Queen Digital Entertainment, also known as QDE Studio, has reportedly shut down after roughly four years in operation. The studio did not publish a formal closure notice, but former employees began writing about the shutdown on LinkedIn, according to MobileGamer.
The reason for the closure has not been confirmed, and the studio’s leadership has not publicly explained the decision. The shutdown fits a wider pattern in which mobile and console teams are struggling with tighter funding, higher production costs, and tougher user-acquisition economics.
QDE Studio was founded in 2022 by Sebastian Knutsson, one of the co-founders of King, and Stephane Kurgan, the former chief operating officer of King. That background gave the company strong credibility, especially because King remains one of the most important names in free-to-play mobile design.
The studio reportedly worked on at least four mobile titles, but none reached a full global launch. Its closure is striking because QDE had reportedly raised around $52 million, showing that even well-funded teams led by proven industry veterans can struggle to break through in the current mobile market.