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Smoking Gun Interactive

Games & Interactive
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Founded
2007
Employees
51-200
Offices
1

About Smoking Gun Interactive

Smoking Gun Interactive is a Canadian game development studio based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 2007, it develops original games and works with publishing and platform partners on strategy, tactical, casual, puzzle and action titles. Its work spans mobile, PC and console, combining complete game development with co-development, adaptations and ongoing live operations.

The studio was founded by John Johnson, Drew Dunlop and Angie Pytlewski, whose earlier work at Relic Entertainment included creative and technical leadership on Company of Heroes. Smoking Gun's early output included the original transmedia alternate reality project X: Exoriare, introduced in 2009, followed by motion-controlled games and interactive experiences.

Development and partnerships

A sustained relationship with Microsoft became an important part of the studio's development history. Smoking Gun contributed to Xbox 360 Kinect launch content in 2010 and collaborated with Microsoft and NASA on Mars Rover Landing in 2012. Its subsequent releases included the Kinect flying game Freefall Racers and the handheld adaptation Doodle Jump Adventures.

In 2014, the studio launched Age of Empires: Castle Siege, bringing tactical tower defense and real-time strategy to Windows and mobile devices. It later developed mobile adaptations of Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Microsoft Mahjong. These projects sit alongside its original intellectual property, including Phobies, a tactical turn-based battle game released for PC, iOS and Android in 2022.

More recent work includes Netflix Mahjong Solitaire and Netflix Minesweeper, developed for Netflix Games, and a 2026 adaptation of Freefall Racers for Nex Playground. The portfolio reflects the studio's experience adapting familiar properties to different platforms while also developing its own game concepts.

Studio scope

Smoking Gun offers full game development, co-development, porting, remastering and live service support, alongside technical art and production of game environments, props, weapons and vehicles. Keywords Studios acquired the company in September 2022. It continues to operate under its own studio brand within Keywords' Create service line.

More about Smoking Gun Interactive

Leadership

The November 2026 research identifies Jacob Barrows as Studio Head, Joey Wiggs as Technical Director, Tyler McCulloch as Studio Design Director, Chad Kopfensteiner as Studio Art Director, and Alison Seffels as Production Director.

Technology

The studio's proprietary Caliber Engine supports its engine architecture capabilities.

Working model

Public recruitment describes a hybrid studio environment requiring staff to be based in Greater Vancouver or British Columbia.

Notable credits

12 credits
  • Freefall Racers (Nex Playground Edition)
  • Netflix Minesweeper
  • Netflix Mahjong Solitaire
  • Phobies
  • Microsoft Mahjong
  • Microsoft Solitaire Collection
  • Age of Empires: Castle Siege
  • Freefall Racers
  • Doodle Jump Adventures
  • Mars Rover Landing
  • Kinect Launch Game Content
  • X: Exoriare

Offices

Where Smoking Gun Interactive is based

1 location

  • Vancouver offices

    Headquarters
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    About this office

    **Office** Status: active Headquarters Address: 333 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC Downtown Vancouver headquarters operating under a hybrid working model. --- **Office** Status: inactive / historical Address: Suite 1000 – 900 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1E5 Former Vancouver studio premises identified in the report; the departure year is not established.

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