Activision Blizzard full-year revenues hit $4.8 billion, sales driven by Call of Duty, Skylanders, Diablo 3

Activision Blizzard reported full-year revenues for calendar year 2012 at $4.8 billion, attributing its success to best-selling franchises Call of Duty and Skylanders and the high sales of Diablo 3, the company reported in its latest financial earnings report.

For the fourth quarter ending on Dec. 31, 2012, net revenues were a record $1.77 billion, up from 2011's net revenues of $1.41 billion. Of the company's earnings for calendar year 2012, the digital sector represented 32 percent of total revenue at a record $1.54 billion. Full-year earnings exceed the company's initial forecasted outlook of $1.4 billion in revenue.

During the company's quarterly earnings call today, Activision's Eric Hirshberg said the Skylanders franchise has earned over $1 billion in revenue since launching 15 months ago. The earnings report states the Call of Duty and Skylanders franchises were the number one and three best-selling franchises across North America and Europe in 2012. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, released last November, was the best-selling title across all platforms for the calendar year, and the first video game to net $1 billion in sales 15 days after launch. Diablo 3, released last May, sold more than 12 million copies throughout the year. The company cites the success of these games for its extensive growth throughout the year.

"We are very pleased to report that Activision Blizzard delivered the best performance in its history," CEO Bobby Kotick said in report statement. "With better-than expected net revenues, record operating margins and record earnings, and over $1.3 billion in operating cash flow, we continue to set the industry success bar."

Activision Blizzard's financial forecast for calendar year 2013 lists expected net revenues of $4 billion, with $1.1 billion earned in the year's first financial quarter. Within the quarter the company plans to release the first downloadable map pack for Black Ops 2, Revolution, on Xbox 360 on Jan. 29 and other platforms shortly after. Activision Blizzard will also release the StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm expansion on March 12.