{
  "updated": "2026-07-14T00:00:00Z",
  "note": "Studios shut down ENTIRELY in 2026 (full closures only, no partial layoffs). 18 named closures confirmed from public trackers and press; Farhan Noor's tracker counts 22 total including unnamed/unconfirmed ones.",
  "studios": [
    { "slug": "queen-digital-entertainment", "name": "Queen Digital Entertainment", "founded": 2022, "closed": "2026-06-26", "parent": null, "headcount": 25, "known_for": "Casual mobile puzzle games (Tail Team, Pet Panic)", "story": "Ex-King co-founders Sebastian Knutsson and Stephane Kurgan wound the studio down without ever fully launching a game; Knutsson cited the extreme cost of user acquisition in today's mobile market. About 25 staff affected." },
    { "slug": "douze-dixiemes", "name": "Douze Dixièmes", "founded": 2017, "closed": "2026-06-24", "parent": "PullUp Entertainment", "headcount": 15, "known_for": "Shady Part of Me, MIO: Memories in Orbit", "story": "PullUp Entertainment sold its stake back to the founders after MIO: Memories in Orbit missed sales targets despite strong reviews; the Paris-area studio then closed, affecting about 15 staff." },
    { "slug": "kwalee-labs", "name": "Kwalee Labs", "founded": 2019, "closed": "2026-06-16", "parent": "Kwalee", "headcount": 9, "known_for": "Luna Abyss", "story": "Kwalee made the entire nine-person team redundant 26 days after Luna Abyss launched to positive reviews but weak sales; CEO Hollie Emery said the decision was completely outside the team's control. Founded 2019 as Bonsai Collective." },
    { "slug": "ubisoft-winnipeg", "name": "Ubisoft Winnipeg", "founded": 2018, "closed": "2026-06-10", "parent": "Ubisoft", "headcount": 65, "known_for": "Anvil and Snowdrop engine technology", "story": "Ubisoft closed the Winnipeg technology studio, cutting about 65 roles, as part of a June 2026 restructuring of up to 380 jobs aimed at reducing costs and refocusing on strategic priorities." },
    { "slug": "ubisoft-belgrade", "name": "Ubisoft Belgrade", "founded": 2016, "closed": "2026-06-10", "parent": "Ubisoft", "headcount": 100, "known_for": "Co-development on Ghost Recon, The Crew 2, Skull and Bones", "story": "Ubisoft shut the roughly 100-person Belgrade support studio in the same June 2026 cost-cutting wave that closed Winnipeg, letting all its employees go as part of company-wide restructuring." },
    { "slug": "vertigo-games-amsterdam", "name": "Vertigo Games Amsterdam", "founded": 2015, "closed": "2026-06-09", "parent": "Embracer", "headcount": null, "known_for": "Metro Awakening (VR)", "story": "Vertigo Games (Embracer) closed its Amsterdam studio (formerly Force Field) after Metro Awakening earned critical acclaim but underperformed commercially, with CEO Richard Stitselaar citing a persistently challenging VR market." },
    { "slug": "last-flag-games", "name": "Last Flag Games", "founded": null, "closed": "2026-05-21", "parent": "Night Street Games", "headcount": 12, "known_for": "Last Flag (hero shooter)", "story": "After Last Flag drew under 600 peak players at its April 2026 launch, developer Night Street Games (funded by Imagine Dragons' Reynolds brothers) halted development, canceled console ports and cut about a dozen staff." },
    { "slug": "seeker-entertainment", "name": "Seeker Entertainment", "founded": 2023, "closed": "2026-05-05", "parent": null, "headcount": 7, "known_for": "KinForge (unreleased creature-collector RPG)", "story": "The studio, founded by Riot and Blizzard veterans, paused KinForge production and furloughed its team after failing to extend its seed runway, blaming the devastating fundraising environment while still seeking investors." },
    { "slug": "polyarc-games", "name": "Polyarc Games", "founded": 2015, "closed": "2026-04-01", "parent": null, "headcount": 30, "known_for": "Moss, Moss: Book II (VR)", "story": "After a major project was canceled and a studio-wide funding effort failed, the ex-Bungie-founded Seattle studio laid off about 30 people (two-thirds of staff); a small remaining team pivoted Moss to flatscreen platforms." },
    { "slug": "bluepoint-games", "name": "Bluepoint Games", "founded": 2006, "closed": "2026-02-19", "parent": "Sony", "headcount": 70, "known_for": "Demon's Souls and Shadow of the Colossus remakes", "story": "Sony shut the Austin remake specialist following a business review, cutting about 70 jobs; the studio had lacked a flagship project since its live-service God of War game was canceled in early 2025." },
    { "slug": "atomic-arcade", "name": "Atomic Arcade", "founded": 2021, "closed": "2026-02-16", "parent": "Hasbro", "headcount": 70, "known_for": "G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes game (unreleased)", "story": "Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast closed the North Carolina studio, laying off about 70 developers before its debut Snake Eyes game shipped; Hasbro said the game itself was not canceled while it evaluated a path forward." },
    { "slug": "intrepid-studios", "name": "Intrepid Studios", "founded": 2015, "closed": "2026-02-02", "parent": null, "headcount": 250, "known_for": "Ashes of Creation", "story": "Co-founder Steven Sharif resigned January 31, 2026 in protest of board actions; days later the studio sent WARN permanent-closure notices to all staff, reportedly missed payroll, and Ashes of Creation was pulled from Steam." },
    { "slug": "armature-studio", "name": "Armature Studio", "founded": 2008, "closed": "2026-01-13", "parent": "Meta", "headcount": 40, "known_for": "Resident Evil 4 VR, ReCore", "story": "Meta closed the ex-Retro Studios-founded Austin studio as part of Reality Labs cuts of roughly 1,500 jobs that shifted spending away from VR games toward smart glasses and AI." },
    { "slug": "supernatural-within", "name": "Supernatural (Within)", "founded": 2014, "closed": "2026-01-13", "parent": "Meta", "headcount": null, "known_for": "Supernatural VR fitness app", "story": "Meta's Reality Labs cuts put Supernatural into maintenance mode, ending new workouts and laying off its coaches; months later Meta spun the app out to an independent company, Supernatural Health." },
    { "slug": "twisted-pixel-games", "name": "Twisted Pixel Games", "founded": 2006, "closed": "2026-01-13", "parent": "Meta", "headcount": 65, "known_for": "'Splosion Man, Marvel's Deadpool VR", "story": "Meta shut Twisted Pixel in its January 2026 Reality Labs cuts, about two months after the studio shipped Marvel's Deadpool VR, as funding moved from VR games to smart glasses and AI." },
    { "slug": "sanzaru-games", "name": "Sanzaru Games", "founded": 2007, "closed": "2026-01-13", "parent": "Meta", "headcount": 130, "known_for": "Asgard's Wrath, Sly Cooper series", "story": "Meta closed Sanzaru, one of its largest first-party VR studios at roughly 130 staff, in the January 2026 Reality Labs cuts that reallocated investment from VR titles toward smart glasses and AI." },
    { "slug": "camouflaj", "name": "Camouflaj", "founded": 2011, "closed": "2026-01-13", "parent": "Meta", "headcount": null, "known_for": "République, Iron Man VR, Batman: Arkham Shadow", "story": "Meta's January 2026 cuts gutted the Seattle studio: leadership departed and all game projects, including the Batman: Arkham Shadow sequel, were canceled, with only a handful of staff retained for hardware UX work." },
    { "slug": "ubisoft-halifax", "name": "Ubisoft Halifax", "founded": 2009, "closed": "2026-01-07", "parent": "Ubisoft", "headcount": 71, "known_for": "Assassin's Creed Rebellion, Rainbow Six Mobile", "story": "Ubisoft closed its mobile-focused Halifax studio, cutting 71 jobs two days after staff certified Ubisoft's first North American union; Ubisoft said the cost-cutting decision predated the union vote. Founded 2009 as Longtail Studios Halifax." }
  ]
}