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Netflix acquires gaming avatar maker Ready Player Me
TechCrunch· 2025-12-19 17:00
Core Insights - Netflix is shifting its gaming strategy to focus on TV games and has acquired Ready Player Me, an avatar-creation platform, to enhance its gaming experience for subscribers [1][5] - The acquisition aims to allow Netflix users to carry their avatars across different games, enhancing user engagement and personalization [1][5] Acquisition Details - The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Ready Player Me had previously raised $72 million from various investors [2] - The team from Ready Player Me, consisting of around 20 members, will join Netflix, including the founders [3] Strategic Shift in Gaming - Netflix's initial gaming strategy involved mobile games, but it is now pivoting towards more interactive and engaging experiences on TV [6][11] - The company has faced mixed results with its gaming strategy, leading to changes in leadership and a focus on different game types, including party games and narrative-driven titles [11][13] Future Plans - Ready Player Me will cease its current services by January 31, 2026, as Netflix integrates its technology [3] - Netflix has plans to release new titles, including a FIFA game in time for the 2026 World Cup, as part of its expanded gaming lineup [14] Interactive Features - Netflix is also exploring interactive features, such as real-time voting for live content, to enhance viewer engagement [15] - This move aligns with trends in the TV industry towards more interactive experiences, although it remains to be seen if Netflix can successfully transition its brand perception from passive viewing to interactive gaming [15]
Take-Two's Q1 Loss Narrows Year Over Year, Revenue Growth Continues
ZACKS· 2025-08-08 17:11
Core Insights - Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) reported a first-quarter fiscal 2026 GAAP net loss of $0.07 per share, an improvement from a loss of $1.52 in the same quarter last year, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate was $0.27 per share [1] - GAAP net revenues increased by 12.4% year over year to $1.5 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.3 billion [1] Revenue Breakdown - Revenues from the United States rose by 9.7% year over year to $900.4 million, accounting for 59.9% of total GAAP net revenues, while international revenues increased by 16.6% to $603.4 million [2] - Game revenues, which represent 91.9% of total revenues, grew by 13.6% year over year to $1.38 billion, whereas advertising revenues fell by 0.16% to $121.3 million [2] Bookings Performance - Total bookings improved by 16.8% year over year to $1.42 billion, with U.S. bookings increasing by 14.8% to $836.6 million, representing 58.8% of total bookings [3] - International bookings rose by 19.8% year over year to $586.5 million [3] Consumer Spending and Distribution - Recurrent consumer spending increased by 14% for the period, making up 83% of net bookings [4] - Digital online revenues grew by 14% year over year to $1.48 billion, constituting 98.2% of GAAP net revenues, while physical retail revenues declined by 36.3% to $27.2 million [5] Platform Revenue Insights - Revenues from mobile, console, and PC accounted for 53.3%, 36.6%, and 10.1% of GAAP net revenues, respectively [6] - Mobile revenues increased by 11% to $801.7 million, console revenues rose by 8.2% to $550.6 million, and PC revenues surged by 41.9% to $151.5 million [6] Gaming Highlights - NBA 2K25 exceeded expectations, selling over 11.5 million units worldwide, with daily active users increasing by 30% and recurrent consumer spending rising by 48% [8] - The Grand Theft Auto series maintained strong momentum, with Grand Theft Auto V selling over 215 million units globally [11] Financial Performance - GAAP gross profit surged by 22.6% year over year to $945 million, with gross margin expanding to 62.8% [15] - Operating income was reported at $21.6 million, a significant improvement from an operating loss of $184.9 million in the previous year [16] Balance Sheet and Guidance - As of June 30, 2025, the company had $2.03 billion in cash and cash equivalents, up from $1.46 billion in March 2025, with total debt at $3.07 billion [17] - For Q2 fiscal 2026, TTWO expects GAAP net revenues between $1.65 billion and $1.70 billion, with net bookings projected in the range of $1.70 billion to $1.75 billion [18]
Take-Two Interactive Stock Is Beating the Market in 2025. Could a New Game Release Next Year Propel It to Even Greater Heights?
The Motley Fool· 2025-08-03 09:35
Core Viewpoint - Take-Two Interactive is poised for growth with the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to significantly boost revenue and stock performance [1][2]. Financial Performance - Take-Two reported solid financial results for fiscal 2025 and anticipates record revenue for fiscal 2026 [1]. - The stock has increased approximately 21% year-to-date, outperforming the Nasdaq Composite's 10% return [2]. Upcoming Releases - The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on May 26, 2026, and is projected to drive substantial revenue growth in fiscal year 2027 [2]. - The last installment of the series sold 215 million copies over 12 years, indicating a strong established player base [4]. Business Strategy - Take-Two is diversifying its portfolio beyond reliance on GTA by increasing research and development spending and headcount for future releases [5]. - A significant portion of revenue comes from recurrent consumer spending, which accounted for 77% of bookings in the most recent quarter [6]. Profitability and Margins - Despite recent pressures on margins and free cash flow due to R&D and acquisitions, recurrent consumer spending has improved profitability over the last decade [7]. - The release of GTA VI and other titles is expected to enhance margins and free cash flow in the long term [7]. Market Position - Take-Two's stock is considered fairly valued, trading at a forward enterprise value-to-revenue multiple of 7.15x, which is competitive compared to peers [9]. - Analysts project earnings growth at an annualized rate of 39% through 2029, with free cash flow expected to reach $2.9 billion [12]. Future Outlook - The integration of artificial intelligence in game development is anticipated to improve efficiency and profitability for Take-Two over the next decade [11]. - The stock is positioned to potentially outperform the market due to its growth catalysts and reasonable pricing [8][12].
TakeTwo's Q4 Loss Widens Year Over Year, Revenues Increase
ZACKS· 2025-05-16 17:01
Core Insights - TakeTwo Interactive Software (TTWO) reported a GAAP net loss of $21.08 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, which is wider than the loss of $17.02 in the same quarter last year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings was $1.08 per share [1] - GAAP net revenues increased by 13.1% year over year to $1.58 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.55 billion [1] Revenue Breakdown - Revenues from the United States rose by 9.8% year over year to $946.1 million, accounting for 59.8% of total GAAP net revenues. International revenues increased by 18.3% year over year to $636.4 million [2] - Game revenues, which represent 93.1% of total revenues, grew by 16.9% year over year to $1.47 billion, while advertising revenues, making up 6.9% of total revenues, fell by 21.7% year over year to $108.7 million [2] Bookings Performance - Total bookings improved by 17.3% year over year to $1.58 billion, with U.S. bookings increasing by 17.4% to $961.1 million, representing 60.8% of total bookings. International bookings rose by 17.1% to $620.4 million [3] - Recurrent consumer spending increased by 14% for the period, accounting for 77% of net bookings [4] Distribution Channels - Digital online revenues grew by 14.3% year over year to $1.53 billion, making up 96.4% of GAAP net revenues. Conversely, physical retail and other revenues declined by 11.4% to $56.9 million, representing 3.6% of total revenues [4] Platform Revenue Insights - Revenues from mobile, console, and PC/other accounted for 47.2%, 37.4%, and 15.4% of GAAP net revenues, respectively. Mobile revenues increased by 4.6% to $747.4 million, console revenues rose by 4% to $591.2 million, and PC/other revenues surged by 110.7% to $243.6 million [6] Gaming Performance Highlights - NBA 2K25 achieved near-record performance, selling nearly 10 million units, a 7% increase compared to NBA 2K24 [8] - The Grand Theft Auto series exceeded expectations, with GTA V selling over 215 million units, and Red Dead Redemption 2 showing a 23% year-over-year growth in net bookings [10] Operating Details - GAAP gross profit surged by 71.2% year over year to $803.3 million, with gross margin expanding to 50.8% from 33.5% in the previous year [13] - Operating expenses rose by 43.9% year over year to $4.58 billion, with a notable operating loss of $3.78 billion compared to a loss of $2.71 billion in the prior year [14] Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, TakeTwo had $1.47 billion in cash and short-term investments, up from $1.21 billion as of December 31, 2024. The company had a total debt of $2.51 billion [15] Future Guidance - For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, TakeTwo expects GAAP net revenues between $1.35 billion and $1.40 billion, with anticipated operating expenses between $908 million and $918 million. The expected loss per share is projected to be between 78 cents and 65 cents [16] - For fiscal 2026, the company forecasts GAAP net revenues between $5.95 billion and $6.05 billion, with net bookings expected in the range of $5.9 billion to $6 billion [18]
Take-Two Interactive Software(TTWO) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-15 21:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported fourth quarter net bookings of $1,580,000,000, which was at the top of the guidance range [8][27] - For fiscal year 2025, net bookings reached $5,650,000,000, also at the top of the guidance range [29] - GAAP net revenue increased by 13% to $1,580,000,000 in the fourth quarter and rose 5% to $5,630,000,000 for the fiscal year [29][30] - Operating expenses increased by 44% to $4,600,000,000 in the fourth quarter due to an impairment expense of $3,600,000,000 related to goodwill and acquired intangible assets [29][30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - NBA 2K25 sold nearly 10,000,000 units, a 7% increase compared to NBA 2K24, with engagement metrics showing significant growth [11][12] - WWE 2K25 received critical acclaim with a Metacritic score of 84 for Xbox Series X, and recurrent consumer spending grew by 20% during the quarter [13][14] - Zynga's performance was strong, with Match Factory exceeding expectations and Color Block Jam becoming a top 10 downloaded game in the US Apple App Store [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The mobile gaming segment remains challenging, but Zynga is noted for regularly creating new hits, with Match Factory and Color Block Jam being profitable [49][51] - The company expects recurrent consumer spending to be flat compared to fiscal 2025, representing 76% of net bookings for fiscal 2026 [31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to release approximately 38 titles through fiscal 2028, with 13 titles expected in fiscal 2026 [22][25] - The release of Grand Theft Auto VI is anticipated to significantly enhance the company's financial profile and establish a new baseline for net bookings [21][56] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the upcoming pipeline and the potential for record levels of net bookings, particularly with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI [21][35] - The company is focused on delivering value to consumers and maintaining a player-first approach [21][38] Other Important Information - The company has implemented a cost reduction program and is working on improving operational efficiency [27][29] - The direct-to-consumer business has become a significant part of the company's strategy, particularly following the acquisition of Zynga [74] Q&A Session Summary Question: Pricing strategy for Mafia - Management explained that variable pricing is a long-standing strategy aimed at delivering more value to consumers [38][39] Question: Goodwill impairment related to Zynga - Management confirmed that the impairment was a partial impairment of one of the reporting units, resulting from updated long-term expectations [40] Question: Operating margins and structural changes - Management stated there is no reason to believe operating margins cannot return to previous levels, emphasizing ongoing cost reduction efforts [44] Question: Mobile segment performance - Management acknowledged the challenges in mobile gaming but highlighted Zynga's success in creating new hits [49][51] Question: Anticipated demand for Grand Theft Auto VI - Management noted the unprecedented anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI, supported by record trailer views and ongoing engagement with existing titles [58][90]
Take-Two Interactive Software(TTWO) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-15 21:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported fourth quarter net bookings of $1,580,000,000, which was at the top of the guidance range [6][26] - GAAP net revenue increased by 13% to $1,580,000,000, while GAAP net revenue for the fiscal year rose by 5% to $5,630,000,000 [28][29] - Operating expenses increased by 44% to $4,600,000,000 due to an impairment expense of $3,600,000,000 related to goodwill and acquired intangible assets [28][29] - Recurrent consumer spending grew by 14% year over year, accounting for 77% of net bookings [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - NBA 2K25 posted near record performance with nearly 10,000,000 units sold, a 7% increase compared to NBA 2K24 [10] - WWE 2K25 achieved a Metacritic score of 84 on Xbox Series X, with recurrent consumer spending up 20% during the quarter [12] - Zynga's Match Factory and Color Block Jam both showed strong performance, with Match Factory exceeding expectations and Color Block Jam becoming profitable within four months [16][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The mobile gaming segment remains challenging, but Zynga is noted for regularly creating new hits, with Match Factory and Color Block Jam being profitable [46][47] - The company expects recurrent consumer spending to be flat compared to fiscal 2025, representing 76% of net bookings for fiscal 2026 [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to release 13 titles in fiscal 2026, including major franchises like Mafia and Borderlands [21][23] - The release of Grand Theft Auto VI is anticipated to significantly enhance the company's financial profile, with expectations for record levels of net bookings [20][33] - The company is focusing on delivering value to consumers through variable pricing strategies [36][91] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the upcoming pipeline and the potential for long-term growth, particularly with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI [33][34] - The company is addressing challenges in the gaming industry and is confident in its ability to deliver results [108] Other Important Information - The company has a robust release schedule with approximately 38 titles planned through fiscal 2028 [21] - The anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to set a new baseline for the business [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on Mafia's pricing strategy - Management explained that variable pricing is part of their strategy to deliver more value to consumers [36][37] Question: Goodwill impairment related to Zynga - Management confirmed that the impairment was a partial impairment of one of their units, resulting from updated long-term expectations [38] Question: Future operating margins - Management indicated that there is no reason to believe they cannot reach previous operating margin levels, despite increased development costs [42] Question: Mobile segment performance - Management acknowledged the challenges in mobile gaming but highlighted Zynga's success in creating new hits [46][48] Question: Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI - Management noted the record excitement for GTA VI, driven by ongoing engagement with GTA V and the success of the recent trailer [86][90] Question: Impact of console price increases - Management stated that their guidance would not be meaningfully affected by potential price increases in the gaming ecosystem [96] Question: Internal royalty line increase - Management explained that the increase in internal royalties is driven by product mix changes [103]
TTWO Set to Report Q4 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-05-13 15:55
Core Viewpoint - TakeTwo Interactive Software (TTWO) is set to release its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on May 15, with expectations of GAAP net revenues between $1.52 billion and $1.62 billion, and a GAAP net loss per share ranging from 20 cents to earnings per share of 13 cents [1] Revenue Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTWO's fiscal fourth-quarter revenues is $1.55 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 14.73% [1] - The consensus for earnings is currently at $1.08 per share, indicating a significant year-over-year growth of 248.39% [2] Performance Drivers - NBA 2K is anticipated to significantly contribute to results, with a projected high-teens percentage increase in recurrent consumer spending for the franchise [3] - Other titles like Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online are expected to continue contributing, although GTA Online may see declines [3] - New launches such as Sid Meier's Civilization VII, PGA Tour 2K25, and WWE 2K25 are expected to support top-line growth, with Civilization VII already setting a franchise record for preorders [4] Mobile Segment Challenges - Mobile bookings are projected to face challenges, with only low single-digit growth expected for the fiscal year, influenced by underperformance in titles like Empires & Puzzles [5] Cost Management - GAAP operating expenses for the fiscal fourth quarter are projected between $900 million and $920 million, with a 2% decline year over year due to normalized marketing and cost-saving initiatives [6] Earnings Outlook - TTWO currently has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating that the odds of an earnings beat are not favorable at this time [7]