Gen4 console systems" over the next 12 months, EA's fiscal 2013.

It speaks to not only when we could potentially get our hands on some new hardware, but is potentially indicative of how much cash a major publisher will need in order to produce games for the next generation of AAA blockbusters. $80 million for one "Samaritan" seems like par for the course, right? That's how much we imagine it'll cost to produce one game in Superfuture 2013.

EA spending $80 million on next-gen development over next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2012 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo expects to double 3DS sales by this time next year

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST

Call it ambitious (if you're feeling nice), or potentially bananas (if you're feeling realistic), but no matter what you call it, Nintendo's clearly not joking around with its hardware sales forecast. The company let loose a variety of predictions for the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2013) this week, which predicts movement of 18.5 million 3DS units into consumers' backpacks and purses worldwide.

That's not a huge increase from the console's first fiscal year (April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012), which saw 17.13 million 3DS units sold. And with big hitters like New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Animal Crossing on the way, it seems likely that Nintendo will surpass those numbers and get to "adjust" their forecast upwards come investor call time. "Ooops, we made way more money than we expected," Nintendo head Satoru Iwata might tell investors, with a coy smile. "Please forget about last year's major financial issues." At least that's how we picture these things going.

Nintendo expects to double 3DS sales by this time next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Devil's Third expected before April 2013

JC Fletcher — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Previously only hinted in a slide on an investor presentation, we know have a somewhat clear idea of at least the year of release for Tomonobu Itagaki's new game, Devil's Third. "The game is currently scheduled for release in THQ's fiscal year ending March 31, 2013," according to publisher THQ's latest earnings release.

Perhaps Valhalla Game Studios would be able to get the game done before then, but the kind of quality that justifies Itagaki-level boasting takes time. Besides, there are trains to build.

Devil's Third expected before April 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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