Activision More Than Doubles Net Income For 2011

Activision Blizzard has announced its financial earnings report for the full year and fourth quarter of 2011.  Total net revenues for the year came to $4.76 billion, up slightly from $4.45 billion in calendar year 2010.  Net income for the year more than doubled, hitting $1.09 billion, versus $418 million last year.  Digital revenues accounted for more than 34 percent of the company’s total net revenue.

For the fourth quarter alone, net revenues came to $1.41 billion, down from $1.43 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010.

World of Warcraft and Call of Duty continued to perform well for Activision, but newcomersSkylanders Spyro’s Adventure and Call of Duty Elite really pushed the company’s earnings forward.  Skylanders alone has sold more than 20 million toys, with 1 million users registered for the online service. Call of Duty Elite has more than 7 million registered members, with more than 1.5 million paying for the premium service.

“Skylanders Spyro's Adventure was the biggest new IP launch in Activision's history and it is on track to become an important and sustainable franchise.   We launched our online service, Call of Duty Elite, which is one of the fastest growing premium online services ever created,” said CEO Bobby Kotick.

For 2012, Activision has a number of titles planned for launch, including Diablo III, which is expected for a second quarter launch.  Skylanders follow-up Skylanders’ Giants, World of Warcraft expansion Mists of Pandaria, and the Starcraft II expansion Heart of the Swarmare also in the cards for 2012.  Activision will also be publishing the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection, allowing consumer to purchase content previously released to Call of Duty Elite members.

For the first quarter of 2012, Activision is forecasting net revenues of $965 million.  More crazy money for the industry's number one publisher!