Ubisoft First-Quarter 2018-19 Sales

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Ubisoft reported first-quarter fiscal 2018-19 sales of €400.0 million and net bookings of €381.5 million, marking an 88.8% increase over the same period in the previous year.See it on page 1
02
Digital net bookings rose 76.7% to €287.0 million, accounting for 75.2% of the company's total net bookings for the quarter.See it on page 1
03
Back-catalog performance was a primary driver of growth, with net bookings increasing 74.7% to €332.6 million.See it on page 1
04
Player Recurring Investment, including DLC, season passes, and subscriptions, grew by 51.5% to reach €125.9 million.See it on page 1
05
North America remained the leading geographic market at 45% of net bookings, while the PlayStation 4 was the top platform at 38%.See it on page 4
06
Despite the transition to the IFRS 15 revenue recognition standard, Ubisoft maintained its full-year 2018-19 targets of €2,000.0 million in sales and €2,050.0 million in net bookings.See it on page 2

Summary

Ubisoft’s first-quarter fiscal 2018-19 financial results demonstrate a period of record growth, characterized by a successful digital transformation and strong performance across its back-catalog. The company reported sales of €400.0 million and net bookings of €381.5 million, representing an 88.8% increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. This performance exceeded internal targets, driven largely by the recurring nature of player investments and sustained engagement with existing franchises.

Digital net bookings served as a primary growth engine, rising 76.7% to €287.0 million, which accounted for 75.2% of total net bookings. Additionally, the back-catalog contributed significantly to the quarter’s success, with net bookings increasing by 74.7% to €332.6 million. Player Recurring Investment—comprising digital items, DLC, season passes, and subscriptions—grew by 51.5% to €125.9 million. Geographically, North America remained the largest market at 45% of net bookings, followed by Europe at 35%. By platform, PlayStation 4 led with 38% of net bookings, followed by PC at 24% and Xbox One at 22%.

The company implemented the IFRS 15 revenue recognition standard for the first time during this quarter, which impacted how revenue from games is accounted for post-delivery. Despite this transition, Ubisoft confirmed its full-year 2018-19 financial targets, including projected sales of approximately €2,000.0 million and net bookings of €2,050.0 million. Management attributes this positive outlook to the continued momentum of its digital strategy, the strength of its owned intellectual property, and the anticipated release of upcoming titles such as Assassin's Creed Odyssey and The Division 2.