Sales at Steve Jackson Games were down to $6.6 million in 2015, according to the annual report to stakeholders from the company, a 22% reduction from the $8.5 million in sales in 2014 (see “Steve Jackson Sales Up in 2014”).  The company released 37% fewer products last year, as it prepared for a big year in 2016 and some projects that were expected to come to market did not.  Discworld Roleplaying Game and GURPS Mars Attacks could not be shipped profitably because of what the company called “a failure of sales and marketing,” a situation it hopes to turn around in 2016.

Mass merchant activity also had a role in the 2015 decline.  No new chains were opened as accounts, which meant no big stocking orders as 1500 stores were added at once as happened in years past.  And Steve Jackson and Target made the decision to switch out the Munchkin base game for Munchkin Oz on Target shelves which led to a decline in sales in the chain (although it did lead to an increase in promotional support).   

The sales decline had been anticipated, the company said, and carefully managed.  And pointing to a number of positive steps (including increased licensing and sales of foreign editions) and plans laid for 2016, the company described 2015 as a “great year.” 

Goals for 2016 include shipping 15 Munchkin Guest Artist Editions, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the game; launching Car Wars Sixth Edition; shipping at least one new core Munchkin game plus expansions; and completing the Ogre Kickstarter commitments.