Konami looks to new platforms as profits surge

Konami has ended its financial year on the up, showing that profits almost doubled year on year.

Although revenues were mostly flat, with just three per cent growth to 265,758 million (€2.6bn – or 2.08bn) for the year ending March 31st, 2012, operating income was 40,950 million (€396m – or 312m).

In recent years Konami has borne the brunt of economic strife globally and in its homeland Japan. That’s still the case at home, where the firm says the business situation is still ‘uncertain’ as the entire country recovers from the Great Earthquake of 2011.

But broadly for its games content division and internationally, the overall signs of recovery are very positive. Revenue from video games content at the firm has regularly offset declines in its other leisure markets such as amusement games and toys.

Konami has pushed hard to add more mobile and social content to its offer around the world – with a recent highlight including a deal to be present on the Zynga.com platform.

Konami’s statement to investors explained: The available means of providing game software continue to diversify, and opportunities to reach an even greater audience for game software are increasing. Against such a backdrop, our belief is that we can increase the number of outlets” for the Konami Group’s game content by taking advantage of opportunities presented by the emergence of new devices and developing our business around game content. We intend to develop ways of playing games that match the characteristics of each device.”