Activision Publishing Moves Launch of New Racing Game Blur
Activision Blizzard Reaffirms Calendar Year 2009 Outlook
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Activision
Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that Blur(TM), the company's
highly anticipated foray into the racing genre, is now scheduled to ship in
2010. The company is moving Blur from 2009 to give the development team more
time to enhance the game's innovative and distinctive online multiplayer
gameplay.
Separately, Activision Blizzard reaffirmed the calendar year 2009 outlook it
provided on August 5, 2009 due to global demand for Modern Warfare 2(TM), which
continues to exceed expectations, and strong attach rates for the recently
launched Call of Duty(R): World at War(TM) map packs.
For 2009, the company continues to expect GAAP net revenues of $4.05 billion
and GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.26. On a non-GAAP basis, the company
continues to expect net revenues of $4.5 billion and earnings per diluted share
of $0.63. Nonetheless, because of the continuing uncertainty in the global
economic climate and the difficult retail environment anticipated during the
2009 holiday season, Activision Blizzard urges investors to be cautious and
prudent in evaluating the company's forecasts and projections. The company
reports results on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis. Please refer to the tables
at the back of this press release for a reconciliation of the company's GAAP and
non-GAAP results.
"We are committed to making Blur a great new racing franchise, and we are
very encouraged by the game's design," stated Mike Griffith, President and CEO,
Activision Publishing. "The additional time will allow the studio to fully
optimize the vision they set out to create for Blur including a distinctive and
groundbreaking multiplayer mode that will appeal to a broad audience."
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a
worldwide online, PC and console game publisher with leading market positions
across every major category of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment
software industry.
Activision Blizzard maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United
Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the
Netherlands, Australia, China, South Korea and the region of Taiwan. More
information about Activision Blizzard and its products can be found on the
company's website,
www.activisionblizzard.com.