Ubisoft sees record revenue for Assassin’s Creed while pushing Skull & Bones once more

This week, Ubisoft released the financial report for the full year ended March 31, 2021, and the numbers highlight continued growth for the Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six publisher. According to the report, net bookings reached €2.22 billion ($2.7 billion), a 46% year-over-year increase, with €105.2 million ($128 million) in net income. Meanwhile, digital revenue reached €1.6 billion ($1.95 billion) and accounted for 72% of all net bookings.

In a slideshow, Ubisoft noted that last year saw record performance for the Assassin’s Creed franchise on the back of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The company reported that revenue for the franchise is the highest it’s been since the 2012-2013 fiscal year, beating out that number by an impressive 50%. 

Further, Rainbow Six: Siege was one of the top 10 most-played games throughout the last 12 months. Other franchises experiencing strong growth include Brawlhalla, Far Cry, For Honor, The Crew, and Watch Dogs.

Of note is the news that Ubisoft has once again pushed back the release date for Skull & Bones, the oft-delayed pirate sim. The game has seen a number of setbacks, including a complete reworking of its base concept last year. The most recent delay sees it pushed out of the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2022.

During a call with investors, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guilemot was asked about the numerous delays of Skull & Bones. He noted that lead developer Ubisoft Singapore is being supported by a number of Ubisoft’s smaller studios in an effort to smooth out the rocky development process.

Looking forward, titles that will launch this fiscal year include Far Cry 6, Rainbow Six: Quarantine, Riders Republic, Roller Champions, and The Division Heartland. The latter is a free-to-play game set in the world of The Division. While no gameplay details are available just yet, it does speak to Ubisoft’s increased focus on the free-to-play segment.

Additionally, the company is working on games based on popular franchises like James Cameron’s Avatar, and Star Wars.

All told, it was a strong year not just for Ubisoft, but for the games industry at large. The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a spotlight on games as the most popular and lucrative entertainment medium in the world, and many have turned to it throughout. Ubisoft has clearly taken advantage of such a welcoming market.