Paramount Open to Developing Yellowstone and Taylor Sheridan-verse Video Games

Paramount, the multimedia powerhouse known for iconic franchises like Avatar: The Last Airbender, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Star Trek, is making a bold move into the gaming realm. During Summer Game Fest, the company unveiled its new gaming division, Paramount Games Studio, hinting that a Yellowstone video game could be on the horizon.

In conjunction with this announcement, Paramount Games Studio disclosed its partnership with PlatinumGames, the creators behind the Bayonetta series. Together, they will be adapting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, which teased a dark, futuristic New York in its trailer.

But The Last Ronin is just the beginning for Paramount Games Studio. Ahead of Summer Game Fest, Shawn Kittelsen, the studio’s head of creative and production, shared insights about their future projects. He highlighted that the “core four” franchises they are focusing on include the Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Additionally, Kittelsen confirmed that they are keen on exploring the “Sheridanverse,” named after Yellowstone’s creator, Taylor Sheridan.

“All of the Yellowstone and Yellowstone-adjacent titles, like Landman and Tulsa King, are top priorities for us,” Kittelsen stated.

Yellowstone, an American neo-Western drama, centers on the Dutton family, who manage the largest cattle ranch in Montana. The series not only follows their story but also addresses significant issues such as the displacement of Native Americans and land gentrification. The new spinoff, Dutton Ranch, continues to capture audiences, remaining a standout on Paramount Plus and beyond.

Kittelsen also expressed interest in Sheridan’s other project, Lioness, an American spy thriller that follows a CIA team recruiting female operatives for high-stakes undercover missions in the fight against terrorism.

While specific details about the upcoming games remain under wraps, Kittelsen’s comments suggest a thoughtful approach to development. He emphasized that Paramount Games is committed to honoring the relationship fans have with these stories and characters.

“We are not brand managers, and we are not IP value extractors,” Kittelsen explained. “We are cultural stewards, and these stories, characters, and worlds mean something to the fans who invest so much of their time and money in them. We need to honor that relationship, or we will lose them.”

He cautioned against hastily licensing properties just to fill a quota, asserting that a more deliberate approach will lead to greater success. “If we build pillar by pillar, find the right partners, and create the right games for the audience, I think we can achieve massive success.”

Kittelsen also stressed the importance of a player-first perspective, which is why Paramount Games Studio is only collaborating with partners who have a proven track record of creating classics. “Everything has to come from that player-first, fan-first perspective. We’re being much more selective about our partners because we don’t want to just spray and pray. Like we always say: we want missiles, not bullets.”

With Sheridan’s influence already making waves in pop culture, including the upcoming 2028 Call of Duty movie, it seems inevitable that the gaming world will soon see more of his storytelling prowess.