Income explodes at Konami

Konami’s latest quarterly financials report a massive 244.7 per cent year-on-year jump in net income to YEN 1,265m compared to the 93.5 per cent dip it suffered in the same period the year before.

Operating income shot 187.9 per cent to YEN 2,879m though net revenue fell five per cent to YEN 53,183m.

Konami’s Digital Entertainment division, which includes its games operations, saw net revenues climb 1.7 per cent to YEN 25,016m, leading to total profits of YEN 2,347m – up from YEN 1,547m the year before.

The DE division remains Konami’s most lucrative, ahead of its Fitness and Arcade operations.

The company spoke positively about the approaching launches of the PlayStation Move, Microsoft Kinect and Nintendo 3DS which it says have attracted great attention not only in Japan but in the overseas market as well”.

Strong sales of Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker and the Japanese-only World Cup themed Winning Eleven (Pro Evolution Soccer) were also reported.

Although the Japanese economy showed signs of recovery from the recent economic and financial slowdown, the business environment surrounding the Konami continued to be severe,” a statement read. This was due to factors such as restrained consumer spending and focused on low-end commodities.”

The Japanese market remains by far the biggest territory for Konami, accounting for total revenues of YEN 47,481m. The US claimed YEN 6,505m and Europe YEN 2,955, though its European operations actually registered a YEN 235m loss.

Looking ahead to the rest of the year there are high hopes for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and the next iteration in the PES series, as well as the impending expansion of the DanceDanceRevolution franchise and music title Def Jam Rapstar.