Nacon
French gaming peripherals maker and publisher, formerly Bigben Interactive.
Nacon SA, originally called Bigben Interactive SA, is a French company based in Lesquin that publishes video games, manufactures gaming peripherals, and operates as a holdings company. It creates and sells gaming accessories, and also publishes and distributes games across multiple platforms. In 2020, the gaming side of the Bigben Group was reorganized into Nacon, while the Bigben Group itself continues to function as a distribution business.
BigBen first appeared on the Paris Stock Exchange's Second Marché in 1999. In 2001, it struck a deal with Sega to handle the European distribution of leftover Dreamcast consoles, accessories, and software. Three years after Atari's initial bankruptcy sale in 2016, Atari sold the Test Drive franchise to Bigben Interactive; around the same time, the V-Rally series was also sold to Bigben, though without a formal announcement. In 2010, Nintendo sued BigBen over patent infringement related to the Wii Remote controller. A 2011 ruling by the Mannheim Regional Court favored Nintendo, and BigBen appealed. In 2025, Nintendo's German counsel announced that the court had awarded Nintendo €7 million in damages; Nacon is appealing, but the damage verdict is enforceable.
Through 2020, Bigben Interactive was a subsidiary of the Bigben Group, which also oversaw Nacon, its accessories arm. On 11 February 2020, the parent company announced it would merge Bigben Interactive and Nacon into a single entity named Nacon. In January 2021, Nacon acquired Australian developer Big Ant Studios. On 1 March 2021, developer Frogwares accused Nacon of illegally hacking and publishing a pirated version of their game *The Sinking City* on Steam in February 2021 during an ongoing distribution dispute. In August 2021, Nacon bought Crea-ture Studios, followed by Ishtar Games in October 2021, and Midgar Studio in February 2022. Nacon announced its intent to acquire Daedalic Entertainment in February 2022, completing the deal in April 2022. In May 2022, Nacon announced the formation of Nacon Studio Milan, which included its October 2020 acquisition RaceWard Studio and other unnamed studios. Also in 2020, Nacon acquired the gaming accessory brand RIG Gaming.
In February 2026, Nacon filed for insolvency due to financial troubles at the Bigben Group.
Quick Facts
- Traded As
- NACON · FR0013482791 / CAC Small
- Industry
- Video games
- Founded
- 17 February 1981
- Founder
- <!-- or
- Key People
- Alain Falc (CEO, chairman)
- Hq Location City
- Lesquin
- Hq Location Country
- France
- Area Served
- Worldwide
- Num Employees
- 430
- Num Employees Year
- 2020
- Owners
- Bigben Group (76.7%) / Bpifrance (2.1%)
- Divisions
- Nacon Game Publishing · Nacon Studio Milan
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Nacon traces its roots to Bigben Interactive, which was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange's Second Marché in 1999. In 2001, the company reached an agreement with Sega to distribute the remaining stock of Sega's Dreamcast consoles, accessories, and software across Europe. In 2010, Nintendo sued BigBen for patent infringement on its Wii Remote controller; the Mannheim Regional Court ruled in Nintendo's favor in 2011, and in 2025 Nintendo's German counsel announced the court awarded damages of €7 million. Nacon is appealing the ruling, but the damage verdict is enforceable.
Through 2020, Bigben Interactive was a subsidiary of the Bigben Group, which also oversaw Nacon, its video game accessory company. On 11 February 2020, the parent company announced it was merging Bigben Interactive and Nacon into a single entity to go as Nacon. In January 2021, Nacon acquired Australian video game developer Big Ant Studios. In August 2021, it acquired Crea-ture Studios, and in October 2021, Ishtar Games. In February 2022, Nacon acquired Midgar Studio and announced its intent to acquire Daedalic Entertainment, with the deal concluding in April 2022. In May 2022, Nacon announced the formation of Nacon Studio Milan, encompassing its October 2020 acquisition RaceWard Studio, as well as other yet-to-be-named studios. In 2020, Nacon also acquired RIG gaming, a gaming accessory brand.
In February 2026, Nacon filed for insolvency due to Bigben Group's financial issues. The rights for certain titles are disputed, with Frogwares claiming Nacon only owns the distribution rights for The Sinking City, following an incident in February 2021 where Frogwares alleged Nacon illegally hacked and published a pirated version of that game on Steam during an ongoing distribution dispute.
Reader's Guide
Nacon's significance lies in its evolution from a European distributor and accessory maker into a consolidated publisher and developer holding company. Its acquisition spree between 2020 and 2022 brought in studios such as Big Ant Studios, Crea-ture Studios, Ishtar Games, Midgar Studio, and Daedalic Entertainment, alongside the RIG gaming accessory brand. The company also acquired the Test Drive and V-Rally franchises from Atari in 2016. However, Nacon's legacy is marked by legal and financial turbulence: a long-running patent infringement lawsuit with Nintendo resulted in a €7 million damages award in 2025, which Nacon is appealing. A distribution dispute with Frogwares over The Sinking City led to allegations of unauthorized publication. In February 2026, Nacon filed for insolvency due to the financial issues of its parent, the Bigben Group. These events collectively paint a picture of a company that expanded rapidly through acquisitions but faced significant legal and financial challenges that ultimately led to its insolvency filing.
Did You Know?
- In 2001, Bigben reached an agreement with Sega to distribute remaining Dreamcast stock across Europe.
- Nintendo was awarded €7 million in damages in 2025 for Bigben's Wii Remote patent infringement; Nacon is appealing.
- In February 2021, Frogwares alleged Nacon illegally hacked and published a pirated version of The Sinking City on Steam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nacon?
Nacon is a French video game publisher and peripherals maker based in Lesquin. It was created in 2020 when the gaming arm of the Bigben Group was spun off and given this new identity.
What does Nacon actually do in the PC gaming space?
The company publishes and distributes games across multiple platforms while simultaneously designing and selling gaming accessories such as controllers and headsets. It also functions as a holdings company that oversees a growing portfolio of acquired development studios.
How did Nacon become its own separate brand?
In 2020, the gaming operations that had operated under the Bigben Interactive name since its 1999 listing on the Paris Stock Exchange's Second Marché were consolidated into a new entity called Nacon. The parent Bigben Group kept going as a standalone distribution business.
Which studios has Nacon acquired?
Since its rebrand, Nacon has brought in several development teams, including Big Ant Studios, Crea-ture Studios, Ishtar Games, and Midgar Studio between 2021 and 2022, plus Daedalic Entertainment and RaceWard Studio. It also folded in the RIG gaming peripherals brand in 2020.
What happened in the Nacon vs Nintendo Wii Remote lawsuit?
Nintendo took Nacon to court over alleged patent infringement tied to the Wii Remote, and a 2011 ruling sided with Nintendo. In 2025, the court ultimately awarded Nintendo seven million euros in damages against Nacon.
More in PC Gaming Brands and Manufacturers, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced