Call of Duty 5 Confirmed for All Platforms

Activision announced today fiscal year 2008 and fourth quarter results, confirming that the fifth installment in the Call of Duty series will arrive this fiscal year.

"We'll launch on all four platforms we've participated on in fiscal 2008, we'll launch on the PS2 and the Wii." said Activision Publishing president and CEO Mike Griffith.

Griffith also confirmed that Call of Duty 5 will be set in a "a new military theater"
Activision Reports Record Q4 and Fiscal Year 2008 Results Marking 16 Consecutive Years of Revenue Growth

-- FY 2008 Net Revenues of $2.90 Billion, Increase of 92% Year Over Year

-- Company Exceeds Peak Cycle Operating Margin Target

-- FY 2008 Earnings Per Diluted Share Grow 293% to Record $1.10

-- Company Provides Growth Outlook for Fiscal Year 2009

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 08, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) today announced record fiscal year 2008 and fourth quarter results.

Net revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 were $2.90 billion, as compared to $1.51 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. Net income for the fiscal year was $344.9 million, or $1.10 in earnings per diluted share, as compared to net income of $85.8 million, or $0.28 in earnings per diluted share reported for the last fiscal year. Excluding the impact of expenses related to equity-based compensation, the company reported non-GAAP net income of $377.5 million and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.20 for the fiscal year. This compares to non-GAAP net income of $101.3 million and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.33 for the last fiscal year, in each case excluding the impact of expenses related to equity-based compensation.

Net revenues for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2008 were $602.5 million, as compared to $312.5 million that the company reported for the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year. For the fourth quarter, the company reported net income of $44.2 million, or earnings per diluted share of $0.14, as compared to a net loss of $14.4 million, or a loss per share of $0.05, for the fiscal year 2007 fourth quarter. Excluding the impact of expenses related to equity-based compensation expense, the company reported non-GAAP net income of $54.9 million and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.17 for the quarter. This compares to a non-GAAP net loss of $10.1 million and a non-GAAP loss per share of $0.04 for the fourth quarter of last fiscal year, in each case excluding the impact of expenses related to equity-based compensation.

Robert Kotick, Chairman and CEO of Activision, Inc. commented, "Fiscal 2008 was the best year in our history and Q4 was the largest and most profitable non-holiday quarter, even though we did not release any new titles. During the fiscal year, we were the #1 U.S. console and handheld publisher in dollars for the first time ever, according to The NPD Group, and we grew our worldwide share of the console, handheld and PC markets year over year. We achieved record financial performance significantly growing both net revenues and earnings per share. And, we delivered a record operating margin of 16.5% on a GAAP basis, and 18.4% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding the impact of equity-based compensation, and we increased stockholders' equity by 38%."

Kotick continued, "In fiscal 2009, we expect to deliver another year of growth. We remain committed to strengthening our global leadership position by continuing to execute on our growth strategies and cost-optimization initiatives. We own or control some of the most successful brands in interactive entertainment, and we will continue to focus our resources on proven properties with broad global appeal. Our solid lineup, which includes new titles based on such blockbuster brands as Call of Duty(R), Guitar Hero(R) and James Bond, should enable us to continue capitalizing on growth in interactive entertainment consumption worldwide."

Kotick added, "With respect to our pending combination with Vivendi Games, we are on track to complete our transaction, which will create the world's largest and most profitable independent video game company. We are pleased that Blizzard's business maintained its momentum, and combined with our continued business strength, we are well positioned to exceed the financial goals we have set for the combined company at the time of the deal announcement. The combination of Activision's solid portfolio and Vivendi Games proven properties should enable us to continue delivering exceptional returns to our stockholders."


Business Highlights

Activision's fiscal year results were driven by strong worldwide consumer response to Call of Duty(R) 4: Modern Warfare(TM), Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock, Spider-Man 3(TM), Shrek The Third(TM), as well as its new licensed intellectual property TRANSFORMERS: The Game.

The company's fourth quarter results were driven by strong market conditions and the continued success of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

-- During the fiscal year, in the U.S., Activision grew its market share by 7.2% to a record 17.3%, was the #1 console and handheld software publisher in dollars, and had three top-10 best-selling titles in dollars overall according to The NPD Group.

-- For the fiscal year, Activision set an industry record for U.S. sell-through in dollars by a single publisher, according to The NPD Group.

-- Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was the #1 best-selling game in the U.S. and Europe in dollars during the fiscal year, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.

-- For the fiscal year, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the #2 best-selling game worldwide in units, selling more than 9 million units as of March 31, 2008, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.

-- For the fiscal year, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the #1 best-selling PC title in dollars worldwide, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.

-- During the fiscal year, both the Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises surpassed a billion dollars in life to date sales.

-- Spider-Man 3(TM) and TRANSFORMERS: The Game were the #1 and #2 best-selling movie based games in dollars worldwide for fiscal year 2008, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.

-- Activision grew its European market share from 4.8% to 7.4% during the fiscal year, according to Charttrack and Gfk.

-- Activision's international publishing revenues grew in excess of 100% year over year.

-- According to The NPD Group, for the fourth quarter, Activision ranked as the #1 U.S. console, handheld and PC publisher in dollars.

-- On September 26, 2007, Activision announced that it had acquired U.K.-based developer Bizarre Creations, one of the world's premier video game developers and a leader in the racing category. The acquisition enables Activision to enter the $1.5 billion racing category, which is the seventh most popular videogame genre and represented more than 7.5% of the total video game market worldwide in calendar 2007, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.

-- On December 1, 2007, Activision and Vivendi entered into a definitive agreement to combine Vivendi Games, Vivendi's interactive entertainment business -- which includes Blizzard Entertainment's(R) World of Warcraft(R), the world's #1 massively multiplayer online role playing game franchise with more than 10 million global subscribers -- with Activision, which at closing will create the world's largest pure-play online and console game publisher. The transaction remains subject to approval by Activision's stockholders and other customary closing conditions.


Company Outlook

For the first quarter of fiscal 2009, Activision will release Enemy Territory(TM): QUAKE WARS for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system; Kung Fu Panda, on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Nintendo(R) Wii(TM), Games for Windows(R) and the Nintendo DS(TM); Guitar Hero(R): On Tour for the Nintendo DS; and Guitar Hero(R): Aerosmith(R) for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the Nintendo Wii.

Activision announced today that online functionality for certain key titles to be released in the December quarter of fiscal year 2009 and thereafter is expected to become a significant component of game play for certain platforms for which the company will have continuing performance obligations beyond the sale of the game. As a result, the company expects to begin recognizing a substantial amount of net revenues and costs of sales from these online-enabled games over a service period, which we currently estimate to be six months beginning the month after shipment.

Activision anticipates that a considerable amount of net revenues and costs of sales that would have been recognized in the fiscal year ending March 2009 will be recognized later in the calendar year 2009. While this will not impact the economics of Activision's business or its cash flows, these changes will have a material impact on the company's fiscal year 2009 GAAP results.

In order to provide comparable year-over-year performance information, Activision's non-GAAP results will exclude the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and cost of sales related to those online-enabled key titles on certain platforms.

Additionally, in fiscal year 2009, Activision's non-GAAP results will exclude one-time costs related to the Vivendi transaction.

For fiscal year 2009, on a stand-alone basis, (not including Vivendi Games), Activision expects net revenues of $2.75 billion and earnings per diluted share of $0.72.

For fiscal 2009, Activision expects stand-alone non-GAAP net revenues, excluding the impact of the change in deferred revenue related to online-enabled games, to be $3.1 billion. Excluding the impact of equity-based compensation expense ($0.12 per share), one-time costs related to the Vivendi transaction ($0.07 per share) and the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and cost of sales related to online-enabled games ($0.39 per share), Activision expects stand-alone non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.30.

For the first quarter, Activision expects net revenues of $500.0 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.04 on a stand-alone basis. Excluding the impact of equity-based compensation expense ($0.02 per share) and one-time costs related to the Vivendi transaction ($0.07 per share), the company's stand-alone non-GAAP earnings per diluted share outlook is expected to be $0.13.


Conference Call

Today at 4:30 p.m. EDT, Activision's management will host a conference call and Webcast to discuss its fiscal 2008 year-end results and outlook for fiscal 2009. The company welcomes all members of the financial and media communities, and other interested persons, to visit the "Investor Relations" area of www.activision.com to listen to the conference call via a live Webcast or to listen to the call live by dialing in at 719-325-4752 in the U.S.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Activision provides net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share data both including (in accordance with GAAP) and excluding (non-GAAP) the impact of expenses related to employee stock options, employee stock purchase plans, restricted stock rights and other equity-based compensation and the associated tax benefits, and in the future Activision's non-GAAP results will also exclude the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and costs of sales, and one-time costs related to the Vivendi transaction.

Additionally, following the completion of the Vivendi transaction, Activision will exclude from its non-GAAP results the impact of expenses related to intangible amortization, as well as any one-time restructuring costs and results related to the discontinuation of operations should there be any.

Prior to April 1, 2006, Activision accounted for equity-based compensation under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB No. 25"). In accordance with APB No. 25, the company historically used the intrinsic value method to account for equity-based compensation. Beginning on April 1, 2006, Activision has accounted for equity-based compensation using the fair value method under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" ("FAS 123(R)").

As online functionality becomes a more important component of gameplay, in fiscal 2009, the company expects that certain online-enabled games, to be released in fiscal 2009, will contain a more-than-inconsequential separate service deliverable in addition to the product, and its performance obligations for these games extend beyond the sale of the games. Vendor-specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of fair value does not exist for the online services, as the company does not plan to separately charge for this component of online-enabled games.

As a result, for certain key titles to be released in the December quarter of fiscal year 2009 and thereafter, the company will recognize all of the revenues from the sale of certain online-enabled games for certain platforms ratably over an estimated service period, which it currently estimates to be six months beginning the month after shipment. In addition, it will defer the costs of sales of those titles. As a consequence, the company's non-GAAP results will exclude the impact of the change in deferred revenue and costs of sales related to certain online-enabled games for certain of the Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo and PC platforms in order to provide comparable year-over-year performance.

Additionally, in order to provide comparable year-over-year performance, as of June 30, 2008, Activision will exclude from its non-GAAP operating results the impact of one-time costs related to the Vivendi transaction.

Non-GAAP net revenue, non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP earnings (loss) per share, and non-GAAP operating margin, excluding the impact of changes in deferred net revenues and cost of sales, one-time costs related to the Vivendi transaction and expenses related to equity-based compensation, are not determined in accordance with GAAP, and the exclusion of those items has the effect of increasing non-GAAP net revenue, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per share and non-GAAP operating margin (and reducing non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP loss per share) by the same amounts as compared with GAAP net revenue, GAAP net income (loss), GAAP earnings (loss) per share and GAAP operating margin for the period. Activision recognizes that there are limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP financial measures as they do not reflect net revenue, net income (loss), earnings (loss) per share and operating margin as determined in accordance with GAAP, and may reduce comparability with other companies that calculate similar non-GAAP measures differently.

Management compensates for the limitations resulting from the exclusion of these items by considering the impact of these items separately and by considering Activision's GAAP as well as non-GAAP results and outlook and, in this release, by presenting the most comparable GAAP measures, net revenue, net income (loss), earnings (loss) per share and operating margin directly ahead of non-GAAP net revenue, non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP earnings (loss) per share, and non-GAAP operating margin, and by providing a reconciliation which indicates and describes the adjustments made.

Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with additional useful information to measure Activision's financial and operating performance because they allow for a better comparison of results between periods. Management further believes that reflecting the use of non-GAAP measures that eliminate the impact of deferred revenues and costs of sales in its operating results is important to facilitate comparisons to prior periods during which the application of its accounting policies did not result in deferral of significant amounts of revenues and costs of sales related to online-enabled games. Internally, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the company's operating results, as well as in planning and forecasting.

These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP.

These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, and the terms non-GAAP net revenue, net income (loss), non-GAAP earnings (loss) per share, non-GAAP operating margin do not have a standardized meaning. Therefore, other companies may use the same or similarly named measures, but exclude different items, which may not provide investors a comparable view of Activision's performance in relation to other companies.


About Activision

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $2.90 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In this release, they are identified by references to dates after the date of this release and words such as "outlook", "will," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes", "may", "expects," "intends," and similar expressions.





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