Activision cancels Guitar Hero, True Crime
Company posts profit while disbanding Guitar Hero business unit, True Crime canceled
Activision Blizzard today announced financial results for the calendar year and quarter ending December 31, 2010. For calendar year 2010, Activision Blizzard's GAAP net revenues increased to $4.45 billion, as compared with $4.28 billion for 2009. Revenues from digital channels for the calendar year were more than $1.5 billion, an increase of more than 20% year over year.
Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, stated, "We benefited from new content releases for two of the world's most successful online entertainment franchises: Call of Duty: Black Ops and Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft: Cataclysm."
Kotick added, "Our revenues from digital channels, which now account for over 30% of our overall revenues, were driven by increased sales of Activision Publishing's Call of Duty map packs and value-added services for Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft. Notably, since Call of Duty: Black Ops was launched in November players have spent an average of 52 minutes per day playing online. As of February 2, 2011, more than 27 million gamers have played Call of Duty games online, logging more than 2 billion hours, or the equivalent of more than 229,000 years of gameplay."
The report continues, "In 2011, the company will allocate the majority of its resources and focus toward opportunities which we expect will afford us the greatest competitive advantages and the greatest potential. These opportunities include Blizzard Entertainment's games currently in development, robust investment in forthcoming Call of Duty titles, a new property from Bungie and an innovative new universe with broad appeal that will be revealed at Toy Fair later this week."
"At the same time, due to continued declines in the music genre, the company will disband Activision Publishing's Guitar Hero business unit and discontinue development on its Guitar Hero game for 2011. The company also will stop development on True Crime: Hong Kong. These decisions are based on the desire to focus on the greatest opportunities that the company currently has to create the world's best interactive entertainment experiences."
The latest Call of Duty and Guitar Hero titles were released last fall. While Black Ops performed well, Warriors of Rock failed to meet expectations of the fans and media, resulting in lackluster sales. True Crime: Hong Kong is a surprise cancellation, as the game was nearing completion and has been playable since last year's E3.
The next Call of Duty, and the upcoming project from Bungie, are yet to be named.
Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, stated, "We benefited from new content releases for two of the world's most successful online entertainment franchises: Call of Duty: Black Ops and Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft: Cataclysm."
Kotick added, "Our revenues from digital channels, which now account for over 30% of our overall revenues, were driven by increased sales of Activision Publishing's Call of Duty map packs and value-added services for Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft. Notably, since Call of Duty: Black Ops was launched in November players have spent an average of 52 minutes per day playing online. As of February 2, 2011, more than 27 million gamers have played Call of Duty games online, logging more than 2 billion hours, or the equivalent of more than 229,000 years of gameplay."
The report continues, "In 2011, the company will allocate the majority of its resources and focus toward opportunities which we expect will afford us the greatest competitive advantages and the greatest potential. These opportunities include Blizzard Entertainment's games currently in development, robust investment in forthcoming Call of Duty titles, a new property from Bungie and an innovative new universe with broad appeal that will be revealed at Toy Fair later this week."
"At the same time, due to continued declines in the music genre, the company will disband Activision Publishing's Guitar Hero business unit and discontinue development on its Guitar Hero game for 2011. The company also will stop development on True Crime: Hong Kong. These decisions are based on the desire to focus on the greatest opportunities that the company currently has to create the world's best interactive entertainment experiences."
The latest Call of Duty and Guitar Hero titles were released last fall. While Black Ops performed well, Warriors of Rock failed to meet expectations of the fans and media, resulting in lackluster sales. True Crime: Hong Kong is a surprise cancellation, as the game was nearing completion and has been playable since last year's E3.
The next Call of Duty, and the upcoming project from Bungie, are yet to be named.
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