Ubisoft’s 1H 2021 Financials Reveal Strong Growth From Games Old And New

Ubisoft launched the main points of the primary half of its 2021 fiscal yr yesterday, roughly masking the six months from April to September, and it is just about all excellent news. General web bookings have been “nicely above goal,” thanks largely to Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, which turned the second-largest income generator within the firm’s historical past after simply 12 months. Far Cry 6 can also be doing nicely, with playtime up 25% as in comparison with Far Cry 5.

Different video games, each previous and new, deserved shout-outs in Ubisoft’s presentation. The Crew 2 obtained “particular point out” for having engagement numbers and revenues up 70% and 53% respectively versus two years in the past. Ubisoft attributed that to “its distinctive positioning as a community-based driving sport,” although we might wager that slightly factor known as a “international pandemic” might need performed a component. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, Ubisoft expects the newly released Riders Republic “to have a really lengthy life.”

Not every little thing is developing roses for Ubisoft, nonetheless. The Division: Heartland, previously announced as a 2021-22 release, has now slipped to 2022-23. You’d even be forgiven when you utterly forgot about Roller Champions; that hasn’t been delayed, because it’s nonetheless on course for launch “within the present fiscal yr,” nevertheless it’s “now not factored within the steering.” That sounds to me like Ubisoft is saying, “Yeah, we’ll do it, however do not count on a lot.”

Then there’s the “Is it excellent news or unhealthy?” part titled “Exploring progressive know-how: Blockchain.” In that part, Ubisoft explains the way it “took half within the newest funding spherical of Animoca Manufacturers, a number one blockchain gaming firm” as a part of its mission to search out “new methods to empower gamers as true stakeholders of its worlds.”

Lastly, Ubisoft’s multitudinous personnel points have been grouped underneath the heading of “Transformation of HR group and constructing a powerful D&I.” That single paragraph touched all of the anticipated bases, speaking concerning the “evolution of the HR group,” the creation of Worker Useful resource Teams (ERGs), and an inside content material evaluation committee that “examines the sport and advertising and marketing content material to supply extra views on its content material.”

You may look into Ubisoft’s monetary shows on its investors relations page.