<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-02-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001471261</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Cobalt International Energy, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CIE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478434</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Cobalt Co-Invest Partners AP LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478635</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Cobalt Group Management Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478432</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Energy Partners I LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478431</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Energy Partners II LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478430</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Energy Partners III LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478537</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Cobalt Co-Invest V LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478429</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Energy Partners I U.S. LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478428</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Energy Partners II U.S. LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478427</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Energy Partners III U.S. LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478456</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KERN Cobalt Group V LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTENNIAL PLACE EAST,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3110-520 3RD AVENUE SW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 0R3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-02-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5095298</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.16</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26939795</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">For text of Footnote 1, see Exhibit 99.1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">For text of Footnote 2, see Exhibit 99.1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">For text of Footnote 3, see Exhibit 99.1.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>See Exhibit 99.2</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
