In its financial results for 2012, Rovio Entertainment has reported a 101 per cent year-on-year rise in revenue, up to a total of €152.2m (£129m) for the year.

Rovio has done a good job of milking its pivotal franchise outside of just apps, with the Consumer Products business, which is responsible for the wide range of Angry Birds merchandise, accounting for 45 per cent of the companys total revenue. Thats more than triple the amount of revenue the division pulled in a year before.

 Rovio launched four games last year – two Angry Birds games, Space and Star Wars; a spin-off, Bad Piggies; and one original IP, Amazing Alex. By December 2012, Rovio reports, its apps had a combined 263m active monthly users, and as of today, the total number of downloads has exceeded 1.7bn.

“Year 2012 was another record-breaking year for Rovio. We doubled our revenue with an EBIT margin of 50 per cent, more than doubled our headcount, established new offices and a New Business Ventures unit,” said Rovio CFO Herkko Soininen. “Also, to protect our own, as well as our partners’ and our fans’ interests, we continue to invest heavily in brand protection globally.”

Going forward, Rovio acknowledges that its continued success depends on the success of new game launches, as well as continuing to spread its core franchise into other media – as it has done with the cartoon it has just launched, Angry Birds Toons, and its theme park in Finland, as well as a whole range of plush toys, clothing, and various Angry Birds-branded accessories.

Perhaps most importantly, the company is promising the launch of new IP this year, which it might need in future to secure its media empire, beyond one heavily-flogged horse.

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