Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Nacon
Legal · February 25, 2026
Published by Nacon
Nacon, a prominent French video game publisher and peripheral manufacturer, has officially filed for insolvency and requested the initiation of judicial reorganization proceedings before the Commercial Court of Lille Métropole. This decision, announced in February 2026, stems from a critical liquidity crisis exacerbated by the financial instability of its majority shareholder, Bigben Interactive. The parent company’s inability to repay a bond loan following a refusal from its banking pool created a domino effect, leaving Nacon unable to meet its current liabilities with available assets. The primary objective of the judicial reorganization is to facilitate a structured debt renegotiation while ensuring the continuity of business operations. Under French law, this procedure allows for an observation period of up to 18 months, during which existing liabilities are frozen to allow the company to develop a credible recovery plan. Nacon aims to use this period to protect its workforce of over 1,000 employees and preserve its global distribution network, which spans 25 subsidiaries and 100 countries. Despite reporting a revenue of €167.9 million and an operating profit of €1.1 million for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the company faces significant pressure from the long investment cycles inherent in the AA video game sector. Trading of Nacon’s shares on the Euronext Paris remains suspended pending a court ruling expected in early March 2026. The outcome of these proceedings will determine the feasibility of a continuation plan intended to stabilize the company’s 16 development studios and its broader gaming peripheral business.
Press Release Lesquin, 25 February 2026, 08:00 NACON ANNOUNCES THAT IT HAS TODAY FILED FOR INSOLVENCY* AND IS REQUESTING THE INITIATION OF JUDICIAL REORGANISATION PROCEEDINGS ** • Lesquin, 25 February 2026 – Nacon (the “Company”), a subsidiary of the Bigben Group, has applied for the opening of judicial reorganisation proceedings (“redressement judiciaire”) before the Commercial Court of Lille Métropole (the “Court”). • The suspension of trading in the Company’s shares on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR001348791) remains in effect pending the Court’s decision. In a video game sector marked by long investment cycles and significant transformations, on 20 February 2026, Nacon announced that the situation of its majority shareholder, Bigben Interactive, which, following an unexpected and late refusal by its banking pool, was unable to make the partial repayment of its bond loan to its bondholders, was significantly affecting its own operations. The Company indicated on this occasion that its liquidity situation required the rapid implementation of a financial restructuring with its creditors in order to ensure the continuity of its operations, and that it was considering procedures intended to facilitate the restructuring of its debt under the supervision of the Court.
casion that its liquidity situation required the rapid implementation of a financial restructuring with its creditors in order to ensure the continuity of its operations, and that it was considering procedures intended to facilitate the restructuring of its debt under the supervision of the Court. To date, the Company reports that its available assets do not allow it to meet its due liabilities. In this context, the Company will, as of today, file for insolvency (“déclaration de cessation des paiements”) with the Court and request the opening of judicial reorganisation proceedings (“redressement judiciaire”). The aim of this procedure is to assess all possible solutions to ensure the sustainability of the Company's activity under the best possible conditions, protect employees, and preserve jobs, while renegotiating with its creditors in a calm and constructive framework. This procedure will enable the Company to continue its business, renegotiate its debts, and develop a credible and effective continuation plan. The employee representative organisations were informed of this decision on 24 February 2026. The Court, at a hearing expected in early March, will rule on this request to open judicial reorganisation proceedings (“redressement judiciaire”). Pending this decision and given the uncertainties regarding the outcome of the proceedings, the suspension of the Company's share price, announced on 20 February 2026, remains in effect. The Company will keep the market informed as the situation and the proceedings develop. About judicial reorganisation proceedings (“redressement judiciaire”)
arding the outcome of the proceedings, the suspension of the Company's share price, announced on 20 February 2026, remains in effect. The Company will keep the market informed as the situation and the proceedings develop. About judicial reorganisation proceedings (“redressement judiciaire”) Judicial reorganisation proceedings (“redressement judiciaire”) are collective procedures that freeze existing liabilities at the opening of the procedure for the duration of the observation period, which can last up to 18 months. This procedure enables the debtor to present a continuation plan for its activities by restructuring its debt and ensures its recovery. * (“Déclaration de cessation des paiements”) ** (“Redressement judiciaire”)
ABOUT NACON IFRS REVENUE 2024/2025: €167.9 M NACON is a BIGBEN group company established in 2019 to optimize its expertise with strong synergy in the video game market. By bringing together its 16 development studios, AA video game publishing, and OPERATING PROFIT 2024/2025: €1.1 M the design and distribution of premium gaming peripherals, NACON has 30 years of expertise in serving gamers. This new unified business gives NACON a stronger position in its market and enables it to WORKFORCE innovate by creating new, unique, competitive advantages. More than 1 000 employees Company listed on Euronext Paris, Compartment B – Indices: CAC Mid&Small ISIN: FR 0013482791; Reuters: NACON. PA; Bloomberg: NACON:FP INTERNATIONAL 25 subsidiaries and a distribution network in CONTACT: [email protected] 100 countries https://corporate.nacongaming.com/
Nacon has issued a formal response to the financial instability of its majority shareholder, Bigben Interactive, following a critical liquidity failure. Bigben Interactive, which controls 56.72% of Nacon’s share capital and 65.79% of its voting rights, was unable to meet a scheduled €43 million partial bond repayment due on February 19, 2026. This default was triggered by an unexpected refusal from Bigben Interactive’s banking pool to honor a drawdown notice intended to fund the debt obligation. Consequently, the parent company is now exploring court-supervised debt restructuring procedures to address its insolvency. The scope of this announcement focuses on the immediate financial risks facing Nacon as a subsidiary within the broader European gaming market. While Nacon reported an IFRS revenue of €167.9 million and an operating profit of €1.1 million for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the parent company’s inability to secure financing creates significant uncertainty regarding Nacon’s own operational funding and strategic stability. The company currently manages 16 development studios and a workforce of over 1,000 employees, maintaining a distribution network that spans 100 countries. Management is currently conducting a comprehensive assessment of how this shareholder-level debt crisis will impact Nacon’s internal activities and existing financing arrangements. As a publicly traded entity on the Euronext Paris, Nacon has committed to providing further market updates as the situation evolves. The primary objective of this communication is to maintain transparency with investors and stakeholders while the company evaluates the potential contagion effects of Bigben Interactive’s restructuring efforts on its publishing and peripheral manufacturing divisions.
Nacon has initiated a temporary suspension of trading for its shares on the Euronext Paris regulated market effective February 20, 2026. This decision follows a critical financial development involving its majority shareholder, Bigben Interactive, which recently announced an inability to proceed with a partial repayment of 43 million euros to bondholders. This default by the parent company has created a significant impact on Nacon’s own liquidity position and operational stability, necessitating immediate intervention to protect the company's interests and stakeholders. The current financial situation requires the rapid implementation of a comprehensive debt restructuring plan with creditors to ensure the continuity of operations. Nacon is currently evaluating the use of formal legal procedures under the supervision of the commercial court to facilitate this restructuring process. In addition to the suspension of share trading, the company has also suspended its liquidity contract. These measures are intended to remain in place until a further update is provided, which is expected within the coming days. Despite these immediate financial challenges, Nacon remains a significant entity in the AA video game publishing and peripherals market, reporting 167.9 million euros in revenue and 1.1 million euros in operating profit for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. The company maintains a global workforce of over 1,000 employees across 16 development studios and 25 subsidiaries. This suspension marks a pivotal moment for the organization as it seeks to stabilize its balance sheet and navigate the contagion effects of its majority shareholder’s financial distress.
Nacon’s 2021/22 Universal Registration Document details the company’s strategic evolution into a leading "AA" video game publisher and premium accessory manufacturer. Covering the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, the report outlines a period of aggressive vertical integration and portfolio diversification. The primary thesis centers on securing the global gaming value chain by acquiring 16 in-house development studios and leveraging synergies between high-performance hardware and specialized software niches, such as racing, RPGs, and simulations. Financial performance for the period reflected significant investment despite macroeconomic headwinds. Consolidated revenue fell 12.3% to €155.9 million, and net income decreased to €9.97 million, primarily due to the strategic postponement of four major titles and global console shortages affecting accessory sales. However, the company significantly strengthened its long-term asset base, with intangible assets rising to €137.4 million and the successful acquisition of five studios, including Big Ant Studios and Daedalic Entertainment. To fund this expansion, Nacon transitioned from a net cash position to a net debt of €10.4 million, supported by €52.5 million in new bank loans while remaining compliant with all financial covenants. The scope of operations is global, with a strong emphasis on the European and North American markets. Digital sales now dominate the software segment, accounting for 73% of video game revenue, while the accessories division remains the largest overall revenue driver at 62%. Personnel growth was substantial, with the headcount rising to 852 employees. Looking forward, the "Nacon 2023" strategy targets revenues exceeding €250 million for the 2022/23 fiscal year, driven by a robust release pipeline of nearly 50 games in development and continued leadership in the premium controller and headset markets.
This analysis synthesizes the 2020/2021 fiscal performance and strategic positioning of Nacon, a global leader in the "AA" video game publishing and premium gaming accessory markets. Following its 2019 spin-off from Bigben Interactive and a successful 2020 IPO, the company has transitioned into a vertically integrated developer-publisher. The reporting period, ending March 31, 2021, covers a year of significant expansion across Europe, North America, and Oceania, marked by the integration of 11 in-house development studios and a workforce that grew to 631 employees. The primary thesis centers on Nacon’s "AA" and "Triple i" (3i) strategy, which targets niche audiences with high-quality titles aiming for sales between 200,000 and 3 million copies. This software strategy is balanced by a robust hardware division, which saw a 96.1% surge in revenue following the acquisition of the RIG headset brand and strengthened licensing partnerships with Sony and Microsoft. Financially, the company reported a 37.4% increase in consolidated revenue to €177.8 million and a net income of €18.3 million. Digital sales now represent 73.3% of software revenue, significantly improving margins and reducing seasonal dependency. Operational risks are characterized by high materiality regarding talent retention and potential product delays, though the latter is mitigated by increasing in-house development (growing from 5 to 22 internal projects). While the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to remote work, it acted as a growth catalyst for the industry. Nacon maintains a strong financial position with €96.7 million in cash and a net cash surplus of €41.9 million, supporting an aggressive acquisition strategy and an increased 2022/23 revenue target of €230–260 million. Governance remains closely tied to Bigben Interactive, which retains a 76.67% stake, while the company has begun implementing formal CSR frameworks focusing on "zero plastic" packaging and supply chain transparency.