Citing the strong performance of key franchises like Guitar Hero, Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, Bobby Kotick raised the Q3 financial forecasts for Activision/Blizzard.
In a statement, Kotick said "Activision Publishing is about to introduce what is likely to be the biggest entertainment launch of the year with Call of Duty: Black Ops, followed by Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, which we believe will deliver an incredible breadth of new content to the world's largest massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) community. As a result of our over-performance, we are raising our calendar year 2010 net revenue and earnings outlook. We expect to deliver the most profitable year in our history with record operating margins."
As you might expect, Activision/Blizzard reports that its main franchises have been driving the company's 2010 growth. Guitar Hero, World of Warcraft, and StarCraft were all mentioned as revenue driving franchises. If you get all into the specific numbers, here are the figures for 2010:
- During the third quarter of 2010, Call of Duty remained a top-10 franchise overall in the U.S. and Europe, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.
- On August 3, Blizzard Entertainment announced that StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty sold more than one million copies within the first 24 hours of its release, instantly making it the best-selling PC game of 2010, and more than 1.5 million copies within the first 48 hours of its release, making it the fastest-selling strategy game of all time.
- On August 31, Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase.com Inc. launched World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion for Blizzard Entertainment's award-winning subscription-based MMORPG, in mainland China.
- On September 1, Blizzard Entertainment announced that StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty sold more than three million copies worldwide in the first month of its release.
- On October 4, Blizzard Entertainment announced that World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the highly anticipated third expansion for the world's most popular subscription-based MMORPG, will be released on December 7.
- On October 5, Activision Publishing announced that Treyarch's Call of Duty: Black Ops will be playable in stereoscopic 3D when the game launches at retail outlets worldwide on November 9.
- On October 7, Blizzard Entertainment announced that the subscriber base for World of Warcraft has exceeded 12 million players worldwide.
- As of September 30, Activision Blizzard had purchased approximately 55 million shares of its common stock, for approximately $600 million, under the $1 billion stock repurchase program authorized by its Board of Directors on February 10.
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Galahxy
Also (Sorry for double post) everyone always has this complaint about CoD, "It's the same game over and over again" well yes that is true, but it's true for every single game. New content, More improvements, More Game Modes and just overall better. I can say that if CoD 4 was the only CoD I would be dissapointed.
All Halo Sequeles are close to the same, same with SC1 and SC2.
Galahxy
What's with all the hate for CoD? There is a reason it is expected to be the best selling game of the year, and the competetive gaming community is great. Playing this game competetively takes just as much skill as SC2 or Halo 3.
BikerfayKarla
These two games make me happy.
Apsalus07
I wish reviewers would stop saying things like "don't fix what ain't broke" when endless samey sequels flood the videogame shelves. *Cough*FalloutNewVegas*cough* The result is more CoD and WoW and GH. Will they ever learn that they can't demand innovation and praise stagnation at the same time?
koolboricua
as much as i dont like WOW i dont mind them making money. Thats economy growth for us here in the USA, the same goes for any Activision. As long as they stay open people will keep having job. WOW might not be the best game out there but to many is very fun. In regards to Activision, they have published many good games, heck i loved Spider Web of Shadow, and the same goes for a few COD, i am just getting tired of the new COD that is pretty much the same style game just different name.
InHumanMarine
Infinity Ward (Respawn) and Bobby Kotick blow and Activision and Treyarch are cool.
Treeclaw
Bobby Kotick fails at PR. And caring.
Severnik
I don't hate activision/blizzard as a company. I just hate Bobby Kotick....
defiredude
I really do hate activision but I am buying black ops for the reason of zombies and a gold m16 with a flamethrower other than that i hope activision burns in heck
qulqu_nick
Fact is they are going to keep a chugging no matter what happens with black ops. Blizz is akin to valve in that they don't have to do anything to turn a profit. Bobby Kotick's only real involvement is that he makes blizz have to deal with rushed released dates. i imagine that is why there is no time line for SC2 HoS cause once they do the idiot is going to try and force the game out. If they say "oh well we have no idea really" both officially and internally he can't force a date on them cause he has no info on their progress. I really wish blz could be given similar amounts of freedom as valve has but they are owned by some stupidly big French company.
MaelStrom_
StarCraft II's sequels would be mind blowing if the next one would be an fips game and the third one an MMO. just new single player levels, units and cinematics wouldnt cut it for me especially if they are going release the next one in 2 years
TrustFall
I hope they both tank miserably. Kotick is the devil.
Displaying 1–12 of 12