Overall game sales for Q1 were down 2%, or flat after foreign exchange impact was excluded. Growth drivers offsetting the Magic decline in the games category included the holiday hit Pie Face, Duel Masters in Japan, and Yahtzee (which has increased digital revenues).
Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner touted the growth of players for Magic in the earnings call, noting that pre-release attendance for Shadows over Innistrad was up 20%, which he said “validates our change to a two-set block.” Wizards of the Coast now has over one million active players in its organized play system, Goldner revealed.
Goldner also noted that there are currently over 65,000 players who play in premier events streamed to esports audiences. “This is an area we’re investing in to both grow the number of events and the player base,” Goldner said.
Asked about the planned departure of WotC CEO Greg Leeds (see "Wizards of the Coast CEO Resigns"), Goldner answered that Leeds’ departure had been planned for some time. “Greg had indicated his desire to go off and do some other things,” he said, “and we wish him all the best.”
Hasbro’s overall Q1 sales were up 16%, or 20% after foreign exchange impact was excluded. That was especially driven by sales in the Boys category (Star Wars), which was up 24%, and Girls (Disney Princesses, Frozen), which was up 41%.
Hasbro Q1 profits were up a spectacular 83% compared to the year ago period, to $48.8 million for the quarter. The share price rose 5.79% Monday.
