Ubisoft has announced that Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Rayman Legends both performed below expectations.
Speaking during an investor conference call*(via CVG), the company's CFO*Alain Martinez revealed both games missed their sales targets, though stopped short of saying by how much.
"As we have said we have experienced lower sales than we anticipated when we gave our targets," he said. "Already released games such as Splinter Cell, Rayman and others."
As for why the games experienced lacklustre sales, the studio put it down to the fact that consumers are reluctant to invest in new titles with the next generation of consoles just around the corner.
Martinez went on to explain that, when coupled with the fact that both Watch Dogs and The Crew have been delayed, this has led the company to revise its forecast for the 2013 fiscal year downwards; where initial projections saw Ubisoft netting a $1.94 billion income, it now expects a slightly more modest $1.38 billion.
The main reason for the revised forecast is apparently Watch Dog's delay, with Martinez explaining that pre-order numbers were looking very healthy, and actually exceeding how many Ubisoft predicted on its original plan. Despite this, company CEO Yves Guillemot explained the studio is keen to see Watch Dogs join the ranks of its other franchises and spawn sequels, so it needs to be perfect.
"In a world of mega-blockbusters we have come to the conclusion that the team needed more time to realise the game's potential," he said. "We consider it to be a long term pillar of our future performance, alongside the likes of Assassin's Creed and Far Cry."
Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on*IGN*and on*Twitter.
More...
Speaking during an investor conference call*(via CVG), the company's CFO*Alain Martinez revealed both games missed their sales targets, though stopped short of saying by how much.
"As we have said we have experienced lower sales than we anticipated when we gave our targets," he said. "Already released games such as Splinter Cell, Rayman and others."
As for why the games experienced lacklustre sales, the studio put it down to the fact that consumers are reluctant to invest in new titles with the next generation of consoles just around the corner.
Martinez went on to explain that, when coupled with the fact that both Watch Dogs and The Crew have been delayed, this has led the company to revise its forecast for the 2013 fiscal year downwards; where initial projections saw Ubisoft netting a $1.94 billion income, it now expects a slightly more modest $1.38 billion.
The main reason for the revised forecast is apparently Watch Dog's delay, with Martinez explaining that pre-order numbers were looking very healthy, and actually exceeding how many Ubisoft predicted on its original plan. Despite this, company CEO Yves Guillemot explained the studio is keen to see Watch Dogs join the ranks of its other franchises and spawn sequels, so it needs to be perfect.
"In a world of mega-blockbusters we have come to the conclusion that the team needed more time to realise the game's potential," he said. "We consider it to be a long term pillar of our future performance, alongside the likes of Assassin's Creed and Far Cry."
Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on*IGN*and on*Twitter.
More...
