Eidos saw turnover down 35% in the three months to the end of June, while losses before tax were £20.95m.

Eidos is best known for its Core Design franchise Tomb Raider, featuring one of the best known computer game characters Lara Croft.

But even the ever-popular Lara could not save Eidos from a difficult quarter.

Eidos 'on course'

The company said a number of factors led to the poor figures, including the delay in releasing new games Braveheart and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.

Chief executive officer Charles Cornwall said both titles had now been released successfully, with Soul Reaver having sold more than 750,000 copies in the two-and-a-half weeks since it hit the stores.

Mr Cornwall said he was "satisfied" with Eidos's overall performance.

He said: "We remain on course to achieve the growth targets we set ourselves for the full year.

Big screen Lara

"Though the quiet trading conditions we experienced in the first quarter look set to continue during the summer months, we already have two successful new releases behind us in the second quarter."

Lara is also due to return in a new version of Tomb Raider later in the financial year, which should help put profits back on track.

Lara Croft is also set to make her big screen debut next year in a live action take on the game.