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.