Ubisoft Banking On PSP To Increase Assassin's Creed Sales
Assassin's CreedUbisoft's first-half financial results were disappointing - sales were down 51% - but they're hoping their upcoming lineup will give them a boost.
The new Assassin's Creed series should net them some profit and according to Ubisoft CFO Alain Martinez, they're now expecting the franchise to perform better than expected. In fact, according to Spong, Martinez says the company initially expected Assassin's Creed II to sell less than the original title, and now, they think it'll sell 15% more. They attribute this to the addition of the PSP, as Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines is on the way and, if we're interpreting these comments correctly, ACII is also going portable. Said Martinez:
"We now think the game should be selling 15% more units than the first title, while our previous guidance assumed it was going to sell less units than the first title. Most of this out-performance of 15% actually comes from the fact of the addition of one platform: the PSP on which Assassin's Creed 1 was not released in the past. And around half of this performance is done with guaranteed bundles."
This is a little confusing, but it's more likely that Martinez keeps referring to Bloodlines, so we can't just assume that ACII is PSP-bound. However, with the addition of that one AC title on the PSP - and the obvious fact that there will be bundles offered - that should help to spread the franchise's popularity. Developers are turning more and more to the PSP to expand their audience these days...look at Sega and Valkyria Chronicles 2.
7/28/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (28 posts)
Xra897
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 8:35:04 PM
1 up, 0 down
BigBoss4ever
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 @ 10:56:16 AM
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 7/29/2009 10:57:27 AM
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Highlander
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 11:06:25 AM
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You know seeing all this new development on teh PSP platform makes me think...With the PSP now having a dual approach of digital download and UMD, Ubisoft may be thinking that the PSP is suddenly more viable because of the digital downloads. You can't lose sales to used copies of digital downloads, because GameStop can't sell them.
Just speculating a little further the PSP Go has no UMD and has new hardware. We have no idea whether or not Sony has implemented additional security measures in the Go, I would be incredibly surprised if they haven't. In fact, I would be very, very surprised if Sony didn't take every lesson learned from the Homebrew crowd on the PSP and apply it with the PSP Go. We may find that in fact the Go is harder to crack and use custom firmware with. In which case, game piracy will be les problematic in spite of the use of digital downloads. That would be very attractive to publishers because the PSP has got a bad reputation for piracy thanks to the custom firmware/homebrew crowd.
From a Sony and game publisher/developer point of view, digital downloads are only attractive if they are very hard to steal (copy and use without paying). If Sony has managed to greatly improve security on the PSP Go, it could be a great thing for Sony and their partners. Ultimately it will be a good thing for users too. If publishers and developers see the PSP as a viable platform again, then we get more games. If not, then we will see a return to the bad old days when no one wanted to develop for a platform that leaks sales to theft.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 2:31:34 PM
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Jawknee
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 11:14:10 AM
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Last edited by Jawknee on 7/28/2009 11:15:13 AM
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Naga
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 8:56:57 PM
Still I hope the 2nd game is great if they sort out the repetitive missions
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bebestorm
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 11:33:17 AM
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Last edited by bebestorm on 7/28/2009 11:33:37 AM
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Mr Bitey
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 11:44:01 AM
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JJJames
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 12:12:35 PM
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I think they need to rethink thier strategy.
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Ultimadream
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 12:22:06 PM
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The PSP doesnt have a new unique series going for it, which is why i believe the Nintendo DS to be more dominant.
0 up, 1 down
Highlander
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 1:31:45 PM
So now we get back to more games that are off-shoots of existing franchises. Are people going to start complaining again that there are too many retreads and ports on the PSP?
Gee, do you get the feeling that a fickle public simply won't let Sony win on this one? They seem like they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Last edited by Highlander on 7/28/2009 1:32:36 PM
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Jawknee
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 1:54:31 PM
0 up, 1 down
JMO_INDY
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 4:41:49 PM
Last edited by JMO_INDY on 7/28/2009 4:47:10 PM
1 up, 1 down
Alienange
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 2:14:19 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 2:29:54 PM
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Highlander
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 3:35:26 PM
Isn't the Zune HD supposed to be their new handheld? Or are they zoon to launch yet another new device? If it's anything like the original 360 models, people will need oven gloves to use it, otherwise they'll lose the skin from their fingertips to 1st degree burns.
;)
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JMO_INDY
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 4:48:56 PM
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JMO_INDY
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 4:50:45 PM
Maybe we can have all the fun of a portable red ring of death too, o the good ol days.
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smileys_007
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 4:54:52 PM
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Xra897
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 8:35:27 PM
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Naga
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 9:00:14 PM
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___________
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 @ 5:12:31 AM
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but im lost in ubisofts logic.
there dissapointed by there sales in the first half of this year, so to improve there sales for the second half there taking all the games due out then and pushing them till next year?????????
its like saying ok i need more money so im quitting my job and staying home all day.
that should make me more cash right?
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___________
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 @ 5:19:00 AM
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than up against singularity bioshock 2 max payne 3 heavy rain GOW3 possibly mag n GT5 alan wait.
seriously SPC was the only decent 360 out this year they would of got heaps of sales, next year im not so sure up against alan wait and i can see crackdown 2 coming sooner than later
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BigBoss4ever
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 10:54:41 AM
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 7/28/2009 10:54:56 AM