Ubisoft's holiday 2021 earnings have dropped due to a smaller number of game releases.
Today Ubisoft announced its Q3'21 figures, and while respectable, the numbers are substantially lower than last year's period. This led to a 30% drop in sales and a 25% reduction in net bookings. Some vital context is needed.
The main reason for the slip is that Ubisoft released more games in 2020 than it did in 2021. Ubisoft had a stacked holiday 2020 period with multiple heavy-hitting games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs Legion launching with next-gen consoles. The Q3 2021 period only really had Far Cry 6 and Just Dance 2022 to prop up holiday sales.
Ubisoft Q3 2021 earnings-at-a-glance
- Sales - 665.9 million euros (-31%)
- Net Bookings - 746.1 million euros (-26%)
Q3'2020
• AC Valhalla
• Watch Dogs Legion
• Immortals Fenyx Rising
• Just Dance 2021
• R6 Siege next-gen
Q3'2021
• Far Cry 6
• Rider's Republic
• Just Dance 2022
Ubisoft has reiterated FY22 guidance of 420 - 500 million euros and says they are currently on the lower-end of the target right now, but the ambitious post-launch content that's in development should help push towards the higher-end.
