In its most recent financial report, Sega has revealed an increase in both profit and sales from April 1st to June 30th; the company has improved substantially compared to the same period last year, and is now back in the black.
Q2 sales for Sega this year are $692 million, a 33% increase on 2015’s $521 million. Profits for the quarter are at $30 million which, in the most dramatic improvement, are up from a $93 million loss this time last year.
So how has Sega done it? How has it managed to right a ship that, this time last year, was taking on a lot of water? There are several reasons. The PlayStation 4 release of Phantasy Star Online 2 has been a huge asset, and a surprising success: at launch on, player numbers reached over 130,000 – a record for the game on any platform.
In Europe, Total War: Warhammer has done very well. Sega didn’t provide figures for the sales, but called it “highly popular.” Sega reported ‘Robust’ sales for several mobile games over the period such as Chain Chronicle – Kizuna no Shintairiku, Hortensia Saga, and Puyopuyo!! Quest.
In order to stay afloat, Sega has highlighted plans for the near future: Persona 5 is going to be a key player for the company, along with hosting more regular events in-game for some of its mobile titles to promote and grow the communities around them.
It’s a company that has had an odd history, and it is a shame when reporting on successes feels like finding an oasis in the desert, but it’s good to see the company back on track. Here’s hoping that Sega continue the hot streak into the next quarter.
