Ubisoft posts 32.3 million euro loss for first half of fiscal 2012, expects big Q3
Ubisoft has released its earnings for the first six months of fiscal 2012, which ran from April 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012. In that time, the publisher garnered overall initial profits of €192.7 million (about $246.8 million), which is a 21 percent increase over the €158.4 million ($202.9 million) Ubisoft had accrued by this time last year.
After deducting research and development costs and SG&A expenses, however, that figure drops to a loss of €32.3 million, or $41.3 million. That loss is less substantial than the €37.1 million loss Ubisoft posted at the end of the first half of fiscal 2011, to the tune of 14.8 percent.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot attributes the year-over-year increase in gross profits to Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (its performance in the digital segment, specifically) and Just Dance 4, while also claiming that the operating loss reported for this period was due to "large-scale marketing campaigns for Assassin's Creed 3 and Far Cry 3."
Looking forward, Guillemot predicts a "record" second half for fiscal 2012, based on the anticipated performance of Assassin's Creed 3, Far Cry 3 and Ubisoft's stable of upcoming Wii U titles. As such, the company's year-end target for sales has been increased from a range of €1.16 - €1.20 billion to €1.20 - €1.26 billion. Similarly, Ubi's target range for operating income has been raised slightly, from €70 - €90 million to €70 - €100 million.
