2014 Annual Report
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TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT REPORT ANNUAL INC. 2014 SOFTWARE, INTERACTIVE TAKE-TWO TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT A leading global producer and distributor of interactive entertainment, the strongest growth segment of the 10 entertainment industry Franchises with at least one five-million 94% unit selling release Net revenue growth in fiscal year 2014 $1,000,000,000 Grand Theft Auto V reached $1 billion in retail sales faster than any entertainment release in history 1,900 Employees working in game development and 14 studios around the world Became the top-selling release in the history of 2K # Achieved1 highest average 9M Metacritic score of any publisher from 2010-2013 units sold-in to date NBA 2K14 is the top-selling and top-rated NBA simulation video game selling more than 6.5 million units to date 4 TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT DEAR SHAREHOLDERS, Fiscal year 2014 was a record-breaking year for Take-Two, both commercially and financially. Driven by our unique ability to produce consistently the highest-quality entertainment experiences, our Company delivered 94% net revenue growth, along with record net income and cash flow. These results illustrate the innovation and talent of our creative teams, the depth of our portfolio of intellectual property, and the strength of our marketing and distribution capabilities. Today, Take-Two has a strong financial foundation and is better positioned than ever for long-term growth and consistent profitability. OUR KEY ACHIEVEMENTS selling sports release, with sell-in of more than 6.5 million units to date. Over the past year, our team: The success of NBA 2K14 was enhanced by strong demand for the game’s virtual n Earned the position of top console and currency, sales of which increased 150% handheld video game publisher of 2013 versus . in North America and Latin America*. NBA 2K13 n Launched WWE 2K14, which has sold more n Launched Grand Theft Auto V, which received more than 300 perfect scores units than its predecessor and proven to and shattered numerous industry records, be a successful addition to our portfolio. including reaching $1 billion in retail sales n Released 8 new downloadable content faster than any entertainment release in packs for Borderlands 2, which has history. Developed by Rockstar Games, become the top-selling release in the the title has sold-in more than 33 million history of 2K, with over 9 million units units worldwide and continues to attract sold-in to date. new fans as millions of players enrich their experience through the dynamic and n Launched numerous titles for tablets and evolving world of Grand Theft Auto Online. smartphones, including core titles such More than 70% of those who have played as Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, XCOM: Grand Theft Auto V while connected to Enemy Unknown and NBA 2K14. the Internet have played Grand Theft Auto Online, which was the single largest n Generated record digitally-delivered contributor to our digitally-delivered revenue, nearly half of which was derived revenue in fiscal 2014. from recurrent consumer spending, including virtual currency, downloadable n Delivered the highest-rated and top- add-on content, and online games. selling basketball video game for the 13th consecutive year with NBA 2K14. The n Ended the year with nearly $1 billion title was our first for next-gen and has in cash, after spending $277 million to surpassed NBA 2K13 as our highest- repurchase our stock at a meaningful discount to today’s share price. 1 TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT PROVEN ORGANIC GROWTH STRATEGY Take-Two’s strategy is to develop the highest-quality, most compelling interactive entertainment franchises and deliver them through all relevant platforms and distribution channels. Creating opportunities to drive ongoing engagement with our titles after their initial release is a key strategic focus for our Company, and we have started to generate significant revenue and profits from recurrent consumer spending. Our record fiscal 2014 results demonstrate that our strategy works. World-class creative teams: Take-Two has 14 studios around the world and approximately 1,900 employees working in game development, including some of the most talented visionaries in our industry. Our creative teams at Rockstar Games and 2K are renowned for their ability to deliver games that consistently set new benchmarks for excellence, with Rockstar Games recently being awarded the BAFTA Fellowship for their contributions to the games industry. High quality games tend to have prolonged lifecycles, which is reflected in the strong catalog sales that our titles enjoy. Diverse portfolio of industry-leading intellectual property: We have built one of the most valuable collections of intellectual property in our industry. Take-Two has 10 franchises with individual titles that have sold-in 5 million or more units. These franchises are diversified across a range of genres. To date, we have released more than 40 distinct titles that are each multi-million unit sellers. We continually strive to balance our development efforts between new intellectual property and new offerings from our established franchises. Since 2007, we have added 7 new franchises, including such hits as BioShock, Borderlands, WWE 2K and XCOM. Capitalizing on growth of digital distribution: Our expanding portfolio of digitally-delivered content is contributing significantly to our growth and profitability, both as video game distribution shifts towards full game downloads and we introduce additional offerings that drive recurrent consumer spending. During fiscal 2014, digitally-delivered revenue grew 45% and accounted for 16% of our total net revenue. The majority of this growth was driven by recurrent consumer spending within Grand Theft Auto Online, NBA 2K14 and NBA 2K Online in China, and downloadable add-on content for Borderlands 2, BioShock Infinite and Sid Meier’s Civilization V. We will continue to focus on developing additional offerings that promote engagement with our titles, deepen our relationships with consumers and boost profits over time. Expanding offerings for tablets and smartphones: We believe that the popularity of video games on smaller screens, especially tablets, will grow at a rapid pace. This represents an exciting opportunity for Take-Two. Our releases to date have focused primarily on popular catalog titles from both Rockstar Games and 2K, as well as current sports titles. As mobile technology continues to evolve, we fully expect to release our most groundbreaking and immersive new titles on every mobile device that core gamers choose to embrace. Innovative marketing and global distribution: Creating great games is only part of our formula for success. Our marketing teams roll-out well-coordinated global campaigns that leverage both traditional and online media. And, we work in lockstep with our key retail partners to drive promotions when they matter the most – at point of sale. Our global distribution network ensures that our products are available to consumers wherever they want them – physically or digitally. Sound financial foundation: Take-Two has a strong balance sheet and ample capital to pursue a variety of investments. As of March 31, 2014, we had $935 million in cash and no borrowings on our $100 million credit line. Going forward, we are very excited about our opportunities for growth, and our first priority is to invest in our business, both organically and potentially through acquisitions. We may also consider returning additional cash to shareholders through share repurchases and/or dividends. 2 TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC. 2014 ANNUAL REPORT ROBUST LINEUP OF NEW RELEASES Fiscal 2015 is poised to be another strong year for our organization, highlighted by a diverse array of the highest-quality new releases and innovative offerings that drive incremental profits from recurrent consumer spending. To date, we have announced the following titles planned for release during the current fiscal year: n On October 7, 2K will enhance their unparalleled basketball legacy with the launch of NBA 2K15, featuring four-time NBA scoring champion and 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player, Kevin Durant, as its cover athlete. We’re confident that NBA 2K15 will once again set new benchmarks for sports realism and gameplay. n On October 14, 2K will release Borderlands: The-Pre-Sequel that will continue the franchise’s tradition of innovative, cooperative multiplayer action. n On October 21, 2K will release Evolve, an exciting new intellectual property for next-gen and PC developed by Turtle Rock Studios, the creators of the cooperative shooter classic, Left 4 Dead. The title blends first-person and third-person shooter action with cooperative and competitive multiplayer in a unique, 4 versus 1 gameplay experience. Evolve is one of this year’s most eagerly anticipated games and won more than 50 editorial honors at the 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo, including the coveted Best of Show from the E3 2014 Game Critics. n On October 24, 2K will build on their successful Civilization franchise that has entertained audiences for nearly a quarter of a century and sold-in more than 24 million units worldwide, with the release of Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth for PC. The title will feature the core and tactical elements for which the series is famous, while propelling players beyond the traditional timeline of a Civilization game by exploring humanity’s future on an alien world. n On October 28, 2K’s WWE franchise will make its next-gen debut with the release of WWE 2K15, which promises to take this series to new heights. 14-time WWE Champion, John Cena, will be its cover athlete and Sting – one of wrestling’s most beloved superstars – will play a key role in the title’s pre-order campaign. n This fall, Rockstar Games will bring their blockbuster hit, Grand Theft Auto V, to PS4, Xbox One and PC, bringing across-the-board graphical and technical enhancements to the game’s already breathtaking open world experience.