Yesterday, Ubisoft reported record sales of over 250 million euros in Q3 (October-December in the European fiscal year). Riding a wave from the release of Peter Jackson's King Kong, and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, revenues are up 29% from this point last year. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said, "2005 was another successful year. We gained additional market share and further strengthened the Ubisoft brand. Ubisoft is now established as one of the major players in our industry with highly valuable assets." Despite a cooling PC game market in the United States and Europe, forecasts for the end of FY 05/06 are in line with last year's performance.

So what does this mean for fans eagerly awaiting Heroes 5? Unlike its predecessor 3DO, this company does not appear to be going away anytime soon. Also, Heroes 5 is not mentioned among the titles scheduled for release in Q4. That is not surprising, given that an official release date has not been announced, but it is perhaps good news for those who signed the Save Heroes V petition. In all, their quarterly report shows they are focused on gaining ground in key world markets and improving their status as a major industry player. This is not the face of a company looking to simply make a quick buck off the Might and Magic franchise. Ubisoft is here to stay.

If you are interested in further details about Ubisoft's financial performance, a PDF copy of their quarterly report is available here.