In a surprising turn of events, Kong Studios is back online! The original Gorillaz website, famous for its Flash-based interactivity and immersive world, has been resurrected for fans old and new. This interactive hub, a beloved destination in the late 1990s, is now accessible in a modernized form, brimming with games, music, and more.
First appearing in 1998, Kong Studios quickly became *the* place for devotees of the virtual band. Many reminisce about their dial-up days, struggling to access the content-rich site. Powered by Flash (may it rest in peace), the site expanded significantly, adding secret areas, virtual rooms to explore, music to enjoy, and numerous hidden treats for dedicated fans. After a decade of operation, Kong Studios was taken offline in 2008, seemingly lost to internet history. However, that’s changed, as Kong Studios is once again open for exploration.
As of September 10th, Gorillaz has launched a redesigned Kong Studios, featuring a unique first-person shooter experience reminiscent of Doom. Here, players battle zombie apes inspired by the band’s music video for “Clint Eastwood.” Alternatively, fans can directly enter Kong Studios, discovering a higher-resolution version of the classic site. The lobby offers plenty to interact with, and the Gorillaz team promises ongoing updates with new rooms and content.
According to the FAQ page, Gorillaz states that “Kong Studios is the digital home of Gorillaz; an interactive playground where fans can discover the rooms and spaces of 2D, Murdoc, Noodle and Russel.” They further state that it “is the central place to find out everything about Gorillaz, first.”
The return of Kong Studios is exciting, resonating with a desire for a different internet experience. Recent years have seen the internet shift from distinct websites to centralized social media platforms. Online forums are disappearing, and fan sites are becoming less common, often replaced by interactions on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and TikTok. While convenient, this shift diminishes the unique charm of the older web, where every band and individual could craft their online presence and control how they communicate with fans.
The early internet was a more idiosyncratic, imaginative, and often more engaging place, and many miss that era. Kong Studios alone cannot fully revive that experience, but it shows the Gorillaz’s understanding of the importance of having an individual web presence, especially as apps and networks become increasingly crowded with AI and bots in 2025.
For those unfamiliar, here’s a walkthrough of the original Kong Studios, showcasing the content that has been brought back to life.