Ubisoft Third-Quarter 2020-21 Sales

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
Ubisoft recorded €1,001.0 million in net bookings for Q3 2020-21, contributing to a 57.2% year-over-year increase for the first nine months of the fiscal year, totaling €1,755.7 million.See it on page 1
02
Digital net bookings accounted for 70.8% of total revenue over the nine-month period, while the back-catalog contributed 58.1%, highlighting a significant shift toward recurring revenue streams.See it on page 3
03
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla achieved record revenue for the franchise, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege surpassed 70 million registered players, driving record engagement levels.See it on page 2
04
Ubisoft was the leading publisher in unit sales across all platforms for the 2020 calendar year, with North America representing 49% of net bookings and Europe 36%.See it on page 1
05
Management tightened full-year 2020-21 net booking projections to a range of €2,220 million to €2,280 million.See it on page 3
06
The company completed a €600 million bond issuance to fund future corporate initiatives and potential acquisitions.See it on page 4
07
Ubisoft continues to prioritize an internally-owned intellectual property model while expanding ESG efforts, recently achieving 'Prime' status from ISS ESG.See it on page 4

Summary

Ubisoft achieved record financial performance during the third quarter of the 2020-21 fiscal year, driven by high-quality game launches and a robust back-catalog. The company reported net bookings of €1,001.0 million for the quarter, exceeding internal targets. For the first nine months of the fiscal year, net bookings reached €1,755.7 million, representing a 57.2% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth was supported by a record number of unique players and strong engagement across major franchises, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which generated record revenue for the series, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, which has surpassed 70 million registered players.

The company’s performance was bolstered by its position as the leading publisher in unit sales across all platforms for the 2020 calendar year. Digital net bookings accounted for 70.8% of total net bookings over the nine-month period, while the back-catalog contributed 58.1%, underscoring a shift toward recurring revenue streams. Geographically, North America remained the largest market, representing 49% of net bookings for the first nine months, followed by Europe at 36%. The company also successfully executed a €600 million bond issuance to support future corporate initiatives and potential acquisitions.

Reflecting on these results, management tightened full-year 2020-21 targets, projecting net bookings between €2,220 million and €2,280 million. The company continues to prioritize its internally-owned intellectual property model, which has provided a competitive advantage in an industry characterized by rising brand value and high barriers to entry. Additionally, Ubisoft has expanded its strategic focus to include environmental, social, and governance initiatives, earning "Prime" status from ISS ESG and appointing new leadership to oversee global diversity and inclusion efforts.