Activision Blizzard is making a stack of cash, dampened Call of Duty efficiency be damned.
Destiny 2 continues to be on monitor for late 2017 launch, Activision Blizzard confirmed in its fourth quarter and yr finish financials at this time.
“Full Destiny sequel in 2017 to broaden the franchise’s global reach, which along with follow-on content plans, sets the stage for growth,” the writer stated.
The twin writer has not wavered from this window since first confirming the sequel for the Bungie shared-worlds shooter, however the affirmation has sparked added curiosity resulting from latest rumours Destiny 2 has been built on an all-new engine, and will release in November.
Destiny was listed alongside Call of Duty and Skylanders as three Activision franchises which rank among the many prime ten best-selling properties on the present era of consoles. Despite Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare’s softness in comparison with earlier franchise releases, Activision publishing noticed file quarterly ($1,151 million) and full-year revenues ($2,220 million), notably due to sturdy digital efficiency.
Call of Duty delivers the products
Even on an off yr, the juggernaut was triumphant: Call of Duty was the highest franchise in North America for the eighth yr in a row. Call of Duty noticed file month-to-month common customers (MAUs) for the yr, and fourth quarter MAUs had been steady on 2015 “as players engaged on multiple titles”.
In different phrases, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare might not have set data, however everybody saved taking part in Black Ops three, so it evened out. Black Ops three, in actual fact, noticed file add-on revenues, which Activision stated was “greater than à la carte map packs and Season Pass combined, even with record Season Pass participation”. How a lot are y’all spending on the Black Market? Wow.
Interestingly, Activision stated the “2017 title will take Call of Duty back to its roots”, so don’t anticipate one other sweeping sci-fi epic.
Overwatch fingers Blizzard file revenues
The Blizzard phase additionally had an awesome yr, with file hours performed through the fourth quarter. It pulled file yearly income of $2,428 million. The twin writer famous that slightly below 60% of Blizzard’s revenues got here from video games apart from World of Warcraft, which has ceaselessly been Blizzard’s major bread and butter, and 20% of its revenues got here from consoles.
Overwatch is the important thing title right here, in fact; it set a file for the strongest launch yr monetary efficiency of any sport in Blizzard’s 25-year historical past, reaching 25 million participant registrations sooner than every other Blizzard sport and nonetheless climbing. Activision Blizzard additionally famous that Overwatch’s enchantment is equal within the East and the West, which has not at all times been the case (see, for instance, StarCraft).
World of Warcraft MAUs for 2016 grew 10% yr on yr, with fourth quarter MAUs spiking to 20% yr on yr progress. In phrases of hours performed, the MMORPG noticed figures higher than Legion’s launch month, and higher than any non-launch month within the franchise’s historical past.
Hearthstone MAUs grew 20% yr on yr from file figures in 2016. No different Blizzard properties had been chosen for highlights.
General ATVI figures
In basic, Activision Blizzard noticed file engagement with each arms of the writer setting new MAU data.
MLG viewership on social platforms grew 50% year-on-year. COD World League delivered 120 million, with viewing time clocking in twice as excessive as 2015’s season. No doubt Blizzard hopes to echo this efficiency with the Overwatch League, which the writer plans to begin commercialising this yr.
I suppose we’d higher point out Skylanders, which is the 11th best-selling console franchise of all time and has shifted 300 million toys globally. Activision stated a brand new cellular sport is in improvement and famous Netflix has ordered a 3rd season of the TV sequence.
Mobile arm King noticed progress in play time per DAU, and bookings per person have grown for the sixth quarter in a row. Candy Crush was “stable” regardless of an uptick in cellular bookings, suggesting common customers are down considerably.
Overall, Activision Blizzard reported GAAP internet revenues of $2,014 million for This fall 2016, up from $1,353 million in 2015. Of this income, 72% derives from digital sources, up from 54% in 2015.
For the yr complete, the dual writer reported GAAP internet revenues of $6,608 million, up from $four,664 million in 2015, with 7$5 of income derives from digital, up from 54% in 2015.
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