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CD Projekt Posts 2.3% Drop in Full-Year Net Profit Amid Lack of New Game Releases

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Polish video game developer CD Projekt (CDR.WA) reported a 2.3% decline in its full-year net profit on Tuesday, mainly due to the absence of new game releases during the year. The company’s net profit stood at 469.9 million zlotys ($122 million), surpassing analysts’ expectations, which had forecasted a profit of 390 million zlotys, according to a Reuters poll.

While net profit decreased, the company’s revenue dropped nearly 20%, totaling 985 million zlotys for the year. CD Projekt’s performance was supported by the release of the long-anticipated expansion to its flagship game, “Cyberpunk 2077,” which boosted the previous year’s results.

Looking ahead, the company faces a couple of years without a major game release. Its revenue for the upcoming quarters is expected to be largely driven by sales from existing titles. “The results of the CD Projekt Group are primarily driven by sales of ‘Cyberpunk 2077,'” said finance chief Piotr Nielubowicz. “Even in the absence of any major launch, the past year was the third-best in the group’s history in terms of net profit.”

As of November 2024, cumulative sales of “Cyberpunk 2077” had surpassed 30 million copies, while its “Phantom Liberty” expansion had sold more than 8 million units. The company also plans to release “Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition” for macOS in 2024, aiming to tap into a new group of gamers.

In addition, CD Projekt is expanding the “Cyberpunk” universe, with a new animation project currently in development for Netflix, marking another step in the franchise’s growth.

Allegro to Expand Parcel Locker Network by 2,500 Units in Poland in 2025

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Allegro, a prominent e-commerce firm, plans to expand its parcel locker network by 2,500 units in Poland in 2025, focusing on increasing its share of parcels delivered through its managed services. This move aligns with Allegro’s strategy to gain more control over its logistics and reduce delivery costs.

In a post-earnings interview, Allegro’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Jon Eastick, emphasized the company’s commitment to enhancing its managed delivery methods, which provide more flexibility and lower average prices as the network expands. In 2024, Allegro’s delivery costs increased by 22.9% to 2.84 billion zlotys ($736 million), prompting the company to look for more cost-effective solutions.

Over the past few years, Allegro has ramped up its investment in logistics, co-financing delivery services with merchants through its loyalty program and rolling out its own network of parcel lockers. The company added over 1,000 lockers in Poland last year, bringing its total to 4,500 lockers, with an additional 500 lockers in the Czech Republic. Allegro has also introduced a new delivery program that assumes full responsibility for the delivery process. Initially partnered with Orlen, the program will soon include DHL.

By the fourth quarter, 24% of the company’s parcel volumes were managed through Allegro’s own services, and with price adjustments in 2025, Allegro expects its parcel lockers to be more cost-effective than the most expensive third-party suppliers by the end of the year.

This significant increase in logistics investment came as a surprise to analysts at Trigon brokerage, who speculated that it could impact InPost, a parcel locker company with which Allegro has a seven-year partnership. The potential for Allegro to reduce its reliance on InPost in the future may affect InPost’s market share once the agreement expires in 2027.

Despite this, Eastick reassured that Allegro maintains strong relations with InPost, though it is exploring alternative, cost-efficient options for consumers. Following the news, InPost’s shares dropped by 5.9%.

Poland Hopes for AI Chip Export Restrictions to Be Lifted Under Trump

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Poland is optimistic that the Trump administration will reverse the AI chip export restrictions imposed during the final days of President Joe Biden’s tenure. Dariusz Standerski, Poland’s deputy digital minister, expressed hopes on Wednesday that these restrictions, which limit Poland’s access to U.S.-designed AI chips, may be lifted under the new leadership.

The law, which was implemented by the Biden administration, categorized countries into three tiers. While 18 nations, including Japan, Britain, and France, were largely exempt from the restrictions, Poland and 120 other countries faced strict caps. Countries like Russia, China, and Iran were entirely barred from receiving the technology. Standerski criticized the decision, calling it “irresponsible” and stating that the Biden administration failed to provide a clear explanation for Poland’s placement in the second tier.

However, Standerski noted that Poland’s dialogue with the Trump administration had been “very constructive,” and he believes there is a “big chance” that Poland could be moved to the first tier, which would provide it with unrestricted access to the technology. Ongoing consultations are expected to last until May 15.

In addition, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski discussed the potential rollback of these restrictions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the AI Action Summit in Paris last month. Tech groups, including Microsoft, have also urged the Trump administration to ease these restrictions, advocating that such measures should not be extended to U.S. allies.

Furthermore, the European Commission has voiced support for the idea, stating that the EU should be able to access advanced AI chips from the U.S. without limitations.