[7] The studio was founded as part of the Stardock strategic investment fund to promote strategy game development.

[13][14] Offworld Trading Company featured music from Grammy-award-winning composer Christopher Tin, an old roommate of Soren Johnson who also provided the soundtrack for Civilization IV.

[13] In 2018, Mohawk announced a new strategy game published by Starbreeze called 10 Crowns,[17] a title which they later changed to Old World.

[18] Mohawk used Old World as an opportunity to improve on Johnson's work on Civilization 3, focusing on AI and diplomacy that would feel more immersive and less like a game.

[18] In 2019, their Sweden-based publisher encountered financial issues, and sold the rights to Mohawk's upcoming game back to them.