Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Nacon
Financial · July 27, 2020
Published by Nacon
Nacon achieved a significant 24.5% increase in sales during the first quarter of the 2020/21 fiscal year, reaching €38.0 million compared to €30.5 million in the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by a surge in the accessories segment and the acceleration of digital game sales, effectively offsetting a decline in new game revenue caused by a high comparison basis from the prior year. The reporting period covers April 1 to June 30, 2020, a timeframe characterized by global lockdown measures that influenced consumer behavior toward digital entertainment. The accessories division emerged as a primary growth engine, with sales rising 134.9% to €22.5 million. This performance was bolstered by the acquisition of the RIG premium headset brand and the establishment of a United States subsidiary, allowing the company to capitalize on a thriving market for controllers and audio equipment. Conversely, game sales fell 27.4% to €14.5 million due to fewer major releases; however, back-catalogue sales surged by 340% to €10.8 million. Digital distribution became the dominant channel for software, accounting for 80.7% of total game turnover during the quarter. Looking forward, the company maintains its financial targets for the full 2020/21 fiscal year, projecting sales between €140 million and €150 million with an 18% current operating income rate. Growth is expected to continue through the release of titles such as WRC 9 and Tennis World Tour 2, alongside a new partnership with Microsoft for next-generation console controllers. Long-term strategic goals for the 2022/23 fiscal year remain fixed at sales between €180 million and €200 million, supported by a global distribution network spanning 100 countries and a workforce of approximately 510 employees.
Press release Lesquin, 27 July 2020 18:00 hrs 24.5% SALES INCREASE IN Q1 DESPITE A STRONG COMPARISON BASIS ROBUST GROWTH OF GAMING ACCESSORIES : +134.9% STRONGER DIGITAL SALES : 80.7% OF GAME SALES SURGE OF BACK CATALOGUE : +340% CONFIRMATION OF FINANCIAL TARGETS FOR FY 2020/21 IFRS – M€ Sales 2020/2021 2019 /2020 Change 1<sup>st</sup> Quarter 38. 0 30. 5 + 24. 5% Games 14. 5 20. 0 - 27. 4% Accessories 22. 5 9.6 + 134. 9% Others<sup>(1)</sup> 0.9 0.9 + 1 .1 % Non audited data (1) Mobile and Audio sales. Success of the RIG premium headset range and solid performance of digital gaming sales In the first quarter of the 2020/21 fiscal year (April 1 to June 30, 2020), Nacon's sales were up by 24.5%, driven by the success of premium headsets which contributed to a sales upturn in Accessories and by the acceleration of digital sales of Games. GAMES Due to a strong comparison basis resulting from the release of several major titles at the beginning of the previous fiscal year, Games were down at 14.5 M€ (compared to 20.0 M€ for Q1 2019/20). Thanks to the acceleration of digital sales during the lockdown period, Nacon was able to offset the reduction in the number of new game releases with a 340% surge in back catalogue sales to 10.8 M€, an amount already equivalent to back catalogue sales for the entire 2019/20 fiscal year. Digital sales accounted for 80.7% of Games turnover. The releases of Hunting Simulator® 2 and Pro Cycling Manager/Tour de France® 2020 over the period under review fulfilled expectations. ACCESSORIES
10.8 M€, an amount already equivalent to back catalogue sales for the entire 2019/20 fiscal year. Digital sales accounted for 80.7% of Games turnover. The releases of Hunting Simulator® 2 and Pro Cycling Manager/Tour de France® 2020 over the period under review fulfilled expectations. ACCESSORIES Accessory sales were supported by a thriving market. With a reinforced range of accessories (Controllers, Headsets, etc.) Nacon was fully capable of meeting consumer expectations. In particular, the headset segment grew strongly thanks to the success of the RIG premium brand acquired in March 2020 and the opening of a subsidiary in the United States.
Outlook The 2<sup>nd</sup> quarter of FY 2020/21 should confirm the upward trend in Nacon's activity. - the expected releases of 2 new games (WRC®9 and Tennis World Tour®2) will contribute to the growth of Games sales and digital sales should maintain their momentum; - gaming accessories should confirm their growth potential thanks to restocking from customers (RIGs and controllers) generating a large order backlog. Prospects for the second half are equally promising: - the momentum of digital sales and the releases of new games (Monster Truck Championship™, Warhammer Chaosbane® on PS5TM , Handball 21TM,Werewolf: the Apocalypse® - EarthbloodTM , Rogue LordsTM and Vampire: The MasqueradeTM - Swansong) are expected to make a positive contribution to the Group's sales growth; - the new partnership with Microsoft will also enable Nacon to launch a range of controllers compatible with their new console over this period. For the full 2020/21 fiscal year, the Group is confident in its ability to meet its annual financial targets. Therefore Nacon confirms that it will achieve sales of between €140 and €150 million and a 18% Current Operating Income<sup>(2)</sup> rate. The Group also reiterates the financial targets of its Nacon 2023 plan, with sales for the 2022/23 fiscal year ranging between 180 M€ and 200 M€ and a Current Operating Income<sup>(2)</sup> rate in excess of 20%. (2) Current Operating Margin = Current Operating Income rate = Current Operating Income as a percentage of sales. Next publication: Sales for 2nd quarter of FY 2020/2021 : 26 October 2020 Press release after close of the Paris stock exchange ABOUT NACON
come<sup>(2)</sup> rate in excess of 20%. (2) Current Operating Margin = Current Operating Income rate = Current Operating Income as a percentage of sales. Next publication: Sales for 2nd quarter of FY 2020/2021 : 26 October 2020 Press release after close of the Paris stock exchange ABOUT NACON 2019-20 ANNUAL SALES NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong 129.4M€ synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its 8 development studios, the publishing of AA video games, the design and distribution of premium gaming devices, NACON focuses 20 years of expertise at the service of players. This new unified business unit strengthens NACON's position in the market, HEADCOUNT enables it to innovate by creating new unique competitive advantages. Close to510 employees Company listed on Euronext Paris, compartment B INTERNATIONAL ISIN: FR0013482791; Reuters: NACON.PA; Bloomberg: NACON:FP 16 subsidiaries and a distribution network across 100 countries PRESS CONTACT https://corporate.nacongaming.com/ Cap Value–Gilles [email protected]+33 1 80 81 50 01
Nacon reported significant financial growth for the third quarter of the 2020/21 fiscal year, with sales reaching 48.7 million euros, a 20.3% increase over the previous year. This performance contributed to a cumulative nine-month revenue of 135.3 million euros, representing nearly 30% growth compared to the same period in 2019/20. The results highlight a strategic shift toward high-margin digital sales and premium hardware, despite a temporary decline in new game releases during the quarter. The accessories segment served as the primary growth engine, surging 58.7% to 32.5 million euros. This expansion was driven by the success of RIG headsets and licensed controllers. While overall game sales fell by nearly 20% due to a limited release schedule focused on niche titles like Monster Truck and Handball 21, the back catalogue performed exceptionally well. Revenue from older titles grew by 216%, and digital sales increased to account for 74.4% of total quarterly game revenue. Looking ahead, Nacon confirmed its annual targets, projecting full-year sales at the top end of the 160-170 million euro range with an 18% current operating margin. Growth is expected to continue through the release of new titles for next-generation consoles and the acquisition of Big Ant, an Australian studio specializing in sports simulations. To fund further studio acquisitions and game development, the company announced it will not pay dividends for the current fiscal year. Long-term projections for the 2022/23 financial year remain ambitious, with sales targets between 180 and 200 million euros.
Nacon reported annual sales of 129.4 million euros for the 2019/20 fiscal year, representing a 14.4% increase over the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by the software segment, where game sales rose 40.6% to 70.7 million euros. A significant shift toward digital distribution occurred during the period, with digital sales accounting for 69% of total game revenue compared to 41% in the prior year. This transition was accelerated in the fourth quarter by global lockdown measures, which saw digital game sales multiply 2.7 times over the same period in the previous year. The accessories segment experienced a 4.8% decline, totaling 52.6 million euros. This decrease was attributed to a high comparison base from major controller releases in the prior year and the closure of physical retail locations due to the health crisis. Despite a 15.5% decline in total fourth-quarter business, the company raised its current operating margin target to exceed 16%. Management noted that the higher margins associated with digital game sales effectively offset the revenue slowdown in physical accessories. Nacon maintains a strong liquidity position with 100 million euros in available cash following a successful initial public offering in March 2020. The company’s geographic footprint includes 16 subsidiaries and distribution across 100 countries. Looking forward, the organization remains confident in its 2022/23 strategic plan, targeting sales between 180 and 200 million euros. Operational stability is supported by normalized procurement from suppliers and a transition to teleworking for development teams, with no major delays anticipated for upcoming titles such as WRC9 and the expansion of the newly acquired RIG headset brand into the United States and Australia.
Nacon achieved sales of 33.7 million euros during the first quarter of the 2021/22 fiscal year, representing an 11.3% decline compared to the same period in the previous year. This decrease is attributed primarily to an exceptionally high comparison basis from the first quarter of 2020/21, when global lockdowns significantly inflated consumer demand for digital entertainment and gaming hardware. Despite the year-over-year dip, the results demonstrate a structural growth trend when compared to pre-pandemic levels, particularly within the digital back catalogue. The video games segment generated 12.2 million euros, a 16% decrease from the prior year. However, back catalogue sales remained resilient at 9.2 million euros, nearly four times higher than the 2.4 million euros recorded during the same period in 2019/20. New releases such as Roguebook and Pro Cycling Management 2021 contributed to this performance. In the accessories division, sales fell 8.8% to 20.6 million euros. While the initial launch of RIG helmets in the United States created a difficult year-over-year comparison, other accessory lines grew by 19%, driven by strong demand for PlayStation 4 and Xbox Pro Compact controllers. Management maintains a positive outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, anticipating growth in the second half driven by a robust release schedule including titles such as WRC 10 and Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong. Financial targets for 2021/22 remain unchanged, with projected sales between 180 and 200 million euros and a current operating margin of 20%. Looking further ahead to 2022/23, the company expects to reach sales between 230 and 260 million euros, supported by major upcoming releases such as The Lord of the Rings: Gollum and Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown.
Nacon achieved record financial results for the 2020/21 fiscal year, generating 177.9 million euros in sales. This performance represents a 37.5% increase over the previous year and exceeds the company’s upwardly revised targets. Growth was particularly robust in the fourth quarter, which saw a 68.7% surge in revenue driven by the resilience of the gaming accessories market and the steady performance of the software publishing division. The accessories segment emerged as the primary growth engine, nearly doubling its revenue to 103.2 million euros. This success was attributed to the integration of premium RIG headsets, strong demand for licensed controllers on the established PlayStation 4 base, and the launch of new peripherals for the Xbox Series X|S. Despite global component shortages, proactive supply chain management allowed for consistent delivery to retail channels. In the gaming division, while overall sales remained stable at 69.1 million euros, back-catalogue revenue tripled to 31.0 million euros. Digital sales continued their upward trajectory, accounting for 75% of total game revenue in the final quarter. Strategically, the period was defined by aggressive expansion following a 2020 IPO. The company acquired three development studios—Neopica, Passtech Games, and BigAnt Studios—and established a direct presence in the United States. With a confirmed current operating income rate of 18%, the company anticipates further momentum as it integrates these new studios and releases a pipeline of titles scheduled through 2024. Consequently, management intends to revise its long-term 2023 strategic plan upwards to reflect this accelerated growth and increased operating margins.