Some analysts “concerned” CoD has peaked at retail

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Analysts have started chatting about Call of Duty, what with Black Ops 2 readying for a fall release, and while many seem to think the brand has peaked, Blops 2 will still sell millions upon release.

Speaking with GI International following Activision Blizzard’s Q2 call to investors, analyst Ben Schachter of Macquarie Securities, said the firm has “significant concerns that CoD may have peaked in 2011,” and for various reasons.

Schachter cited industry sales declines, currency fluctuations, Modern Warfare 3′s sales being slightly below Black Ops, and other reasons.

Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities agreed with Schachter, stating that since annual sales at a 25 million level “are unprecedented,” and that growth in online multiplayer is what initially fueled CoD sales.

“[CoD] was (and probably still is) the best multiplayer experience available, [but] Battlefield multiplayer probably cannibalized it a little bit, and this year, Halo and Medal of Honor could cannibalize CoD a bit more,” Pachter said. “Next year, another Battlefield plus the Respawn and Bungie games probably cannibalize it a bit more.

“There’s nothing wrong with 22 million units sold, or with 19 million or 16 million. CoD will remain the best selling game (at least until GTA) and Activision shouldn’t be concerned if it loses some players at the margin. They created a phenomenon, and others are emulating them.”

Colin Sebastian of RW Baird is of the same opinion as well, noting Activision’s lower financial guidance assumes “Call of Duty is lower this year than last year,” which might have something to do with the current console market.

“Also, if new consoles are coming next year, that is typically a disruptive period for game sales, and that could drive sales lower as well, at least temporarily,” Sebastian continued. “The bigger question I think is whether the franchise (or any franchise) is in a continuous period of decline. Personally, I don’t know which competing console title would take so much share from Call of Duty.”

However, other analysts believe retail and consoles figures can no longer be used as the sole source of sales, as digital and PC sales need to be taken into account as well as the declining retail market overall.

Plus, CoD Online launching in China will provide a new source of revenue for the firm.

Posted:

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2012/08/04/some-analysts-concerned-cod-has-peaked-at-retail/

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SmurfsPosted:

-LIME- hopefully bo2 is fun not all competative


I'm guessing it's gonna be competitive since they are adding Elite 2.0 so that means probably more clans which means more competition.

SmurfsPosted:

-Pluto- CoD peaked at W@W


Yeah, that was a great game too.

waaaaaatPosted:

BackHandLegend My CoD Rating
1. CoD4, WaW
2. Gears of War 3
3. Battlefield 3
9001. Every other shitty CoD game.

(Notice how the rest of the cod games are so bad that I had to include other non cod games)


thats such a consololol list.

heres realistically how it should run

1. vcod
2. cod2
3. cod4 (barely only because promod saved it)
100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000. every other cod is equally as garbage as this.

JapPosted:

CoD peaked at W@W

PoonPosted:

BackHandLegend My CoD Rating
1. CoD4, WaW
2. Gears of War 3
3. Battlefield 3
9001. Every other shitty CoD game.

(Notice how the rest of the cod games are so bad that I had to include other non cod games)

your list is accurate for 2 years ago. now cod4/ WAW is ruined so they are with 9001.

AcedPosted:

Scream I assume after a while little kids will realize CoD is the same boring things over and over again.

I mean, how fun can cod even be still?


dude i agree, eventually theere gonna reach a point where they cant get anymore ideas

Ford_RaptorPosted:

hopefully bo2 is fun not all competative

MazurPosted:

this is understandable since there aren't anymore wars to cover, although what black ops 2 is about, wars in the future is doable, but may get repetitive after a few years in a row of the same thing...

LosersPosted:

Gaws
LMBxRaGe don't care what people say, it's still a new cod and will buy it no matter what, yeah I'm a fanboy but idgaf :)


That's the way I view it, it's cod I'm gonna get it.


kids need to stop bitching about CODS so what its same. nobody cares if they like like it or not

MoanPosted:

Smileh4x Hopefully BO2 will bring something new into CoD. Looking forward to it.


The only thing I'm worried about is the hit detection, how good the servers are, and good weapon balance.

I don't want to see any Famas or Type 95's.