The French video game publisher Ubisoft (UBI) on Tuesday announced a turnover up by nearly 40% during its staggered 2020-2021 fiscal year, a “record year” which also allowed it to return to profit .
During this fiscal year, marked by the acceleration of the video game market in the context of the health crisis and confinements, the group recorded a net profit of 103.1 million euros, against a net loss of 126 million euros. euros a year ago.
The company also had 141 million unique active players on PC and consoles, an increase of 20%
“Ubisoft achieved a record year,” said Frédérick Duguet, group chief financial officer, quoted in a press release.
“This reflects the progress made in the diversification and recurrence of our revenues. We can indeed count on the depth of our portfolio of brands we own ”such as Rainbow Six, Assassin’s Creed, The Division, Far Cry, Just Dance, Ghost Recon and Watch Dogs, he added.
Among the major games released by the publisher during the year: a new version of Just Dance, a new title well received by critics, Immortals Fenyx Rising, and the latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed saga, Valhalla, which recorded a annual income up 50% from the previous record set in 2012-13.
“We also relied on a back catalog”, that is to say the games released before the current fiscal year such as the old versions of Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry, “deep and diverse which, once again , exceeded our expectations and represented, for the third consecutive year, more than 50% of our net bookings ”, the preferred indicator by the company, underlined Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft.
“Our assets have never been stronger,” he insisted.
Regarding its objectives for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, Ubisoft is targeting “single digit” growth in “net bookings” (sales excluding deferred revenue) and operating income of between 420 and 500 million euros.
The coming year will also see the release of Far Cry 6, Rainbow Six Quarantine, Riders Republic, Roller Champions and most importantly The Division Heartland, a free-to-play game from the Tom Clancy’s The Division series.
