Ubisoft Reports Record Q2 Results

Today Ubisoft reported financial results for the first fiscal quarter that ended on June 30, 2008. Ubisoft’s first quarter sales were up 25.8 percent, compared with the €134 million ($209.32 million) recorded for the same period of a year ago.

The company attributed first quarter profits to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Assassin’s Creed and Rayman Raving Rabbids 2. The Games For Everyone brands including the Petz, Imagine and My Coach series also played a big part, representing 33 percent of sales versus 11 percent in the first quarter of 2007-08. Titles launched in the first quarter of 2008-09, included Assassin’s Creed and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 for PC, Haze, and My Weight Loss Coach which got off to a promising start, according to Ubisoft.

Ubisoft is raising its guidance for full-year 2008-09 sales to approximately €1.02 billion ($1.59 billion) from the previously-announced €1 billion ($1.56 billion) as a result of several factors including favorable market conditions for the video games industry, Ubisoft’s solid first-quarter sales performance (particularly by the Games For Everyone range), and the positive reception given to the games presented at E3. The Group is maintaining its target for current income before stock options to represent at least 12 percent of sales.

Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 Fan Map Pack Details

Ubisoft plans to release the Fan Pack later this month for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 on PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Marketplace and its official web site. The Fan Pack is a collection of goodies for Vegas 2 that includes three new multiplayer maps, a new High Stakes setting, the ability to attain new ranks and A.C.E.S. and weapon balancing.

The three new MP maps include two re-lit maps and a fan favorite from Rainbow Six Vegas. These maps are Calypso Casino - a fan favorite from Rainbow Six Vegas supporting all game modes including co-op terrorist hunt; Murdertown ? Dark: a dark, close-quarters action map; and CQB Training ? another map set at nighttime. The pack also includes new ranks beyond the rank of Elite and A.C.E.S. extended to 100 for each of these three categories: Marksman, CQB and Assault (each A.C.E.S. level earned contains a substantial XP reward).

Players can also use a new High Stakes setting. High Stakes affects key settings including Limited HUD (no radar, enemies not visible on tactical map, or Grenade indicator is disabled), Health System (health regeneration is disabled or altered post-process effects of being in a critical health state), Take Cover (camera view has changed so that players must be exposed in order to see around a corner), Weapons & Gadgets (aim assistance is completely disabled, bullet spread is increased when not zoomed in and less ammunition), Kill Camera is always disabled, and friendly fire is always enabled.

The pack also offers some other little bells, whistles and fixes including weapons and gadget balancing; lots of new host toggles (voice chat, random respawns) and much more.

For more information visit www.rainbowsixgame.com.