Paramount is exploring video game adaptations for Yellowstone and the ‘Sheridan-verse.’

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 arena. 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 team behind the action-packed Bayonetta series. They are set to adapt Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, with a teaser trailer offering a glimpse of a dark, futuristic New York.

But The Last Ronin is just the beginning for Paramount Games Studio. In a recent conversation, Shawn Kittelsen, the studio’s head of creative and production, shared insights into what fans can expect. He confirmed that the studio is focusing on four key franchises: Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Additionally, Kittelsen mentioned the “Sheridanverse,” referencing the works of Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, as another area of interest for game development.

Kittelsen emphasized that titles related to Yellowstone and its spin-offs, such as Landman and Tulsa King, are high on their priority list. Yellowstone, an American neo-Western drama, follows the Dutton family, owners of Montana’s largest cattle ranch, while exploring themes of Native American displacement and land gentrification. The series continues to captivate audiences, especially with the new spinoff, Dutton Ranch.

Kittelsen also expressed interest in Sheridan’s other project, Lioness, an American spy thriller that follows a CIA team deploying female operatives in high-stakes undercover missions to combat terrorism.

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

Kittelsen cautioned against hasty licensing decisions, emphasizing the importance of building strong partnerships and creating games that resonate with audiences. “If we start willy-nilly licensing everything just to check boxes, people will catch on, and we won’t see the success we could achieve. But if we build pillar by pillar, find the right partners, and make the right games, I think we can achieve massive success.”

He also highlighted the importance of a player-first perspective, noting that Paramount Games Studio is selective about its partners, ensuring they have a track record of producing classics. “Everything has to come from that player-first, fan-first perspective. 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 feel his impact as well.