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Yellowstone and Lioness Games Could Be in Paramount Games’ Future
Paramount has launched Paramount Games Studio, a new division that will adapt its film and TV properties into video games, and has signalled that Taylor Sheridan's "Sheridanverse" — including Yellowstone and Lioness — could be among the franchises developed. The move marks Paramount's first major push into gaming as a way to expand its most valuable IP, with its "core four" priority properties named as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Avatar: The Last Airbender and SpongeBob SquarePants, alongside interest in Sheridan's shows.
The studio's debut project, revealed at Summer Game Fest, is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin adaptation made with Bayonetta developer PlatinumGames. Shawn Kittelsen, head of creative and production at Paramount Games Studio, told Polygon that Yellowstone, Landman and Tulsa King are all priorities, alongside the spy thriller Lioness, though no concrete game details have been given. Kittelsen stressed the studio intends to be selective with partners and put fans first rather than "spray and pray" licensing, comparing its approach to "missiles, not bullets."
In short
- Paramount launches games studio, eyeing Yellowstone and Lioness adaptations
- First confirmed project is a Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin game with PlatinumGames
- Studio says it will be selective, prioritising fans over rapid licensing
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Adapting Yellowstone, Lioness and other Sheridan shows into games could give fans a deeper way to engage with characters and settings they already value, while helping Paramount extend its properties beyond television. A selective approach with suitable developers could produce distinctive games and strengthen the franchises over time.
The case against
A television franchise’s popularity does not ensure it will translate into an engaging game, and adaptations can feel like extensions of a brand rather than works with their own creative purpose. Focusing resources on established properties may also leave less room for original games, while a poor adaptation could disappoint fans and weaken the franchise.
Explained simply
Paramount is a film and television company whose stories and characters are known as intellectual property, or IP. Video games can bring those properties to audiences in a different format, and companies often work with specialist game developers to make them.
Paramount Games Studio is the company’s new division for developing games based on its films and shows. Its named priorities include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Avatar: The Last Airbender and SpongeBob SquarePants; Taylor Sheridan’s shows, including Yellowstone and Lioness, are also being considered.
Sheridan’s programmes are linked by their creator and are sometimes grouped as the “Sheridanverse”. Turning them into games could extend their reach, but no specific games based on those shows have been announced.