Ubisoft grows thanks to The Division and digital sales, but Watch Dogs 2 preorders hurt guidance

Ubisoft beat its guidance for the first half of the company’s fiscal 2017, but it is taking a conservative outlook for the rest of the year because it isn’t sure how the market will react to Watch Dogs 2.

Through the six-month period ending September 30, Ubisoft has generated $312 million (281 million euros), which is up 36 percent year-over-year. The company did experience an operating loss of $69 million (62 million euros), which is better than what it saw through the same period during its fiscal 2016. The company credits its strategies regarding digital gaming and providing ongoing support for major releases for contributing the most to its growth. Ubisoft also warns that Watch Dogs 2 is not doing the preorder numbers it thought it would. The publisher is cutting its full-year guidance despite its strong first-half report.