Yves Guillemot is expecting large returns for the video game industry in 2009, he told investors at the BMO Capital Markets conference, according to Gamasutra. The Ubisoft President and CEO expects the console installed base in the U.S. and Europe to have expanded by 121 percent to 70 million units and handheld consoles will grow 55 percent to 90 million units by the end of 2008.

"If we look at this industry, one thing to consider is that when hardware sales are peaking, software sales are peaking 18 months later," says Guillemot. "You can expect that next year will also be a great year for this industry.

He noted that there was a 40 percent increase in the next-gen installed base in 2007, lifting software sales in 2008. Guillemot also expressed optimism about 2009 specifically for Ubisoft, citing the MMORPG based on the film Avatar by James Cameron, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction, Tom Clancy's HAWX, and I Am Alive. These games will lead to revenues of 1.05 billion euros ($1.34 billion) for the publisher's 2008-2009 fiscal year.

"We have lots of stuff for next year. Those products will help to push our value and our turnover next year. We're well in line to achieve that," said Guillemot. "The market is healthy. We have some provisions, so we're comfortable with that number."