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Another former Xbox studio is “independently owned, again” after Microsoft shut it down in 2024
Alpha Dog Games, the developer of Mighty Doom, has reportedly re-emerged as an independent studio after Microsoft closed it in 2024. The move is significant because it adds to a growing group of former Xbox studios that have regained independence amid Microsoft’s restructuring and repeated job cuts.
The evidence comes from founder Shawn Woods’ LinkedIn profile, which now describes Alpha Dog as “independently owned, again” and dates the new tenure from May 2025. Bethesda acquired the studio in 2019 before Microsoft’s purchase of ZeniMax; Microsoft also closed Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks in 2024, although Krafton later revived Tango.
In short
- Alpha Dog Games has reportedly returned as an independent studio.
- Microsoft shut the Mighty Doom developer in 2024.
- Its independence may have begun in May 2025.
Explained simply
Microsoft owns numerous game studios through its Xbox division and regularly acquires independent developers to expand its gaming portfolio. In 2024, the company undertook a major restructuring programme that resulted in the closure of several studios.
Alpha Dog Games was among those affected. The studio was acquired by Bethesda in 2019 and subsequently came under Microsoft's control when the company purchased ZeniMax. It was shut down in 2024, though it has since returned to independent status.
This development is part of a broader wave of closures by Microsoft in 2024, which has drawn significant industry attention. Whilst some studios like Tango Gameworks have found new owners willing to continue their work, others have returned to independence or ceased operations entirely. These varying outcomes have raised questions about the stability of game studios during periods of corporate ownership transition.
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