Atari has posted first quarter revenue growth of 30.1 per cent year-on-year, largely thanks to the success of Ghostbusters: The Videogame and The Chronicles Of Riddick: Assault On Dark Athena.

First quarter sales hit €54.5 million, with the firm's US operations accounting for 83 per cent of total revenues. Ghostbusters and Assault on Dark Athena sales, as well as growing third-party distribution revenues, were cited as highlights of the US operation’s performance.

The firm’s European publishing operations generated €8.6 million, or 15.7 per cent of total sales, down 48.5 per cent year-on-year. The company noted that Assault On Dark Athena was the “only major release” in Europe during the quarter, while the previous year’s first quarter featured “numerous releases, including Alone In The Dark.” Ghostbusters also launched in Europe in June, when Sony published the title on PS3 and PS2. The game’s release on other platforms is scheduled for October 23 in the UK.

Xbox 360 titles generated 37 per cent of Atari’s total sales, down slightly year-on-year from 38.5 per cent. PS3 games accounted for 24.6 per cent of sales, compared to 12.1 per cent during the same period a year earlier. Wii and DS games also contributed more to the publisher’s sales than they did a year ago, while PC, PSP and PS2 titles declined in terms of their overall contribution.

The company noted that its strong first quarter performance was “mainly due to a favourable game release schedule and should not be extrapolated for the remaining of the year.”

In its guidance for the second half of the fiscal year, Atari said that operating income is expected to be at or above breakeven level.

Earlier this month, Atari became a US-only brand after Namco Bandai Games Europe purchased Atari’s global PAL distribution arm.