The new studio from two former King execs, Queen Digital Entertainment, has closed
Queen Digital Entertainment, the mobile puzzle game studio founded in 2022 by former King executives Sebastian Knutsson and Stephane Kurgan, has shut down. The studio, widely regarded as a successor to Candy Crush maker King, had raised approximately $50 million in venture capital funding and established offices in both Ireland and Sweden to develop mobile puzzle games in the King style.
According to reports spanning 2024 and 2025, QDE Studio had four puzzle games in various stages of development and beta testing from September 2024 onwards. One title, Tail Team, reportedly remains live despite the studio’s closure. The shutdown was confirmed through multiple LinkedIn posts from affected staff members, though specific reasons for the closure were not immediately disclosed in available information.
The closure marks the end of what appeared to be a promising venture backed by experienced gaming industry leadership attempting to replicate their previous success at King. The impact on the studio’s broader game portfolio and the full scope of staff transitions remain to be determined.