Ubisoft emphasizing predictability after downgrading targets
Ubisoft today reported its financial results for the three months ended December 31, showing modestly rising sales but sliding bookings.
Ubisoft braced investors for disappointment last month when it slashed its full-year forecast, acknowledged an under-performing slate of holiday titles including Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023, and committed to a cost-cutting campaign over the next two years.
Today's third quarter results weren't quite so dire, with sales up a little even as net bookings slid slightly. Interestingly, while Ubisoft had previously said its new releases in the holiday quarter had disappointed, it was sales of older titles that dragged down bookings, with back-catalog net bookings down 27% year-over-year.
One highlight for the publisher came from the Assassin's Creed brand, which has seen active players increase 30% over the first nine months of the fiscal year, reaching a new record for the franchise.
Rainbow Six: Siege was also said to have had a strong quarter, with December in particular posting record daily average revenue per user as it wrapped up its seventh year of release.
In remarks released alongside the earnings, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stressed the publisher's desire for more predictable results.
"We are committed to boosting our efficiency and execution through a more agile organization adapted to new market conditions, with a strong focus on initiatives to enhance predictability across our productions and through our cost-reduction efforts," he said. "As we are focused on building on our strengths, we are prioritizing our efforts on big brands and long-lasting Live games."
To improve predictability, the company said it has spent the past year and a half taking
Read more on gamesindustry.biz
