Kong Studios
Unicorn Β· $1BReno, US Β· Delaware corporation Β· 2 known investors
Kong Studios is a US-headquartered game developer behind the mobile adventure RPG Guardian Tales and puzzle RPG Dungeon Link.
Also known as Kong Studios, Inc. Β· KongStudios CO., LTD. Β· 콩μ€νλμ€ Β· 콩μ€νλμ€μ½λ¦¬μ
Founders & leadership
Board
Investors Β· 2
Reported raises Β· per SEC filings
Form D private placements$62M disclosed across 1 round Β· 2021
βΆ$62MraisedSep 2021 Β· 7 investors Β· Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Seunghun LeeDirector
- Kwang Won SokExecutive Officer, Director
- Phil YoonDirector
- Jeehyung LeeDirector
- Offering amount
- $62M
- Amount sold
- $62M
- First sale
- Aug 2021
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Valuation Β· disclosed
Disclosed eventsSource: SEC prospectus filings, and round valuations the company or its investors disclosed β follow each entry's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Kong Studios, Inc. is a game development company incorporated in the United States in March 2013, originating in Silicon Valley. It develops mobile and console role-playing games with an emphasis on game mechanics and narrative. Its first title, the puzzle RPG Dungeon Link, launched globally in April 2015 and was serviced until April 2019. Its principal title, the mobile adventure RPG Guardian Tales, launched globally (excluding Japan) in July 2020 under a publishing agreement with Kakao Games, followed by launches in China (April 2021), Japan (October 2021) and a global Nintendo Switch version (October 2022).
The company operates from a US headquarters that moved to Los Angeles, California in April 2022 (555 Mateo Street, Suite 305), with a Korean subsidiary in Seoul (established May 2015) focused on development and a Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo (established December 2020) handling game services in Japan. Beyond Guardian Tales, the company has disclosed development of 'Project OS', an Unreal Engine 5-based 3D sandbox game targeting PlayStation, Xbox and PC and led from the US headquarters, and two Guardian Tales-related RPG projects: 'Project Octopus', a pixel-art casual action roguelike RPG slated for 2026 and signed to Netmarble for global publishing, and 'Guardian Maiden', a 2D pixel-art RPG first shown publicly at the Illustar Fes 11 subculture event in Ilsan, Korea in May 2026.
Founding story
The company was founded in 2013 in Silicon Valley, United States, as a game company built around the premise that novel gameplay and narrative are the essence of games.
Business model
Kong Studios develops game titles and monetizes them through publishing arrangements with third-party publishers (Gamevil for Dungeon Link, Kakao Games and Bilibili for the title that became Guardian Tales, Netmarble for Project Octopus) while also self-publishing in Japan through its local subsidiary. The company has stated plans to pursue IP-based projects alongside game development.
Revenue is generated from free-to-play mobile and console titles distributed via app stores and console platforms, reported as cumulative global revenue (over $10M for Dungeon Link, $100M by March 2021 and $350M by Q1/April 2022 for Guardian Tales), with additional revenue from publishing agreements.
Traction
Guardian Tales launched in July 2020, passed 10 million downloads and $100M revenue within seven months, held a 4.9 app-market rating at launch, reached 25 million downloads and $216M cumulative revenue by September 2021, and crossed $350M cumulative global revenue by April 2022. It ranked first in free downloads on China's App Store on its opening day (April 2021) and reached No. 1 in Google Play revenue and No. 3 in App Store revenue in Japan. Dungeon Link achieved 5 million downloads and over $10M revenue. Awards include Google Play's 2020 innovative game of the year and a popularity prize (overseas category) at the 2020 Korea Game Awards.
Latest developments
In November 2025 Netmarble signed a global publishing agreement for 'Project Octopus', a Guardian Tales IP-based dot-graphic casual action roguelike RPG planned for 2026. In May 2026 the company confirmed the name of another new RPG as 'Guardian Maiden', a 2D pixel-art RPG, and unveiled its first PV at Illustar Fes 11 at KINTEX in Ilsan on 23-24 May 2026.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Kong Studios is a Korean-American game developer that reached unicorn valuation (about $1B, roughly KRW 1 trillion) after its August 2021 Series B, with cumulative global revenue surpassing $350M by 2022 driven by Guardian Tales.
The company positions gameplay novelty and narrative as core, combining retro dot/pixel-art visuals with story-driven RPG design, and pairs a US headquarters with dedicated development (Korea) and regional service (Japan) subsidiaries.
Technology
Development spans mobile, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and PC platforms. The Project OS title is built on Unreal Engine 5 as a 3D sandbox game, with internal research cited in rendering, open world and soft-body animation; other titles use retro-style 2D pixel/dot-graphic art.
Go-to-market
Titles reach players through partnerships with regional and global publishers (Gamevil, Kakao Games, Bilibili, Netmarble) and through self-publishing in Japan. Marketing includes app-store pre-registration campaigns, anime IP collaborations (Slayers NEXT, Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai), orchestra concerts, an anniversary collaboration cafe, and booths at events such as Japan's Comic Market and Korea's Illustar Fes.
Global mobile, PC and console players of role-playing games; Guardian Tales has been serviced in roughly 230 countries, with particular traction in Korea, Japan, China, North America and Europe.
Geography
US headquarters in Los Angeles, California (previously Silicon Valley; the Series B release was issued from Reno, Nevada); development subsidiary in Gangnam, Seoul, Korea; service subsidiary in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Guardian Tales is serviced in about 230 countries including the US, Korea, Europe, China and Japan.
History
KONG STUDIOS, Inc. was established in the United States in March 2013 and signed a publishing agreement with Gamevil for Dungeon Link in October 2013. Kong Studios Korea was set up in Seoul in May 2015, the month after Dungeon Link's global release. Dungeon Link ran an Adventure Time collaboration in May 2016 and was shut down in April 2019. 'Project Snake' was contracted to Kakao Games for global publishing in September 2017 and to Bilibili in December 2017, then launched globally as Guardian Tales in July 2020. A Japanese subsidiary was founded in Shibuya in December 2020. A $62M Series B in 2021 gave the company unicorn status. The US headquarters relocated to Los Angeles in April 2022, and the Nintendo Switch version of Guardian Tales shipped in October 2022. Subsequent activity included orchestra concerts (2022, 2024), anime collaborations, a Netmarble publishing deal in November 2025 and the reveal of Guardian Maiden in May 2026.
Risks & controversies
Revenue is concentrated in a single franchise, Guardian Tales, and distribution depends on third-party publishers; the company's earlier title Dungeon Link was shut down in April 2019.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 26
launches, deals, and filingsKong Studios confirmed the title of its in-development 2D pixel-art RPG as 'Guardian Maiden' and unveiled its first PV at Illustar Fes 11, held 23-24 May 2026 at KINTEX in Ilsan.
Netmarble secured domestic and international service rights to 'Project Octopus', a Guardian Tales IP-based dot-graphic casual action roguelike RPG planned for 2026; signing ceremony held 5 November 2025 at Netmarble's G Tower in Seoul.
Press release announced the close of a 62M USD Series B round with valuation held at 1B USD; proceeds earmarked for key hiring, AAA title development, next-title development and IP-related projects.
$62M source β
Ranked first in App Store free game downloads on its opening day in China.
'Project Snake' launched globally as Guardian Tales across North America, Korea and Europe in late July 2020.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities Β· 1
corporate structureβΈResearch sources Β· 5
primary sources listed
- Kong Studioskongstudios.net Β· web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Kong Studios do?
- Kong Studios is a US-headquartered game developer behind the mobile adventure RPG Guardian Tales and puzzle RPG Dungeon Link.
- Who are Kong Studios's investors?
- Kong Studios's investors include Atinum Investment Co. Ltd., Big Basin Capital.
- How much funding has Kong Studios raised?
- Kong Studios has disclosed $62M raised across 1 round.
- Where is Kong Studios headquartered?
- Kong Studios is headquartered in Reno, US.