Spiders Studio Shuts Down Amid Nacon Insolvency, Weeks After Greedfall Prequel Release

The French game development studio Spiders, renowned for its action RPGs like Greedfall and Steelrising, has officially closed its doors, becoming the first major studio casualty of parent company Nacon's ongoing financial collapse. The studio shuttered just weeks after releasing Greedfall: The Dying World, a prequel to their biggest hit, marking the abrupt end of an 18-year run for a team beloved for its eurojank RPGs.

What Happened: The Abrupt Closure

The news broke in a Facebook post on April 29, 2026, when Spiders addressed the situation directly with fans. The studio explained in no uncertain terms: "After a long period without clear answers, we have received confirmation that Spiders is being liquidated. What does it mean? It means the parent company as a whole no longer exists. We'll cease our functions immediately."

The statement continued, revealing that the planned DLC for Greedfall: The Dying World would still be released via Nacon, but after that, "well, that's it." The studio expressed gratitude to fans for their support over the years and directed any future issues to Nacon, as they would no longer be able to provide support.

This closure comes at a particularly poignant time, as it occurred just weeks after the release of Greedfall: The Dying World, the studio's final project and a prequel to their most successful title. The timing suggests that the studio was likely already in trouble during development, with the closure announcement coming as a sudden shock rather than a gradual winding down.

The Financial Context: Nacon's Downfall

To understand why Spiders closed, we must examine the financial troubles of its parent company, Nacon. The trouble began in February 2026 when Nacon's major shareholder, Bigben Interactive, failed to repay a €43 million partial payment on a bond loan. This triggered a cascade of financial problems that forced Nacon to file for insolvency.

Following the insolvency filing, Nacon put multiple subsidiaries and studios, including Spiders, up for sale. However, no buyers came forward for any of these properties. Despite initial confidence at the beginning of 2026 that upcoming releases would remain on track, the financial reality proved too dire to overcome.

The French video game workers' union STJV has condemned the closure, calling it a case of "First-Degree Murder" and stating that it was "a premeditated and deliberate choice by Nacon's management." The union claims that the liquidation was not due to Spiders' performance but rather a deliberate process by the parent company to cut losses. You can read the full STJV statement for more details.

Impact on the Industry and Gamers

The closure of Spiders represents a significant loss for the gaming industry. The studio was known for creating unique eurojank RPGs that combined ambitious ideas with occasional technical shortcomings. Their titles, particularly Greedfall, developed a dedicated fan base that appreciated their distinctive approach to world-building and gameplay mechanics.

For gamers, the immediate impact is the loss of support for existing Spiders titles. The studio has confirmed that the planned DLC for Greedfall: The Dying World will still be released via Nacon, but beyond that, no further updates or support can be expected. This raises questions about the long-term viability of Spiders' catalog, particularly regarding potential future updates, bug fixes, or enhanced editions.

The human cost is perhaps the most significant aspect of this closure. The STJV reports that 71 workers have lost their jobs, careers, and incomes due to what they describe as "Spiders' and Nacon's incompetence and malice." These developers, many of whom have spent years honing their craft at the studio, now face an uncertain professional future.

What This Means for the Future

The closure of Spiders may not be the last we hear of studio closures related to Nacon's financial troubles. Industry observers fear that other subsidiaries, including Kylotonn and Cyanide, could be next on the chopping block. This raises concerns about the future of several game franchises and the teams that created them.

For the gaming industry as a whole, this situation highlights the precarious nature of game development, even for studios with successful titles to their name. It serves as a reminder that creative success does not always translate to financial stability, especially when dependent on larger corporate entities with their own financial challenges.

As for the legacy of Spiders, the studio's catalog will likely continue to be enjoyed by fans for years to come. Their unique approach to RPG design, characterized by rich world-building and ambitious (if sometimes imperfect) execution, has left a mark on the genre. Whether future studios will attempt to build upon their particular style remains to be seen, but the influence of their work is unlikely to disappear entirely.

In the immediate aftermath of the closure, fans are left to reflect on what might have been. With Spiders' final release being a prequel rather than a sequel to their most successful work, many are left wondering what other stories and worlds the studio might have created had they been given the chance to continue.

The closure of Spiders serves as a sobering reminder of the human and creative costs that can accompany the business of game development, and stands as a case study in how quickly a successful studio can disappear when caught in the crossfire of corporate financial troubles.