Aiming Q3 2022 Financial Results: Notice Regarding Differences Between Earnings Forecasts and Actual Results

Aiming’s financial performance for the first three quarters of the 2022 fiscal year significantly outperformed initial projections released in July 2022. The company reported a cumulative revenue of 9,725 million yen, exceeding the forecast by 4.7 percent. Profitability metrics showed even more substantial growth, with operating profit reaching 416 million yen—a 2,191.7 percent increase over the forecasted 18 million yen—and quarterly net profit hitting 401 million yen, surpassing the initial estimate of 18 million yen.

The primary driver of this positive variance was the strong performance of the flagship title, Dragon Quest Tact. The game’s second-anniversary event generated higher-than-anticipated engagement, and the subsequent decline in revenue following the event was less severe than originally modeled. Additionally, the company successfully reached an agreement to transition a previously contracted development project into a joint venture, allowing for the recognition of revenue that had been deferred during the negotiation phase.

Operational expenses remained lower than expected, contributing to the improved bottom line. While revenue growth led to some variable cost increases, overall spending was tempered by slower-than-projected personnel growth and the deferral of certain outsourcing costs into the following quarter. Furthermore, marketing expenditures associated with the Dragon Quest Tact anniversary campaign proved more efficient than anticipated. These combined factors resulted in a robust financial outcome for the period ending September 30, 2022, effectively reversing the downward trends that had been forecasted for the third quarter.