Ubisoft announces 18 percent increase in annual sales driven by Assassin's Creed and Far Cry

Ubisoft's annual sales rose 18 percent and its operating income increased by 79 percent, driven in part by strong sales of games in the Assassin's Creed and Far Cry franchises, according to the company's financial report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.

The report highlights "revenue generated from games for core gamers," which was up 60 percent year-over-year. Ubisoft called out Assassin's Creed 3, which sold more than 12.5 million units, and Far Cry 3, which sold more than 6 million units, as driving the increase.

Revenue from casual games shrunk 32 percent year-over-year, though Just Dance 4 sold 8.5 million units. "Online/digital" sales were up 86 percent year-over-year and accounted for 11.7 percent of total sales.

Ubisoft expects that the first quarter 2013-2014 sales to decrease 47 percent year-over-year despite the launch of Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon and TrackMania: 2 Stadium.

In the report, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot touted the company's "more than 7,000 developers" who were able to deliver "high quality levels and regular releases" that attributed to the company's earnings.

Guillemot is also bullish about the possibilities the upcoming next-gen consoles, specifically their social aspects and "connected gaming."

Ubisoft expects revenue to increase from "core gamers" with the launch of five major titles in the upcoming year. Those include Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Watch Dogs and two titles that have not yet been announced, including one new creation.