Activision has released its quarterly financial reports for 2017, and the result is a list of dyscalculia -inducing numbers that amount to another record-breaking year of bathing in pools of money thanks to the success of Overwatch, Candy Crush, the new World of Warcraft: Legion expansion, Hearthstone’s Mean Streets of Gadgetzan expansion and more.
“Activision Blizzard revenues from in-game content reached a record $3.6 billion in 2016, more than double the $1.6 billion in 2015. Excluding King, revenues from in-game content grew 30% year-over-year,” states the report.
Monthly active players of Blizzard content are at an all-time high at 445 million, with viewers and players spending over 43 billion hours with the company’s oeuvre, “on par with Netflix and over one-and-a-half times Snapchat.”
In-game revenue for Blizzard was driven by World of Warcraft content as well as Overwatch seasonal events. Call of Duty: Black Ops III had record add-on revenues outpacing map packs and Season Pass combined, even accounting for “record Season Pass participation.” The launch of World of Warcraft ’s Legion expansion raised monthly active users by 20% in the company’s third-quarter. Hearthstone monthly active users also grew by over 20% thanks in part to expansion Mean Streets of Gadgetzan.
However, Activision noted that Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare did not meet sales expectations. In 2017, the publisher stated that "traditional combat will take center stage" once again.
Overwatch made records for strongest launch year financial performance in Blizzard history, as well as reaching 25 million players faster than any other Blizzard franchise (“with balanced player base across east and west ”).
In a press release, Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, said, "Our record performance in 2016 further strengthened our position as the world's leading standalone interactive entertainment company. For the quarter and the year, we delivered our highest revenues, non-GAAP redefined operating margins and earnings per share, well surpassing our own expectations."
Kotick added, "The launch of Blizzard's Overwatch created a major new franchise, while King's mobile advertising tests are very promising as the basis for meaningful new revenue streams. We accelerated our efforts in esports and consumer products, enabling more ways to celebrate and connect to our communities. Thanks to the strength of our established franchises and the vitality of our new initiatives, we are well positioned for growth in the years ahead."
Are you part of Activision’s record-breaking year? Feel free to talk about Activision’s Scrooge McDuck swimming pool full of coins in our comments section below.
