Reuters: Technology News: Activision Blizzard lowers outlook for fourth quarter

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Activision Blizzard lowers outlook for fourth quarter Nov 7th 2013, 00:15 Share this Email Print Reprints Visitors look at a presentation at the ActiVision Blizzard exhibition stand during the Gamescom 2013 fair in Cologne August 21, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Ina Fassbender By Malathi Nayak SAN FRANCISCO | Wed Nov 6, 2013 7:15pm EST SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc, known for its "Call of Duty" franchise, said it raised its 2013 forecast but lowered its revenue estimates for the current quarter after warning that it could face a challenging holiday period. The company's stock dropped 2 percent in late trade from a close of $16.53 on the Nasdaq. Despite a bump in its 2013 forecast, Activision "cautioned that there is some execution risk in Q4," Benchmark Company analyst Mike Hickey said. For the fourth-quarter, which is its crucial holiday period, Activision lowered its non-GAAP revenue forecast to $2.22 billion from its prior expectation of $2.25 billion. This fell short of Wall Steet's estimate of $2.29 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. It also lowered its non-GAAP earnings per share to 72 cents from a previous range of 76 cents to 79 cents per share, and below Wall Street's view of 79 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company had said last quarter that it expects a rocky holiday quarter because of heavy competition as its just-launched "Call of Duty: Ghosts" will battle rival Electronic Arts Inc's "Battlefield:4." Moroever, its "Skylanders SWAP Force", a children's fantasy-adventure game sold with actual toys that come to life onscreen is competing with Disney's "Infinity", based on a similar concept. "Not being more specific in terms of quantifying what is a growth opportunity" in coming quarters "was a slight disappointment," Hickey said. RAISES 2013 OUTLOOK Activision, which closed a $8.2 billion deal last month to buy back most of its shares from French media conglomerate Vivendi, said on Wednesday that it expects GAAP earnings per share of 83 cents in 2013, compared to its previous forecast in the range of 80 cents to 82 cents. It also raised its estimate for 2013 GAAP revenue to $4.32 billion from $4.31 billion. "Our overall comfort with the market" before the launch of Sony Corp's PlayStation4 Microsoft Corp's Xbox One consoles in coming weeks moved the company to raise its 2013 forecast, Chief Executive Bobby Kotick said in an interview. "We feel like even with all the volatility of the new console launches, we have a pretty good view into what's likely going to happen and we are confident about our business," Kotick said. The Santa Monica, Los Angeles-based company said its revenue and income fell in the third quarter. On a GAAP-basis, revenue dropped to $691 million from $841 million a year ago and net income also fell to 5 cents per share from 20 cents per share, in the year-ago period. But results surpassed Wall Street analysts expectations of revenue of $589.4 million and earnings per share of 3 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company said non-GAAP revenue, adjusted for the deferral of digital revenue and other items, dropped 12.5 percent to $657 million from $751 million a year ago. It reported non-GAAP income of 8 cents per share, compared to 15 cents per share in the year-ago period. Subscribers of its fantasy-action online game "World of Warcraft," a large source of steady subscription-based revenue, dropped slightly to 7.6 million in the third quarter from 7.7 million last quarter, the company said. The latest title from its blockbuster "Call of Duty" video game franchise surpassed $1 billion in sell-in sales - the number of copies shipped to retailers - a day after its launch, the company said on Wednesday. Activision has been delivering a "Call of Duty" title every year over the last decade and its tenth installment "Call of Duty: Ghosts," a military-themed shooter game, was released worldwide on Tuesday. The company has not yet divulged retail sales figures - actual sales through retail channels - and the number of units sold of its just-launched "Call of Duty: Ghosts." When asked about retail sales of "Call of Duty: Ghosts," Kotick declined to comment or provide details. (Reporting by Malathi Nayak; Editing by Bernard Orr) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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