Activision Blizzard has posted its Q1 2020 earnings, providing a quarterly overview for the blockbuster publisher, amid a turbulent market due to current world events. The publisher behind flagship franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and the Candy Crush franchise reports revenues at $1.79 billion, down 2 percent. That comes with 407 million active users across properties, lead by King at 273 million, and Activision at 102 million.
Activision largely witnesses success throughout the Call of Duty franchise, with its traditional franchise entries, free-to-play offerings, and expansion to mobile, each reporting substantial numbers. Call of Duty Warzone now boasts over 60 million players across Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare also clocks record sales after an impressive launch in 2019.
The vast portfolio of Blizzard franchises demonstrates steady performance, with "key franchises" witnessing month-on-month increases in monthly active users and overall engagement, with players pushed to stay at home. Those gains include World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Overwatch, while adapting to challenges presented by social distancing.
Candy Crush also remains a titan for Activision Blizzard, reporting month-over-month growth in active users, including "double-digit" gains in March. The title saw more rounds over the period than past quarters since Activision acquired developer, King, in early 2016.
Activision also outlined its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing a shift to work-from-home in March, although noting the "complexity and challenges" introduced for game development. The firm is covering costs for all testing and treatment for employees and their families while making donations to health organizations and medical centers.
It wraps with the promise of a "robust slate of content" for the remainder of the calendar year, with no indication of game delays, as the next-generation Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles loom on the horizon.
Xbox
Main
