April 28, 2011

The performance of four of the biggest traditional game publishers - Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and THQ - is forecast for C1Q 2011, the first quarter of the calendar year. As well as packaged retail results, we offer forecasts that break out and detail the vital, fast-evolving spheres of digital, online and mobile segments.

Transition remains a crowning theme for the biggest third-party publishers in the console, handheld and PC sectors. The shift from packaged retail to digital and online markets is a key concern for incumbent companies, and one with multiple facets to integrate into any strategies that aim to combat the downturn in the packaged retail market.

Highlights:

• EA achieves majority non-GAAP revenue share among the publishers for the quarter, bolstered by ongoing commitment to major IPs.
• Activision Blizzard takes the greatest chunk of online and digital revenue, with World of Warcraft and Call of Duty continuing to make strong contributions in these regards.
• THQ is believed to lag behind guidance, with new IP and potential pillar title Homefront failing to meet expectations.
• Ubisoft continues its strong push on the Nintendo front, via a clutch of launch titles for 3DS, plus ongoing frontline presence in the dance genre on Wii.

In this report:

• 2011 C1Q Top Line Publisher Forecasts
• 2011 C1Q key packaged games sales forecasts
• Publisher digital and online distribution summary
• Digital transition indicators
• Revenue shares within third party publisher basket
• Activision Blizzard C1Q 2011 revenue forecast
• Activision Blizzard revenue splits and key title forecasts
• Electronic Arts C1Q 2011 revenue forecast
• Electronic Arts revenue splits and key title forecasts
• THQ C1Q 2011 revenue forecast
• THQ revenue splits and key title forecasts
• Ubisoft C1Q 2011 revenue forecast
• Ubisoft revenue splits and key title forecasts

Tables and charts included:

• Non-GAAP revenue forecasts
• Packaged games revenue forecast
• Digital and online revenue forecast
• Mobile revenue forecast
• Key games sell-through forecasts
• Digital and online distribution summary
• Digital and online revenues
• Non-GAAP revenue share
• Packaged games revenue share
• Digital and online revenue share
• Mobile revenue share
• Activision Blizzard: Non-GAAP revenue YoY
• Activision Blizzard: Historical and forecast revenue
• Activision Blizzard: Key releases
• Activision Blizzard: Revenue split
• Electronic Arts: Non-GAAP revenue YoY
• Electronic Arts: Historical and forecast revenue
• Electronic Arts: Key releases
• Electronic Arts: Revenue split
• THQ: Non-GAAP revenue YoY
• THQ: Historical and forecast revenue
• THQ: Key releases
• THQ: Revenue split
• Ubisoft: Non-GAAP revenue YoY
• Ubisoft: Historical and forecast revenue
• Ubisoft: Key releases
• Ubisoft: Revenue split

Pages: 13

Tables & charts: 27

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