Alpha Dog Games returns to independence two years after being shuttered by Xbox
Alpha Dog Games has returned to independent ownership, marking a reversal for the mobile-focused studio roughly two years after being shuttered by Microsoft. Founded by Shawn Woods, the Nova Scotia-based developer was initially acquired by ZeniMax Media in October 2019, then became part of Xbox Game Studios following Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax in 2022.
The studio’s fate changed dramatically in 2024 when Microsoft implemented sweeping cost-cutting measures across its gaming division. Alpha Dog Games was closed alongside other Xbox-owned studios including Arkane Austin, while Tango Gameworks was sold off. The closure had immediate consequences for the studio’s most prominent title, Mighty Doom—a mobile game that was removed from app stores following the shutdown.
After spending over a year in limbo, Shawn Woods updated his LinkedIn profile in May 2025 to reflect Alpha Dog Games’ return to independent status, a change that was subsequently verified through formal statements to gaming media outlets including Kotaku. In his statement, Woods expressed gratitude toward Microsoft for facilitating the transition back to independence, emphasizing the team’s pride in reclaiming the studio name and returning creative control to its founding members.
The return underscores ongoing volatility in the video game industry, where major publishers’ strategic shifts can dramatically impact independent developers that become subsidiary acquisitions. For Alpha Dog Games, regaining independence represents an opportunity to revive its operations and potentially restore projects like Mighty Doom to their platforms.