Ubisoft delays new Driver game
Splinter Cell: Conviction sells loads.
Driver: San Francisco has been delayed until 2011, Ubisoft has confirmed.
The open world driving game had been due out in the UK on 26th November for PC, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360. Ubisoft said the delay was due to "the competitive market at Christmas".
Splinter Cell: Conviction, released earlier this year, has sold 1.9 million units. Ubisoft reckons Sam Fisher's impressive performance, with help from Just Dance, Assassin's Creed 2 and Avatar, have generated €9 million more than the €145 million it estimated it would make in sales for the first quarter of 2010-11.
Looking to the second quarter, Ubisoft said it will release H.A.W.X. 2 and R.U.S.E., and expects sales of around €83 million.
Ubisoft reconfirmed it expects to return to profitable growth and positive cash flow when it reports its full year 2010-11 financials.
Estimated sales for the first quarter 2010-11, which ended on 30th June, were above the target of €160 million. They were up 93 per cent on the €83 million recorded for the first quarter 2009-10.
Big boss man Yves Guillemot said: "Our sales performance this quarter reflects the success of several titles and attests to the quality of our game catalogue. It's proof of Ubisoft's ability to make its mark in an ever demanding videogames sector.
"This year's E3 further confirmed the potential for our end-of-year line-up, demonstrating how varied and distinct our offering is. Proven franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Driver or Ghost Recon will offer unique experiences for seasoned gamers. In particular, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood should allow us to reaffirm our position as one of the industry's best multiplayer developers.
"The pre-orders are the strongest ever seen, already 20 per cent above those from the same period last year, even before the awards announced following E3. In the casual segment, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Just Dance 2 or Michael Jackson: The Experience, which has generated particularly promising media coverage, are expected to attract a large number of casual players. Finally, thanks to the investments made, we will offer a rich line-up of both online games and new titles for the upcoming hardware launches this fiscal year."