Ubisoft's anticipated Star Wars Outlaws launch has reportedly fallen short of sales expectations, impacting the company's share price. The game, intended to revitalize Ubisoft's financial standing, hasn't delivered the projected sales boost.
Ubisoft Banking on Star Wars Outlaws and AC Shadows for Recovery
Stock Price Decline Continues
Star Wars Outlaws, a key title for Ubisoft's financial recovery plan, has underperformed despite positive critical reception. This sales shortfall contributed to a continued decline in Ubisoft's share price last week, beginning September 3rd.
Ubisoft had high hopes for both Star Wars Outlaws and the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows (AC Shadows), positioning them as crucial long-term investments. Their Q1 2024-25 sales report emphasized the importance of these titles in reshaping the company's financial future.
Ubisoft's Q1 2024-25 report highlighted a focus on the successful launch of Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows, aiming to establish them as enduring assets. The report also noted a 15% increase in console and PC session days, largely attributed to Games-as-a-Service offerings. Monthly active users (MAUs) reached 38 million, a 7% year-on-year increase.
Sales of Star Wars Outlaws have been termed "sluggish." Reuters reported that J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Kerven revised his sales projection downward from 7.5 million units to 5.5 million units by March 2025, citing underperformance despite positive reviews.
Following the August 30th release of Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft's share price fell for a second consecutive day on September 3rd, dropping 5.1% on Monday and a further 2.4% by Tuesday morning. This decline represents the lowest share price since 2015, adding to a year-to-date drop exceeding 30%.
While critics generally praised Star Wars Outlaws, player reception appears less enthusiastic, reflected in a 4.5/10 user score on Metacritic. Conversely, Game8 awarded the game a 90/100 rating, calling it an "exceptional game" that honors the Star Wars franchise. For a detailed review, please see the link below.
