We truly believe in Gameplay First
Reaching players worldwide
KONG STUDIOS GAMES
GUARDIAN TALES on mobile launched globally in July 2020. The game is currently in service across 230 countries. Immediately after release, the game started its service with high expectations and a rating of 4.9 in app markets. After 7 months from launch, it got 10 million downloads and 100 million dollars in sales globally.
In April 2021, GUARDIAN TALES launched in China and became the most downloaded free game on its first release day in the App Store. GUARDIAN TALES has successfully launched in Japan in October of 2021, and it has met with great reception from early users. Currently, a global Nintendo Switch port is in the works.
The previous game ‘DUNGEON LINK’ was a new-style RPG featuring gameplay of connecting lines to attack enemies. It gave users a fresh and fun experience with its unique gameplay and diverse heroes. In 2016, DUNGEON LINK collaborated with Cartoon Network’s ‘Adventure Time with Finn and Jake’ and got 5 million downloads and 10 million dollars in sales globally.
ABOUT
KONG STUDIOS Inc. is a gaming company that started off in 2013, Silicon Valley, U.S.A. In August 2021, Kong Studios grew into a 'unicorn' (valued at 1B USD) by attracting Series B investments. We believe a game’s essence is original gameplay and narrative. Our company develops games with earnest research for fun and a craftsmanship mindset. We strive to create the best game approved by gamers across the world.
YEAR | HISTORY | ||
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2024 | |||
2024 | Mar. | Held the Guardian Tales orchestra concert ‘Symphony Tales II : The Princess & You’ | |
2023 | |||
2023 | Jul. | Opened a collaboration café celebrating the 3rd year anniversary of ‘Guardian Tales’ | |
2022 | |||
2022 | Dec. | Guardian Tales collaborates with hit anime Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai | |
Oct. | Held the Guardian Tales orchestra concert ‘Symphony Tales’ | ||
Oct. | Guardian Tales for Nintendo Switch Global Version release | ||
Aug. | Kong Studios Attends Japan’s Comic Market (Comiket) | ||
Apr. | Total global sales passed $350M USD | ||
Apr. | KONG STUDIOS Inc. moves its HQ to LA | ||
Feb. | Guardian Tales collaborates with hit anime Slayers Next | ||
2021 | |||
2021 | Oct. | <GUARDIAN TALES> Japan Launch | |
Aug. | Became a 'Unicorn Company' by attracting Series B investments. | ||
Apr. | <GUARDIAN TALES> China Launch | ||
Mar. | <GUARDIAN TALES> reached $100M USD in gross sales | ||
2020 | |||
2020 | Dec. | Established KongStudios CO. LTD (Shibuya, Japan) | |
Dec. | <GUARDIAN TALES> won the 2020 Most Popular Game and Innovative Game of the Year awards | ||
Nov. | <GUARDIAN TALES> wins Korea Game award’s Popular Game award (Foreign field) | ||
Jul. | A global grand launch under the name 'PROJECT SNAKE', <GUARDIAN TALES> | ||
2019 | |||
2019 | Apr. | <DUNGEON LINK> Ends service | |
2017 | |||
2017 | Dec. | 'PROJECT SNAKE' signs publishing contract with BiliBili | |
Sep. | 'PROJECT SNAKE' signs global publishing contract with Kakao Games Corp. | ||
2016 | |||
2016 | May. | <DUNGEON LINK> collaborates with ‘Adventure Time with Finn and Jake’ | |
Jan. | 2p.com Best New Mobile Games OF 2015 - Dungeon Link | ||
2015 | |||
2015 | May. | Established KONG STUDIOS KOREA Co., Ltd. (Seoul, Korea) | |
Apr. | <DUNGEON LINK> global launch | ||
2013 | |||
2013 | Oct. | <DUNGEON LINK> signs publishing contract with GAMEVIL | |
Mar. | KONG STUDIOS Inc. founded (U.S.A) |
LOCATIONS | |
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USA HQ | Kong Studios, Inc. 555 Mateo Street, Suite 305. Los Angeles, CA 90013 |
KOREA | Kong Studios Korea Co., Ltd. KG Tower 6F, 7, Teheran-ro 5-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06134 |
JAPAN | KongStudios CO., LTD. Bizflex AZABU-JUBAN 3F, 1-1-14 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073 |
CONTACT |
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contact@kongstudios.net |
CAREERS
KONG STUDIOS is full of young, talented and competitive people skilled in game development. Our company is growing rapidly each year in both skill and size, and we are waiting for talented people in diverse and different fields.
We hope to develop fun games together with great people and for a long period.
Open Roles
Job Inquiries / Apply
NEWS
2023-09-20 |
Kong Studios Supports Korean Developers Friendship Event
2023-09-20
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2022-09-14 |
Save Your Kingdom and Become a Legend in Guardian Tales on the Nintendo Switch
2022-09-14
- The popular retro-style mobile game is heading to Nintendo Switch on October 3rd 9/14/2022 - Kong Studios is preparing to release its hugely popular mobile RPG Guardian Tales on the Nintendo Switch on October 3rd. Since the game’s global release in July 2020, Guardian Tales was among the top ten most downloaded games on both the Apple App Store and Google Play due to its solid storyline, charming graphics, and immersive gameplay. Nintendo Switch players will soon be able to embark on this classic, adventure-type RPG to save a kingdom that has been overrun with enemies. Those who want to play the game can pre-register on the Guardian Tales Switch website (gt4switch.com) or apply for pre-orders at Nintendo eShop starting September 14.
The following Launch Rewards will be available to those who pre-register for Guardian Tales : After starting Guardian Tales for the Nintendo Switch, players can check and obtain rewards in the [Mail] menu when the player logs in during October. In Guardian Tales, a new knight recruit must quickly jump into action after a surprise attack on Kanterbury Kingdom. They must take on the role of the Chosen One and will need to travel the world to find the other 12 Champions. The player will meet various comrades in the many diverse worlds available to explore in the game. Having comrades at the player's side will be useful in fighting bigger and more evil enemies throughout their quest. Guardian Tales isn’t all about the main quest! Players with a knack for customization will be able to decorate their floating castle known as Heavenhold once they have progressed far enough into the game. For players who enjoy social media, there’s a feature called FaceBreak. As players go through the stories, certain characters they meet will follow them on social media and post fun and interesting statuses.
A full list of features includes: Guardian Tales will be available on the Nintendo Switch eShop for free. About Guardian Tales Guardian Tales has gathered more than one million pre-registered users before the global launch in 2020. Also, it was ranked #3 in revenue and #1 for free downloads, a very promising indicator in the Chinese market when it launched. Guardian Tales quickly became the most downloaded game in both major mobile markets within just two days of its release in Japan. It maintained that status of most downloaded for two weeks straight before quickly surpassing 3-million cumulative downloads within four months of the official launch in Japan. Additionally, the game was ranked #1 in sales in the Google Play Store and #4 in the Apple App Store within the first month of release. The game recently climbed to #3 in sales in the Apple App Store after the “World 10 Chapter” update last January. |
2022-07-26 |
Kong Studios Attends Japan’s Comic Market (Comiket), The largest Anime Event in Japan.
2022-07-26
- Kong Studios will be attending the world’s biggest Manga and Anime convention ‘Comic Market’ in Japan on both August 13th and 14th, 2022. U.S Game Developer Kong Studios will attend Comic Market (a.k.a Comiket), hosted in Japan, on both August 13th and 14th, 2022. Kong Studios, which is self-publishing the mobile game ‘Guardian Tales’ in Japan, announced they will attend Comiket to meet with local fans on 26th. Kong Studios will have a booth resembling the Inn featured in ‘Guardian Tales’. Popular characters from the game in Japan will be cosplayed at the booth such as: Miya, Idol Eva, and Mayreel. OST CDs, acrylic figures, and little princess t-shirts will be available for presale for any fans visiting the booth at Comiket. A representative from Kong Studios stated, “We’ve prepared various sights and events for our fans and we’re planning more events for the future so that we can communicate and create more enjoyable memories with our fans.” ‘Guardian Tales’, a mobile game developed by Kong Studios, has achieved top charts within the Free to Play category for both the Google Play Store (1st) and Apple App Store (1st) after it’s official release in Japan. The game has accrued a total of over 3 million downloads within 4 months. The game continues to earn popularity and holds the top ranks for the Google Play Store (1st) and Apple App Store (3rd) in the Top Grossing category in Japan. Comiket is the world’s largest Manga and Anime convention and is held twice a year during the summer and winter seasons. Comiket will host its 100th convention at Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center) on August 13th and 14th, 2022. |
2022-04-30 |
Kong Studios moves its HQ to Santa Monica, a hub city for game development companies.
2022-04-30
- Kong Studios moves its HQ to Santa Monica CA, a hub city for renowned game companies such as Naughty Dog, Respawn Entertainment and Infinity Ward. U.S Game developer, Kong Studios Inc (Kong Studios), moved its headquarters from Nevada to Santa Monica, California. Santa Monica is a hub city for many renowned game development companies such as Naughty Dog, Respawn Entertainment and Infinity Ward. Kong Studios plans to ramp up development for its next triple A (AAA) title. Kong Studios released its first game ‘Dungeon Link’, a mobile puzzle RPG, in 2015 and released the second game titled ‘Guardian Tales’, a mobile adventure RPG in 2020. Guardian Tales is a highly polished game, featuring a well-written story line, and various characters expressed with detailed pixel-art graphics. Guardian Tales made its global grand launch in U.S, Europe, Korea and 230 other nations at the end of July 2020. In 2021, the game also began its services in China and Japan. After its release, the game received continuous praise from global users. Guardian Tales achieved $216M USD in sales and a total of 25M downloads only after a year of release. In August 2021, Kong Studios closed a $62M USD Series B financing round and instantly became a ‘unicorn’ status company valued at $1B USD. The success Kong Studios had in the Japanese gaming market right after Series B financing is evaluated as being in a league of its own. In October 2021, Kong Studios self-published and began service in Japan through its Japanese branch. Within 2 days of launch, Guardian Tales became the most downloaded game for 2 consecutive weeks in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for the free-to-download category. Guardian Tales not only achieved 1st place for sales in the Google Play Store and 3rd for sales in the Apple App Store but was also featured on ‘Apple-Featured’ which evaluates games based on excellence of quality. The game had successfully launched in the Japanese market, which is considered to be the home of sub-culture games. The feats Guardian Tales made in Japan lead to success in sales as well. After the first quarter of 2022, total sales passed $350M USD and the company is showing steady growth in the global market. Kong Studios is planning to use its steady growth as a base to expand HQ’s role. It plans to expand its IP (Intellectual Property) and related businesses in various areas. Unlike the 2D graphics based games it previously released, Kong Studios is planning to focus on developing a 3D open world sandbox game for the next title. Staff from Kong Studios stated: “HQ’s move to Santa Monica is a significant start for Kong Studios Inc. It signifies growth of our company into one capable of developing a triple A (AAA) title. We are planning to actively hire professionals continuously to focus on developing our future title. Anyone prepared to develop a truly special game is always welcome.” Meanwhile, Kong Studios will start the collaboration event with the famous Japanese Anime, ‘Slayers NEXT’ in Japan for 4 weeks in May. The collaboration event was previously held in February for the global and Korean markets. |
2022-03-07 |
Kong Studios’ ‘Guardian Tales’ accomplishes 3 million downloads in Japan’s two major marketplaces.
2022-03-07
- The game received positive reviews through excellent gameplay and aggressive local marketing. [March 07, 2022] ‘Guardian Tales’, a mobile game developed by U.S game developer Kong Studios Inc. (Kong Studios), surpassed 3 million downloads for two major Japanese marketplaces (Apple App Store and Google Play Store) within 4 months of its official Japan release. Through its subsidiary in Japan, Kong Studios launched Guardian Tales in Japan in October 2021. Guardian Tales became the most downloaded free-to- play game in both major mobile markets within 2 days of release, maintained its status of most downloaded for two weeks straight, and then quickly surpassed 3 million cumulative downloads within 4 months of official launch in Japan. Additionally, the game ranked #1 in sales in the Google Play Store and #4 in the Apple App Store within the first month of release,leading to a smooth and soft landing in the Japanese game market. Furthermore, Guardian Tales climbed to #3 in sales in the Apple App Store after the “World 10 Chapter” update last January. Guardian Tales success in Japan was attributed to the game’s excellent game play, and its aggressive local marketing. Guardian Tales received a remarkable 4.8 rating for 3 consecutive weeks in Japan’s Apple App Store since the launch. The game was also selected for ‘Apple Featured’ for excellence in quality, which led to an explosive reaction from local gamers. The game also released its popular “World 10 Chapter”, which had positive reviews about its story from both Korean and Global users alike,within 3 months of launch to unfold the game quickly. Marketing strategies that communicated directly with fans also caught the attention of users, which included making new PVs, and conducting a live stream commemorating 100 days of release. Kong Studios is planning to host an organized meeting with the Koreans users during March to improve services in Korea. |
2022-02-23 |
Guardian Tales collaborates with hit anime Slayers Next for in-game goodies and crossover events
2022-02-23
An exciting crossover between Guardian Tales, the addictive action RPG developed by Kong Studios, and the popular Japanese Anime series, Slayers NEXT has arrived. Adapted from the fantasy light novel series of the same name, the Slayer franchise features main protagonist Lina Inverse, a teenage sorceress battling against the forces of evil set forth by the Lord of Nightmares. The Slayers universe has been adapted across a multitude of media platforms over the years. Kong Studios is proud to welcome the storied franchise to the world of Guardian Tales, a classic action-adventure RPG uniting charming pixel art graphics and dungeon crawling linked by a journey traversing a rich diversity of worlds, inspired by the history of gaming. Slayers Next makes its debut in Guardian Tales with two Slayers-centric stories, showcasing a number of quests and subquests to explore. Players will have access to the main protagonist Lina Inverse, a ★3 Hero added as a Pick-up Summon Hero. Lina’s main companion Gourry Gabriev, a ★3 hero, and his exclusive weapon will be available for free via an in-game event. Part two arrives at the global build Tuesday, March 8th featuring the mysterious priest Xellos, a ★3 Hero Pick-up Summon Hero. More characters from the Slayers world will make appearances throughout the story and its events as NPCs.
[Data Source: gaminglyfe.com] |
2021-11-03 |
Kong Studios’ Guardian Tales Reaches #1 in Google Play Store Sales in Japan Upon Release
2021-11-03
● The game ranked fourth in Apple App Store sales and has been the most downloaded free game on the Google Play and App Store for two weeks in a row. Guardian Tales from US-based game developer Kong Studios is expected to make a splash as it topped sales on the Japan Google Play store upon release. On October 6, Guardian Tales officially launched in Japan via self-publishing through its subsidiary Kong Studios Japan. The game has become the top-grossing app on the Apple App Store and Google Play in Japan for the second consecutive week after ranking first in Google Play and App Store downloads just two days after its release. Guardian Tales topped sales on the Japan Google Play store and rose to #4 on the App Store, marking a successful entrance into the Japanese market. The game has not only become one of the highest-rated apps with an average 4.8 rating for three weeks in a row, but it was also featured on Apple's App Store for its top-tier gameplay and solid storyline. Overall, Guardian Tales garnered positive reviews from Japanese users in various aspects, including the overall quality of the game, operation, and events. Some of the reviews are as follows: “It seems like they worked hard on the localization,” “This game has a solid storyline with charming graphics,” “It's a really good, well-polished game. It keeps me wondering what will happen next,” “Interesting stories, pixel graphics with fluid movement, and great voice acting,” and “I'm going to be playing it every day, and I'm looking forward to future collaborations or events.” In China, Guardian Tales also managed to take the #3 spot in Apple Store sales and the #1 spot in the Free Downloads category with the official launch of the service in April of this year. As of early September, the game had reached $216M USD (nearly 250 billion KRW) in global cumulative sales, showing steady and solid growth in the global game market. "In Japan, it is quite unusual for games developed by foreign game companies to rank first in sales," said an official in the game industry. "These achievements may serve as an incentive to pursue many different business opportunities, including IP-based projects.” |
2021-09-07 |
US-Based Kong Studios Inc (Kong Studios) Succeeds in Raising 62M USD in Series B Financing Round
2021-09-07
● US-based game developer Kong Studios closed a 62M USD Series B round,
instantly becoming a ‘unicorn’ valued at 1B USD.
US-based game developer Kong Studios has succeeded in raising series B investment of 62M USD.
Kong Studios has earned a ‘unicorn’ status through this round, with valuation held at 1B USD. |
2021-08-24 |
Guardian Tales, a Global Hit Game Developed by Kong Studios, Enters the Japanese Market
2021-08-24
NV, USA - Guardian Tales, a mobile game developed by US-based game developer Kong Studios,
is ready to enter the Japanese market. |
2021-05-17 |
‘Guardian Tales’ (Kong Studios, Inc.) : $100M within 7 Months of Launch
2021-05-17
US based game developer Kong Studios announced that its mobile game Guardian
Tales has surpassed $100M USD accumulated revenue & 10 million downloads just
within 7 months of the official global (excluding China and Japan) release in late July 2020. |
2021-02-15 |
GUARDIAN TALES SEASON 2 – ROADMAP
2021-02-15
Season 1 will come to an end with the soon to be released Chapter 11. ※ Keep in mind that the following content are rough drafts; details and images can be changed in the actual update. Also, please note the dates mentioned are for the Korean server and global release dates may differ. *Release months based on Korean server releases.
The date and contents in the development roadmap are long-term development
plans, so they can be changed based on our development environment.
We are also coming up with numerous updates based on our Guardians’
feedback that are not in this development roadmap! |
2020-07-28 |
GUARDIAN TALES GLOBAL LAUNCH!
2020-07-28
After 5 months of soft launching in select countries for testing and
improving the quality of the game, Guardian Tales is now ready for Launch!
As of July 28th, 2020, Guardian Tales is available worldwide on the App Store and Google Play Store. |
2020-07-27 |
OVER ONE MILLION PRE-REGISTRATIONS
2020-07-27
Thanks to your amazing support and efforts, we’ve reached over
1,000,000 pre-registrations! We hope you’re as excited as we are for the
Guardian Tales Global Launch! If you haven’t already, be sure to tell all
your friends so that they can claim the pre-registration rewards
that you’ve unlocked in-game |
2020-07-02 |
Guardian Tales is ready to make its Global Debut
2020-07-02
Players from all over the world will soon be able to join the epic adventure at the end of July! |
2020-06-15 |
NEW SERVERS - EUROPE, OCEANIA, LATIN AMERICA
2020-06-15
Starting today, in the ramp-up to a global launch,
Guardian Tales is now available in Argentina, Ireland,
Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and New Zealand. |
2020-02-25 |
Guardian Tales soft-launch in Malaysia and Philippines
2020-02-25
Kakao Games in association with Glohow brings Guardian Tales, a new pixel RPG,
with a soft-launch in Malaysia and the Philippines! Developed by Kong Studios,
the Facebook page promises 50 over heroes you can collect in the game.
More territories will open at a later date.
- Challenge yourself and test your wits with mischievous puzzles
through your journey. Leave no stone unturned! Secret path and
treasure could be hiding anywhere. Can you uncover them all?
- Do you miss the feeling of boss battles in retro gaming? Control
and utilize the guardians’ combo skills with your fingers. Find a
secret trick to end the fight! Some bosses can be pretty tricky to beat.
■ TAKE A BREAK IN FLOATING ISLAND
■ MUCH MORE FUN!! |
2016-05-25 |
Dungeon Link merges with Adventure Time with Major Content Update
2016-05-25
LOS ANGELES, CA- May 16- GAMEVIL and Cartoon Network have partnered to
introduce the latest Dungeon Link cross-over, Dungeon Link: Adventure Time.
Using easy-to-learn puzzle mechanics, Dungeon Link will let players connect
colored tile blocks together while using several memorable characters from
Adventure Time. Launching today, Dungeon Link will give players access to
new themed areas and heroes while continuing on an epic quest to
save both Katerbury and the Land of Ooo. Details include: |
2015-04-21 |
KONG STUDIOS and GAMEVIL Launch Dungeon Link on App Store and Google Play
2015-04-21
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 21, 2015 – Link your way to victory in Dungeon Link,
a new puzzle game available on App Store and Google Play today.
Developed by KONG STUDIOS in San Jose, CA, Dungeon Link combines
RPG features like battles, teams, and a story with
block-connecting puzzles for an original puzzle RPG. |