Capcom Q1: Sales down, profits up

Poor performance by the core consumer games division lead to a drop in sales of console and handheld games for Capcom in the first quarter, but massive leaps for mobile game sales and a strong performance by arcade operations kept the money coming.

Capcom's financial results for Q1 of the 2012 fiscal year, released this morning, show the Japanese firm's sales dropped by 37.2 percent to ¥12 billion, but net income shot up by 58.2 percent to ¥338 million compared to the same period last year.

A lack of major new releases led to a poor performance for the the core consumer division - Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D and Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition performed to target, but there were no new franchises driving business for the unit.

However, the sale of mobile games was up by 79.8 percent leading to a rise of 362.2 percent in operating income - reaching ¥451 million.

The arcade division saw a 7.7 percent increase in sales but a healthier rise in operating income, up 192.5 percent.

Improved mobile performance came off the back of the company establishing its Beeline division to focus on mobile sales; both Smurf Village and Zombie Cafe performed well.

Thanks, GI.