Games help drive Marvel licensing sales
At least five new Marvel character titles set for release in 2009
Videogames have helped drive higher than expected licensing sales for Marvel Entertainment in the first quarter of 2009.
The licensing division saw net sales of USD 80.8 million and "were higher than anticipated primarily reflecting strength in interactive games and royalties from better than anticipated worldwide licensee sales," said the company.
As well as the recently released movie tie-in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, there are a number of Marvel character titles due for release this year, including The Punisher: No Mercy from Zen, Capcom's Marvel Vs Capcom 2, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 from Activision and THQ's new signing, Marvel Super Hero Squad.
Marvel Entertainment's overall net sales for the first quarter were USD 197 million, up from the 112.6 million for the same period in 2008, while net income reached USD 44.5 million, compared to 45.2 million the previous year.
Looking past 2009, Sega will be releasing a new Iron Man game to tie-in with a movie sequel in 2010, while online company Gazillion has plans for two MMOs using Marvel characters – the child-friendly Marvel Super Hero Squad also due next year, and the revived Marvel Online Universe, due in 2012.