Interplay Posts Drop in Revenue, Losses

Interplay Entertainment Corp., the Irvine developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software, said the net loss for the first quarter narrowed to $5.5 million, or 18 cents a share, from $8.3 million, or 44 cents a share, for the same period last year. Revenue declined 16% to $18.1 million.

Interplay attributed the lower first-quarter revenue to a decline in sales of its Baldur’s Gate title. The latest first-quarter revenue included about $2 million of Baldur’s Gate gross sales, down from about $13 million a year ago.

The company said it has significantly more major-title releases scheduled for this year than last year, including the release of the sequel to Baldur’s Gate, which sold 1 million units. Additionally, the company expects its new focus on next generation platforms and the increase in its console product line to add to its revenue base.