Shares in computer games group Eidos plunged by nearly 12 per cent on the London Stock Exchange today after it reported wider losses and said it was unsure whether trading would improve in 2001.
The firm, home to Tomb Raider heroine Lara Croft, saw shares fall 32p to 238p, continuing a tough year for the former stock market darling.
Eidos issued two profit warnings last year which saw its share price cut in half, blaming poor sales and shortages of Sony's Playstation 2 games console.
It said today that despite strong sales of its Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?game, pre-tax losses for the nine months to December 31st had widened to £13.9 million sterling before exceptional costs of £54.1 million.
Chief executive Mr Michael McGarvey said the performance was satisfactory but reiterated Eidos had revised its full-year projections "significantly downwards".
The firm said in January it would be hit by delays in launching a number of games designed for the Playstation 2. These launches have been delayed due to the continuing shortage of available consoles.
Eidos chairman Mr Ian Livingstone said Sony's manufacturing difficulties and the postponement of Microsoft's long-awaited Xbox games console in Europe meant the company remained cautious about trading over the next "nine to 12 months".
"The success of the next-generation consoles from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will be the primary driver for growth in calendar year 2001," he said.
PA