Nacon

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Nacon is a French video-game publisher, gaming-accessory manufacturer, and video-game holding company.

Last updated October 3, 2026

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Overview

Nacon is a French gaming company headquartered in Lesquin that combines video-game publishing, development-studio ownership, and the design and distribution of gaming accessories. The company emerged from the gaming activities of Bigben Interactive, a business associated with consumer-electronics distribution and gaming products. In February 2020, Bigben announced the consolidation of Bigben Interactive's video-game publishing and accessory activities under the Nacon name, creating a more unified gaming-focused entity while Bigben Group continued operating as a distribution company. The business operates across two closely connected areas. Its accessories activity covers products such as game controllers, headsets, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals for console and personal-computer players. Nacon has also used acquisitions and brand integration to expand its accessory portfolio, including the RIG gaming-accessory brand. Its publishing and development operation manages original and licensed video-game properties, works with internal and acquired studios, and distributes games across multiple platforms. This portfolio has included racing, sports, action, adventure, role-playing, and simulation titles. Properties associated with the company include Test Drive and V-Rally, while its publishing catalogue has also included games developed by studios later brought into the group. Nacon's development strategy has been acquisition-led. After becoming a separate gaming entity, it acquired Australian developer Big Ant Studios in January 2021, Crea-ture Studios in August 2021, and Ishtar Games in October 2021. It acquired Midgar Studio in February 2022 and completed the acquisition of Daedalic Entertainment in April 2022 after announcing the proposed transaction earlier that year. Nacon also formed Nacon Studio Milan in May 2022, incorporating RaceWard Studio, which it had acquired in 2020, alongside additional development capabilities. These moves gave Nacon a broader internal production network and reduced its reliance on external publishing partners. The company has also inherited legal and commercial controversies from its predecessor and from its publishing relationships. Nintendo brought patent litigation concerning Bigben's Wii Remote-compatible controller products; a German court ruled for Nintendo in 2011, and a damages award was reported in 2025 while Nacon continued to appeal. Separately, Frogwares accused Nacon in 2021 of unlawfully accessing and distributing a version of The Sinking City during an ongoing dispute over distribution rights. The companies' disagreement concerned the scope of Nacon's rights in the title and became one of the more prominent public disputes associated with the publisher. Nacon's identity is therefore that of a vertically integrated gaming group rather than a single game franchise. It combines branded hardware with a catalogue of published games and a network of development studios. Its long-term position depends on the performance of its owned and licensed intellectual property, the integration of acquired studios, successful product launches, and the financial stability of the wider Bigben structure. Reference material also reports an insolvency filing in February 2026 linked to financial problems at Bigben Group; the company's continuing operating status should therefore be verified against current corporate and regulatory records.

History

Nacon developed out of the gaming activities of Bigben Interactive, a French company involved in the distribution of consumer electronics, video games, and gaming accessories. Bigben entered the public markets in 1999, when it was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange's Second Marché. Its earlier gaming-distribution history included a 2001 agreement with Sega to distribute remaining Dreamcast consoles, accessories, and software stock across Europe. This established the wider group as a significant distributor at a time when the European games market was moving from dedicated console retail toward broader, multi-platform distribution. The predecessor business also expanded through intellectual property and catalogue acquisitions. In December 2016, Bigben Interactive acquired the Test Drive franchise from Atari, several years after Atari's initial bankruptcy sale. The V-Rally series was also transferred to Bigben around the same period, although the transaction was not formally announced in the same way. These properties gave the company recognizable racing-game assets that could support later publishing and development activity. Bigben's hardware business encountered legal difficulties in connection with products compatible with Nintendo's Wii Remote controller. Nintendo initiated patent litigation in 2010. The Mannheim Regional Court ruled in Nintendo's favor in 2011, and Bigben appealed. Reference material states that in 2025 Nintendo's German counsel announced a damages award of €7 million. Nacon continued to appeal the ruling, although the reported damages decision was enforceable. The dispute is relevant to Nacon because the company was later formed from the same gaming activities and inherited the legal history of the predecessor operation. Before 2020, Bigben Interactive operated as a subsidiary or gaming arm within the broader Bigben Group, while Nacon functioned as the group's gaming-accessory company. On 11 February 2020, the parent company announced that Bigben Interactive and Nacon would be merged into one gaming-focused entity named Nacon. The restructuring brought publishing, development, and accessories together under a single identity. Bigben Group remained active as a distribution company, preserving a distinction between the Nacon gaming business and the group's wider distribution operations. The newly consolidated Nacon pursued an acquisition-led expansion strategy. It acquired the RIG gaming-accessory brand in 2020, strengthening its position in gaming hardware. It also acquired RaceWard Studio, which later became part of Nacon Studio Milan. In January 2021, Nacon acquired Australian developer Big Ant Studios. Crea-ture Studios followed in August 2021, and Ishtar Games in October 2021. In February 2022, Nacon acquired Midgar Studio. These transactions expanded the company's internal production capacity across different markets and genres while giving Nacon more control over development schedules and intellectual property. Nacon also increased its presence in the European development and publishing ecosystem through Daedalic Entertainment. The company announced its intention to acquire Daedalic in February 2022, with the transaction completing in April of that year. In May 2022, it announced the formation of Nacon Studio Milan, bringing RaceWard Studio and other planned operations into a larger studio structure. Together, these initiatives reflected a strategy of building a multi-studio group rather than relying solely on third-party publishing agreements. Nacon's relationship with external developers has nevertheless produced public disputes. On 1 March 2021, Frogwares alleged that Nacon had illegally accessed and published a pirated version of The Sinking City on Steam during a continuing disagreement over the companies' distribution arrangement. Frogwares maintained that Nacon's rights were limited to distribution and disputed the legitimacy of the version released through Steam. The conflict became a prominent legal and commercial controversy surrounding Nacon's publishing practices. The company's later position is complicated by the financial condition of its parent group. Reference material reports that Nacon filed for insolvency in February 2026 because of financial problems at Bigben Group. Since the supplied material does not establish the final legal outcome, restructuring terms, or whether particular brands and studios continued operating independently, Nacon's present status should be treated as requiring review. Its historical model remains clear: a French gaming group combining peripherals, publishing, intellectual-property management, and a portfolio of acquired development studios.

2026
Reported insolvency filing
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Reference material reports an insolvency filing by Nacon linked to financial difficulties at Bigben Group; the final outcome is not established in the supplied sources.
2025
Reported €7 million Nintendo damages award
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Reference material reports that Nintendo received a €7 million damages award in the long-running controller patent dispute, with Nacon appealing.
2022
Daedalic acquisition and Nacon Studio Milan
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Nacon completed its acquisition of Daedalic Entertainment and announced Nacon Studio Milan, incorporating RaceWard Studio.
2021
Nacon begins a major studio-acquisition program
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Nacon acquired Big Ant Studios, Crea-ture Studios, and Ishtar Games during 2021.
2020
Nacon is established as the consolidated gaming entity
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Bigben announced the merger of its gaming activities and Nacon into a single entity operating under the Nacon name.
2016
Bigben acquires Test Drive
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Bigben acquired the Test Drive franchise from Atari in December, adding an established racing property to its catalogue.
2011
Mannheim court rules for Nintendo
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
The Mannheim Regional Court ruled in Nintendo's favor in the controller patent dispute; Bigben appealed.
2010
Nintendo begins Wii Remote patent litigation
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Nintendo sued Bigben over patents relating to Wii Remote-compatible controller products.
2001
European Dreamcast distribution agreement
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Bigben reached an agreement with Sega to distribute remaining Dreamcast consoles, accessories, and software stock across Europe.
1999
Bigben is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange's Second Marché
[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
The predecessor business entered the public market, marking an important stage in the development of the wider group from a distributor into a larger gaming and consumer-electronics company.

Products and positioning

A vertically integrated gaming group combining branded peripherals, video-game publishing, intellectual-property ownership, and an international network of development studios.

Gaming hardware
Nacon gaming peripherals
Nacon designs and distributes gaming accessories for console and PC users. The portfolio includes controllers, headsets, keyboards, mice, and related peripherals. Hardware is a core part of the company's identity and complements its publishing and studio activities by placing the Nacon name directly in front of players.
Gaming accessories
RIG
RIG is a gaming-accessory brand acquired by Nacon in 2020. Its portfolio is associated with gaming audio and other peripherals, giving Nacon a separate hardware identity alongside its own branded products.
Racing video-game franchise
Test Drive
Test Drive is a racing franchise acquired by Bigben Interactive from Atari in 2016. The property became part of the intellectual-property portfolio managed by the Nacon gaming organization after the 2020 consolidation.
Racing video-game franchise
V-Rally
V-Rally is a racing series transferred to Bigben Interactive around the same period as the Test Drive acquisition. It represents one of the established racing properties connected with Nacon's publishing and development portfolio.
Video games
Published and studio-developed games
Nacon publishes and distributes games for multiple platforms and works with a network of owned or affiliated studios. Its catalogue spans several genres, including racing, sports, action, adventure, role-playing, and simulation. The supplied reference material does not provide a complete, verified list of individual titles.

Controversies

2025
Nintendo controller-patent damages dispute
Nintendo's litigation over Bigben's Wii Remote-compatible controller products began in 2010. A German court ruled for Nintendo in 2011, and reference material reports a €7 million damages award in 2025. Nacon was reported to be appealing, although the award was enforceable.
Source
2021
Frogwares dispute over The Sinking City
Frogwares alleged that Nacon illegally accessed and published a pirated version of The Sinking City on Steam in February 2021 during an ongoing dispute over distribution rights. Frogwares disputed the extent of Nacon's rights in the game, making the disagreement both a legal controversy and a commercial dispute between publisher and developer.
Source

2022
Acquire Midgar Studio and Daedalic EntertainmentM&A
Background
Nacon continued to expand through studio ownership and sought additional European publishing and development capabilities.
Action taken
Nacon acquired Midgar Studio in February and completed its acquisition of Daedalic Entertainment in April after announcing the proposed deal earlier in the year.
Aftermath
The transactions enlarged Nacon's studio and publishing network. The supplied reference material gives an estimated transaction value for the proposed Daedalic deal but does not provide a verifiable financial source URL, so no figure is recorded here.
Source
2022
Create Nacon Studio MilanStrategy
Background
Nacon wanted to organize its Italian development presence and integrate RaceWard Studio into a broader studio structure.
Action taken
Nacon announced Nacon Studio Milan in May, encompassing RaceWard Studio and additional planned studio operations.
Aftermath
The move reinforced Nacon's multi-studio operating model, although the supplied sources do not document the full subsequent structure.
Source
2021
Build a broader internal development networkM&A
Background
Nacon's post-consolidation strategy emphasized greater control over game development and a larger owned-studio base.
Action taken
Nacon acquired Big Ant Studios, Crea-ture Studios, and Ishtar Games during 2021.
Aftermath
The acquisitions expanded Nacon's development footprint across Australia and Europe and increased its capacity to produce games within the group.
Source
2020
Consolidate publishing, development, and accessories under NaconStrategy
Background
Before 2020, Bigben's gaming activities and Nacon's accessory operations were organized within the wider Bigben Group. The group sought a more unified gaming identity.
Action taken
Bigben announced the merger of Bigben Interactive and Nacon into a single gaming entity named Nacon, while Bigben Group continued as a distribution business.
Aftermath
The restructuring created a dedicated gaming group combining hardware, publishing, intellectual property, and studio operations.
Source
2020
Acquire RIG gamingM&A
Background
Nacon sought to broaden its gaming-accessory portfolio beyond its own branded products.
Action taken
Nacon acquired the RIG gaming-accessory brand.
Aftermath
RIG became part of Nacon's hardware portfolio, although the supplied sources do not document subsequent financial or operational results.
Source

Recent events

2026
Nacon reportedly files for insolvency[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Bankruptcy
Reference material reports that Nacon filed for insolvency in February 2026 amid financial problems affecting Bigben Group. The company's current legal and operating status requires verification.
2022
Nacon acquires Midgar Studio[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Nacon acquired Midgar Studio to broaden its portfolio of internal and affiliated game developers.
2022
Nacon completes Daedalic Entertainment acquisition[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Nacon completed its acquisition of Daedalic Entertainment after announcing its intention to purchase the German developer and publisher earlier in the year.
2022
Nacon forms Nacon Studio Milan[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
Leadership change
Nacon announced Nacon Studio Milan, incorporating RaceWard Studio and additional development operations.
2021
Nacon acquires Big Ant Studios[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The company acquired Australian developer Big Ant Studios, expanding its internal development capabilities.
2021
Nacon acquires Crea-ture Studios[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Nacon acquired Crea-ture Studios as part of its continuing expansion of owned development capacity.
2021
Nacon acquires Ishtar Games[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The company acquired Ishtar Games, adding another studio to its publishing and development network.
2020
Bigben consolidates its gaming activities under Nacon[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Bigben announced that its gaming-publishing and gaming-accessory activities would be merged into a single entity operating under the Nacon name.
2020
Nacon acquires RIG gaming-accessory brand[1]Naconen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Nacon acquired the RIG gaming-accessory brand as part of the expansion of its hardware business.

Sources14 sources

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