Ubisoft beats sales targets, delays four games

Publisher's revenues up 52 percent, but full-year expectations remain same following delay of mystery quartet to beyond Q1 2008.

The work week is only two days old, but it has already seen more than a dozen game delays. Yesterday alone, Electronic Arts delayed Army of Two on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and THQ pushed back both versions of Destroy All Humans!: Path of the Furon, as well as the Wii and DS editions of de Blob, and the PS3 version of Frontlines: Fuel of War. That's in addition to Capcom's delays for Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable.

The list of postponements has grown a bit longer today. In its financial earnings report for the half-year ended September 30, Ubisoft announced that it has delayed four games into its next fiscal year, which begins in April of 2008. However, the publisher did not specify which projects have been pushed back and said only that one of the games is from a franchise, and that three of them are new brands. An Ubisoft representative confirmed for GameSpot that none of the delayed games have been announced yet. Ubisoft also added that an unannounced game in an existing franchise would also make it out before April.

One announced game appears to have suffered a delay. Nitrobike for the Wii was left off the publisher's updated release schedule for the holiday quarter. The publisher has "announced" delays in the past using the same method.

As for the cause of the delays, Ubisoft said the postponements were made as a result of "positive trends" in the first half of the company's fiscal year and a positive outlook for the holiday quarter. Sales for the first six months of the fiscal year totaled €261 million ($371.9 million), up more than 52 percent over the same period last year (or 55 percent at constant exchange rates, which is notable given the current weakness of the US dollar). The strong first-half performance will apparently cancel out the effect of the delays, given that Ubisoft left its full-year financial projections unchanged.

For the company's second quarter alone, Ubisoft reported sales of €127 million ($172.9 million), up 25 percent from the same period last year, or nearly 28 percent at constant exchange rates. That surpassed the publisher's expectation of €105 million ($142.9 million) in revenues.

Broken down by system, PS3 games accounted for more of Ubisoft's first-half sales than any other platform, accounting for 21 percent of the publisher's revenues. The DS was a close second, contributing 20 percent of Ubisoft's sales for the six-month period, followed by the Xbox 360 (15 percent), PC (12 percent), and PSP and Wii (10 percent each).

226 Comments

  • Outer_Raven

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 3:49 am PT

    I don't know if i should buy raving rabbids2 or mario galaxy. Maybe i'll just buy both lol.

  • DJ_Quack_Quack

    Posted Nov 7, 2007 6:51 am PT

    whatever, all i care is raving rabbid 2 and assassin creed.

  • powerframe8

    Posted Oct 30, 2007 2:37 pm PT

    DAMN
    HAZE IS DELAYED. December 4? Frig. Well one less game to buy in November. (Call of Duty 4, Uncharted, Time Crisis 4 and Assassins Creed will be enough thank you)

  • killzone_gamer

    Posted Oct 30, 2007 5:09 am PT

    See? The french always get things wrong.
    Im glad Haze or Assasins Creed arn't going to be delayed though.

  • cmatts

    Posted Oct 30, 2007 4:34 am PT

    No problem Ninja_RaVeN, it clearly says that none of the delayed games are titles they have announced yet, let alone set a release date for previously. So we're safe it seems...

  • Ninja_RaVeN

    Posted Oct 29, 2007 8:28 pm PT

    OMFG COME ON I BEEN WATING FOR THIS GAME FOR LONG ENOUGH THIS IS DUMB MOVE FOR UBISOFT

  • jpeaslee

    Posted Oct 29, 2007 10:05 am PT

    Assassin's Creed is coming out Nov. 13th. Limited Edition already preordered!!

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Oct 28, 2007 1:29 pm PT

    So many delays. At least I'll have money to eat.

  • Pikmincommander

    Posted Oct 27, 2007 1:09 pm PT

    How do you know that rocky_aj17?

  • rocky_aj17

    Posted Oct 27, 2007 8:04 am PT

    Assasin's Creed will come out on Q1 2008

  • heroface

    Posted Oct 26, 2007 2:26 am PT

    These games are ready, finished and complete... why are they being delayed?! just cos they've made enough money already this year?!!?!?!? that's ridiculous i mean fair enough if extra development was needed but seriously... we're waiting for you to count your money and roll around in it for a while before we get our games!?!?... in honesty yeah OK business is about making money whatever business it is but if a game is ready just give it to us!! don't they know we wait excitedly from the announcement of a good game and start making mess in our underwear when it gets this close!!!

  • aka1986

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 5:04 pm PT

    in the end delays mean better games - i can hold out for games if they can deliver.

  • whiskeyjazz

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 5:04 pm PT

    Assasin's Creed will come out on NOV.13

  • dorohala

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 2:32 pm PT

    They better bring out HAZE or other wise I would have to haze them myself lol!

  • AdrianWrz

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 11:40 am PT

    I say Delay SO i can get better product then to have million bugs.

    Rather wait until Ubisoft feel like it ready to be released not before.l

  • RebornJeremiah

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 10:43 am PT

    Well, AC is golden now. Thank God!

  • ia_mc

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:25 am PT

    Mostly, I think it's obnoxious to announce you're delaying four games without specifying which. Obviously they already know, do they just want to watch people squirm?

  • ScottEFresh

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 9:08 am PT

    IF they push back HAZE I will go nectar overdose on their ass!

  • RebornJeremiah

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:13 am PT

    Well if AC is delayed, I am getting Guitar Hero 3 and Ace Combat 6.

  • Temmehkan

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 8:06 am PT

    People people relax! Assassin's Creed and Haze are NOT being delayed, Ubisoft delayed 4 games we haven't heard of before, Haze and AC are fine

  • CarChaseTerror

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 4:56 am PT

    Guys, come on. The gaming industry is a business. They're doing what's best for them and for us.

  • Reetesh

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 4:08 am PT

    This holiday season is now less than half of what it was in the GS poll back then.

  • Merl57

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 2:46 am PT

    more delays in the game industry, everyone's doing it you'll take some if u wanna be cool............. .

  • softymcsoft

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 1:25 am PT

    Well they've already pushed back Splinter Cell till next year, which annoyed me. If they push AC or Haze I'm ganna be mighty furious.

  • andy_chris02

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 11:37 pm PT

    This week has been a bad week in the old delay department, first Army of Two (looking forward to this game) and now this news from Ubisoft. What makes it worse is the fact that they've taken this childish attitude and not let us, the consumer who keeps them going, know which games they are delaying, instead they have left us hanging. I expect the words "nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!" were thrown in there somewhere at the time of the conference!

    If Ubi do Delay Haze & Assassins Creed then thats it for me, Ubisoft will be on my sh!tlist! Considering both these games are 4 or 5 weeks away from release and they drop this bomb on us the way they have, well, stuff 'em!

    As far as I'm aware (from the internet that is) both Haze & AC are pretty much complete. With all the demos/press and the upcoming AC event in London it has to be ready to release. The same goes for Haze, Free Rad. have stated pretty clearly that it was going to be released this year for sure.

    If either (or worst case, both) of these games are delayed until next year it won't be because the games aren't finished, it will be the usual suspect when it comes to corporations, money! Ubisoft have had a good year this year so to make sure they do well in their next financial year they will be inclined to release the big guns at the beginning of their fiscal year to bolster their profits. At the end of the day, most of these big publishers don't really care about the consumer, they just want the cash, it's sad but true.

    Come on Ubi, prove me wrong, release AC and Haze this year and I'll eat my new Halo 3 t-shirt!

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 10:16 pm PT

    Ubisoft is the best publisher out there right now in my opinion. Most of their titles are quality and not rushed.The first game I got for my 360 was Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. It seemed like the only true next-gen title releasod on that platform at the time. Go Ubisoft!!

  • million004

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 9:36 pm PT

    i would seriously commit suicide if they delay assassins creed, i am counting the seconds til its release

  • Mazarak

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 8:32 pm PT

    I believe Brothers In Arms is one of the games thats gonna be delayed. ALtho Assassin's Creed and HAZE shud be set for this holiday season.

  • RebornJeremiah

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 7:49 pm PT

    Read the last part of that second paragraph from that article. Assassin's Creed is still coming this fiscal year, so it won't be delayed. I don't think they will delay this again after last year.

  • RebornJeremiah

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 7:36 pm PT

    Taken from http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/49589

    "Ubisoft reported its second quarter financial results today, posting a 25.4% increase in revenue to 127 million Euros ($118 million) for the three months ending September 30. Based on the strong second quarter sales, and further gains predicted for the third and fourth fiscal quarters, the company has joined THQ, EA, and Capcom this week in delaying several games into the next fiscal year, which begins on April 1.

    The announcement did not specify which games would be delayed, only that three of the four delayed titles are from new brands. The announcement listed the following six franchises as being on track for the current fiscal year: Brothers in Arms, Far Cry, Rayman Raving Rabbids, The Settlers, and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. The new titles still coming this fiscal year are Ubisoft Montreal's Assassin's Creed, Free Radical's Haze, and Ubisoft Shanghai's Tom Clancy's End War."

  • pipopper

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 7:04 pm PT

    has Haze come to mind for anyone? Personally I'm not that interested in it, but if any game is gonna be delayed it seems, its a ps3 game. I dont think Ubisoft will delay a multiplatform release like Assassin's Creed. Thats too much money they aren't cashing in on.

  • whiskeyjazz

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 6:58 pm PT

    I will hate ubisoft forever if they delay assasin's creed one more time. And even more if it's delayed to april 2008!!!

  • powerframe8

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 6:54 pm PT

    wtf army of two is delayed. Assassins creed and haze better friggin be released this year.

  • Flame_Blade88

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 6:33 pm PT

    Better not be Assassin's Creed...

  • matt_dangelo

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 6:28 pm PT

    thats intersting..who would ps3 games boosted it's sales...i mean thats really interesting..now why wont they patch Rb6v on the ps3....it is what is making them money....

  • kratos_karmakar

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 6:00 pm PT

    hoping creed is not delayed . if they do delay it which by a 99% chance they wont , my trust on ubisoft will com to a very tragic halt.

  • axgamer

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 3:51 pm PT

    When do you guys think Ubisoft will announce the games that are being delayed?

  • MattyG0313

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 3:39 pm PT

    if assassins creed is delayed(doubt it will be) i will have to commit suicide

  • Latinbro1

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 3:32 pm PT

    who would've funk it. I never saw the PS3 titles to account for more of their first-half sales. It'd be funny, and sad if AC is one of the 4 titles to be delayed since they've been so adamant of making their Nov release date I wouldn't mind if Haze is delayed. In fact, release that game over summer? Summer always has such a gaming drought that I would like for once to have a game that has been somewhat hyped.

  • jimjam146

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 3:06 pm PT

    Go ahead and delay all you want. With all the great titles that are coming out and will come out, its probably better to push some into next year. I'd have to quit my job to finish all these games. DAMN YOU BILL GATES!!!!

  • seanc1

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 3:05 pm PT

    No one it seems noticed this :
    "Ubisoft also added that an unannounced game in an existing franchise would also make it out before April."
    Unannounced would tell me it is definitely not splinter cell:conviction.
    So what game do you think it could be? No news at all truly for prince of persia 4 but that would be incredibly awesome!!!
    What are your thoughts???

  • Slash_out

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    I hope they did not delay Assassin's creed :s. It's their only game I am waiting for...

  • Wificats

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 2:46 pm PT

    Assassin's Creed will be delayed for sure :[

  • X-Grundoko-X

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 2:26 pm PT

    assasins creed better not be one of those games :@

  • PrinceYoda

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 2:24 pm PT

    Gah. More game delays. Looks like the 'Best Video Game Holiday Season Ever' is getting pushed off til spring...

  • Gadeos

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 2:03 pm PT

    I really hope they didn't delay Assassin's Creed...

  • StegrShmil

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 1:56 pm PT

    I have seen a release date for Assassains Creed somewhere else, but I agree that it will probaly be delayed. Hopefully its not just another game to add to my 08' list.

  • pidow

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 1:51 pm PT

    No one event should bust your bubble, things may or may not happen........

  • Dheamonis

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 12:42 pm PT

    Actually, hate to burst the bubble but where it says, "An Ubisoft representative confirmed for GameSpot that none of the delayed games have been announced yet." - I think what the editor is trying to relay is that none of the "delayed games" have been announced yet, meaning that Ubisoft has not specified to anybody what games have been delayed yet.

    I wouldn't interpret this as none of the four games they've delayed have been announced to the public yet. Think about it, if they haven't even announced the games then why would they delay something that's going to take another 2-3 years to finish?

    I think as Assassin's Creed doesn't even have an official release date, just "november 2007", I think we'd better prepare for a delay to be announced on it

    Hopefully I'm wrong.

  • mashom

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 12:29 pm PT

    OH may i will die if they delay Assassins Creed, i cant wait for this game.

    delay games is killing to me...

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