Konami expects to report sharp revenue and profit declines for the six months ended September 30, 2009, citing a relatively weak release schedule during the period.

Revenues for the first half of the publisher’s business year are forecast to total 114 billion yen ($1.3b/£770m), down 22.5 per cent year-on-year, while net income is predicted to come in at 2.2 billion yen ($24.4m/£14.9m), down 81.6 per cent.

The company attributed the declines to the fact that its biggest games for the current fiscal year were scheduled for release in the second half, “while in the same period last year major titles, in particular, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots, had already been released”.

Konami’s earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010 remained unchanged, with projected revenues and profit of 310 billion yen ($3.4b/£2.1b) and 16 billion yen ($177m/£108m) respectively.