Ubisoft has announced record sales performance for Assassin’s Creed, raised its guidance for fiscal 2007-08, updated its games release schedule, and issued its initial forecasts for 2008-09.

Assassin's Creed has "greatly outstripped" Ubisoft's sales expectations and currently ranks among the two or three best-selling games for the PlayStation 3 computer and Xbox 360 in the vast majority of geographical regions. In less than four weeks Assassin’s Creed recorded more than two and a half million units in sell-through sales worldwide, and is the fastest-selling new video game intellectual property ever in the US. Consequently, Ubisoft now forecasts that it will sell a minimum of five million units of the game in 2007-08 compared with its previous estimate of approximately three million.

As a result of the outstanding sales performance and solid showings from Ubisoft’s other games – particularly its 'casual' range – Ubisoft has significantly raised its forecasts for 2007-08. At the same time it has strengthened the lineup of games for next year, with titles such as Tom Clancy’s EndWar, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway and Far Cry 2 now scheduled for release in fiscal 2008-09 rather than the fourth quarter of 2007-08.

The sales target for 2007-08 has been raised to more than €840 million, with around €410 million for the third quarter, versus previous forecasts of €825 million and €330 million respectively.

Yves Guillemot, Chief Executive Officer of Ubisoft, stated: "With the exceptional performance of Assassin's Creed, the fastest-selling new video game intellectual property in the US ever, Ubisoft’s teams have once again demonstrated their expertise in creating and promoting major brands. These regular-sequel franchises are a source of very high profitability both in the short and long term. Drawing on its strong internal development capacities, Ubisoft is currently in an ideal position to continue to develop numerous new creations – an essential condition for winning market share and ensuring strong growth going forward."

The company estimates that it will achieve sales of approximately €975 million and current operating income representing at least 11 per cent of sales. These forecasts are notably based on the launch of four new brands, including Tom Clancy's EndWar, seven franchises including Brothers in Arms, Far Cry 2 and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, and new games in the Imagine, Petz and MyCoach series.