If things don't turn around for DON'T NOD, it may face closure in a matter of months. Studio braces for layoffs Publisher and development studio DON'T NOD is in a precarious position. In a new press release focusing on its financials for the first half of 2026, the company has outlined its plans for necessary structural changes that it hopes will help it stay afloat. For the first half of the year, DON'T NOD's operating income declined alarmingly sharply compared to 2025, dropping 56 per cent to €6.1 million. The publisher attributes this drop to "systemic pressures in the video game industry", with "highly selective financing" being a particular problem. Revenue came in at €6.1 million, a year-on-year decrease of 14 per cent. The report goes on to say that the continuation of operations as a business will partly depend on "securing external financing to cover business needs and project development." In other words, DON'T NOD needs a big cash injection, but that's far from guaranteed. "This currently represents significant uncertainty regarding the company's ability to continue operating beyond January 31, 2027," the report reads. The company is planning to cut costs and make alterations to how it operates in order to stay alive. In a nutshell, it looks like DON'T NOD is going to be streamlining its production process to enable a more regular cadence of releases. It hopes this will result in a "more efficient allocation of resources, a clarification of responsibilities and an increased focus of expertise on priority projects." Unfortunately, it sounds like the restructure will result in more job losses, with "up to 90 positions" at risk of redundancy. It sounds like a very difficult scenario, and most likely will see many more people out of work. It's pretty brutal. DON'T NOD has released several games over the last few years, but sadly none appear to have been big success stories.

Don't Nod's organizational transformation plan results in 90 layoffs. by rainier on sept. 4, 2026 @ 1:10 a.m. PDT. French publisher/developer Don't Nod has been restructuring since 2024, which resulted in canceled titles in 2025, but that still doesn't seem to be enough as its cost-reduction program continues. For the H1 of 2026, DON'T NOD's operating revenue totaled €6.1 million, marking a sharp 56% year-over-year decline. This trend comes amid systemic pressures in the video game industry, characterized by highly selective financing. During the period, no capitalized production costs were recognized: the production costs for Aphelion and the P14 project were not capitalized, as the latter did not meet the capitalization criterion related to funding capacity as of the closing date, despite expressions of interest. The Group's business operates within a profoundly transformed video game market, characterized by highly selective financing and changing conditions for accessing the resources necessary for production development, while commercial success is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve despite the recognized quality of DON'T NOD's original creations. Despite the measures already undertaken as part of its performance plan and the cost-cutting actions implemented, these efforts alone are not sufficient to restore DON'T NOD's competitiveness on a sustainable basis. Against this backdrop, the profound changes in the economic conditions of the video game industry and its financing, combined with the deterioration of DON'T NOD's key financial indicators, are significantly affecting its competitiveness. The Company therefore believes it is necessary to adapt its business model. With this in mind, DON'T NOD is refocusing its operations in France around a single production line, bringing together the expertise required to launch new projects before the completion of current productions. This organizational initiative is intended to maintain a continuous pipeline of projects and support the Company's long-term growth. It aims to strengthen the Group's operational efficiency by enabling a more efficient allocation of resources, clarifying responsibilities, and focusing expertise more intensely on priority projects. In this context, the transformation project currently under consideration could lead to a workforce adjustment in France that may involve the reduction of up to 90 positions. The launch of this project was approved today by the Board of Directors, and the first meetings leading up to the potential implementation of an employment protection plan were held with the employee representative bodies. At the same time, management has begun negotiations with he union representing the company's employees. The Company is also continuing to examine the most appropriate legal and operational arrangements to support this transformation and ensure the continuity of its operations, in the best interests of all its stakeholders. Oskar Guilbert, Chairman and CEO, stated: "This first half of the year confirms the major challenges facing our industry. In a market where financing is more selective and revenues are more uncertain, we must adapt our business model with clarity and responsibility. The measures being considered today are difficult; we fully appreciate what they may mean for the employees affected and are ensuring that the necessary support measures are put in place. This plan is, however, essential to ensuring the Company's continued operations."

ESA and DON'T NOD team up on a journey to the planet Persephone in Aphelion. 06/05/2026 3651 views 34 likes The European Space Agency (ESA) has partnered with French video game studio DON'T NOD Entertainment on the development of Aphelion, a narrative science-fiction game inspired by space exploration and scientific expertise. Released on 28 April and available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, Aphelion takes players to the outer edge of the Solar System. In the roles of ESA astronauts Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross, players explore the uncharted planet Persephone, a fictional ninth planet, as part of the Hope-01 mission. Developed in close collaboration with ESA, the game is grounded in real scientific knowledge. ESA scientists, engineers and astronauts contributed to key aspects of its development, from measurement units and physics to instruments, scientific vocabulary and sound design, ensuring a credible portrayal of space exploration inspired by real missions. The project also explores new storytelling formats that extend the experience beyond the game itself. A fictional mission page on the ESA website presents the Hope-01 mission, while a mission patch was developed especially for the occasion. Additional activations will further strengthen the connection between fiction and the realities of space exploration, reinforcing the project's educational and inspirational dimension. Marking the first time a science-fiction video game features an ESA mission, involving ESA astronauts in real-life conditions, as its central narrative thread, Aphelion reflects the Agency's ambition to engage with cultural and creative industries and reach new audiences through innovative forms of science communication. Rooted in shared values between ESA and DON'T NOD, the project supports ESA's Strategy 2040, touching on themes of exploration, discovery and awareness of climate change. "This collaboration reflects ESA's ambition to work closely with creative partners to share the reality and values of space exploration in engaging ways," said Anne-Sophie Bradelle, Head of ESA Communication Department. "By reaching new audiences through immersive storytelling, this project helps inspire future careers in space and supports ESA's recruitment efforts, with more than 400 positions planned to be published over the course of 2026." "It has been a privilege to have had the support of ESA and their teams throughout the development of Aphelion. This collaboration is further proof that video games can push the boundaries of fiction to reflect on our reality," said Oskar Guilbert, CEO of DON'T NOD. "ESA has placed humanity, sustainability, and inclusivity at the heart of its mission, and we are proud at DON'T NOD to help raise awareness of their work among our players through the story of Ariane and Thomas." Through Aphelion, ESA continues to explore how science, creativity and interactive storytelling can come together to share the excitement of space exploration and promote European culture. Discover more: