Capcom has reported impressive year-on-year sales and profit growth for the first half of the business year ended September 30, 2009.

Net sales increased 24.5 per cent to 38.9 billion yen ($426.5m/£258.2m), while profits jumped 58.4 per cent to 2.97 billion yen ($32.6m/£19.7m).

The publisher’s home videogames division saw revenues and operating income rise 68.3 per cent and 100.7 per cent respectively. Sales were particularly strong in Japan, with notable performers including Monster Hunter 3 for Wii, Resident Evil 5 for PS3 and Xbox 360, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for PSP and Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth for DS.

“Overseas sales remained soft partially because the release of Dark Void (for PS3, Xbox 360) was postponed until the latter half of this year,” the company said. “Bionic Commando (for PS3, Xbox 360) and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite also struggled.”

The overall performance of the company’s arcade business “remained weak partially due to the intensifying competition with rival stores as well as to the bad weather this past summer”.