Dundee game studio Cobra Mobile shuts down after 20 years

Dundee-based game developer Cobra Mobile has been liquidated after facing major challenges. 

As reported by The Courier, the studio's closure follows the collapse of its partner companies and the passing of chairman Peter Mackintosh last year.

The liquidation has resulted in eight employees being made redundant.

“We have had clients go bankrupt on us during projects, leaving us hugely in debt," said Cobra Mobile CEO and founder Mark Ettle in an interview with The Courier. 

“There has been a downturn in the sector, which has made it harder for us to operate moving forward with the roadmap we wanted to follow. This has all hit us at the same time. It is really sad, but it has been a fun ride too for the last 20 years.”

He added: “We have made a ton of great games. And we’ve won lots of awards and been nominated for loads more. We had business commendations for the way we operated and worked.

“But there are things in business you simply don’t control and events you cannot foresee. And there is a downturn in the industry right now. This is not an isolated event. We had one thing on top of another - a cascading waterfall of bad outcomes.”

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Steven Wright of Dains Accountants has been appointed interim liquidator, and the company's eight employees will receive support through the redundancy process.

Founded in 2005, Cobra Mobile was a pioneer in Dundee’s mobile games scene, recognising the market’s potential early on. 

The studio produced hits like Storm In A Teacup and iBomber, with titles released on the App Store, Google Play, Steam, and Nintendo platforms.

Cobra Mobile also received several awards, including a European Games Award, and earned multiple BAFTA nominations.