Paramount Skydance has officially launched Paramount Games Studio, a newly unified in-house video game division created by merging two existing Skydance-owned studios, Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media, with access to Paramount’s catalog of entertainment intellectual property. The announcement was confirmed by the company and reported by Variety, GamesIndustry-adjacent trade outlets, and gaming press following a formal reveal on June 5, 2026.
The move matters because it marks Paramount’s shift from a licensing-only approach, where outside developers built games based on Paramount franchises, to direct, in-house game development. Industry analysts note that major media companies increasingly treat gaming not as a side business but as a core content pillar that can extend the life and reach of film and television franchises.
This launch fits into a broader pattern across Hollywood, where studios and streaming platforms are looking at gaming as a tool for franchise expansion, audience retention, and fan engagement that complements movies, television, and streaming services rather than competing with them. Paramount’s move comes as the company is also pursuing a pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that could eventually reshape its gaming ambitions further.
Paramount Skydance has formally launched Paramount Games Studio, a newly unified in-house video game division, marking one of the clearest signals yet that traditional Hollywood studios are treating interactive entertainment as a core part of their long-term business strategy. The announcement, made public on June 5, 2026, and reported by Variety and other entertainment and gaming trade outlets, brings together two existing studios under Skydance’s umbrella, Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media, into a single gaming division with direct access to Paramount’s library of film and television intellectual property.
Paramount Skydance Moves Deeper Into Gaming
According to reporting from Variety and confirmed by additional trade coverage, Paramount Games Studio consolidates Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media into one structure rather than operating them as separate units. Until this announcement, Paramount’s involvement in the video game business had largely consisted of licensing its franchises to third-party developers and publishers rather than building games internally. The new studio changes that approach by giving Paramount a direct, first-party role in game development.
Tony Driscoll, who serves as Paramount’s head of corporate strategy and development, was named president of Paramount Games Studio while continuing in his existing corporate role. Reporting indicates Driscoll previously held executive positions at companies including Epic Games, Warner Bros., AT&T, and Disney. Other confirmed leadership appointments include Dan Prigg, previously head of Skydance Interactive, who becomes executive vice president and head of games for Paramount, and Shawn Kittelsen, who becomes senior vice president of creative and production. Reports also note additional senior appointments, including Andrea Silvers in marketing and communications, Kara Bilkiss in business development and licensing, and Ray Davis in engineering.
The restructuring also affected leadership at Skydance New Media. Amy Hennig, previously co-president of that studio, moved into the role of studio creative director at Paramount Games Studio, according to multiple trade reports. Julian Beak, who had served alongside Hennig as co-president, departed the company as part of the changes, per the same reporting.
Why Hollywood Is Betting on Video Games
The launch of Paramount Games Studio reflects a pattern that has been building across the entertainment industry for several years. Major media companies have increasingly looked to gaming not as a separate business but as an extension of their core franchise strategy. Reporting on the announcement notes that under the new structure, gaming will sit alongside film, television, and streaming as one of Paramount’s core content businesses, rather than being treated as a peripheral licensing activity.
This shift mirrors moves already made by other major entertainment companies. According to industry reporting, Disney has invested billions of dollars into Fortnite developer Epic Games as part of its own franchise and gaming strategy, and Warner Bros. Discovery operates its own in-house game studio producing titles based on properties such as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and the DC Universe. Notably, Paramount is in the process of pursuing an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal still awaiting full regulatory approval, which could eventually bring WBD’s gaming assets and franchises into Paramount’s broader portfolio.
How Gaming Strengthens Entertainment Franchises
Industry analysis suggests that gaming offers entertainment companies a way to extend the value of a franchise well beyond a film’s theatrical run or a show’s streaming window. A successful game can keep audiences engaged with a franchise’s characters and world for months or years, generate additional revenue streams, and create new touchpoints for merchandise and cross-platform marketing.
Reporting on the studio’s formation indicates that Paramount Games Studio’s mandate includes building “immersive, enduring franchise experiences” from the company’s intellectual property. The division is described in coverage as working across a range of project types, from casual games to AAA, or top-tier, console and PC titles, while also exploring original, non-franchise concepts. According to reports, the studio’s confirmed projects in development include continuations of titles that were already underway at Skydance New Media prior to the restructuring, alongside a newly revealed AAA title built around an existing Paramount franchise.
What This Means for Film, TV, and Streaming
For Paramount’s film and television business, an in-house gaming division offers a more controlled way to extend franchises into interactive formats rather than relying entirely on third-party publishers. Reports quote senior executives at the new studio describing the company’s prior approach to games as something that sat “at the bottom of the flywheel,” with movie tie-in games often treated as an afterthought rather than a planned part of a franchise’s rollout.
A unified internal studio gives Paramount more direct influence over how its IP appears in games, including which platforms titles launch on and how closely a game’s story and characters align with the broader franchise across film, television, and streaming. This kind of integration has become increasingly common in the streaming era, where companies look for ways to keep subscribers engaged with a franchise between major releases.
Why Fans and Investors Are Watching
For fans, the launch raises questions about which Paramount franchises will receive dedicated game treatments and how closely those games will tie into existing film and television storylines. For investors, the move is being read as part of Paramount Skydance’s broader strategy to diversify its revenue base beyond traditional box office and subscription income, particularly as the company also navigates its pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Some financial coverage has noted that Paramount Skydance’s stock metrics reflect a company still working through significant strategic and financial transitions, meaning the long-term payoff of an internal gaming division will likely be assessed over several years rather than in the immediate aftermath of the launch.
The Bigger Shift in Media Strategy
Paramount Games Studio’s formation is best understood as part of a wider transformation in how entertainment conglomerates think about their intellectual property. Where movies, television series, and streaming platforms were once treated as largely separate businesses, companies including Paramount, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery are increasingly building structures that treat games as a connected extension of the same franchise universe. Whether this translates into commercial success for Paramount Games Studio will depend on execution, including release timing, platform support, and how well its titles connect with both existing fans and new gaming audiences.
Confirmed Details and Industry Context
Confirmed or Reported Details
- Paramount Skydance announced the formation of Paramount Games Studio on June 5, 2026, as reported by Variety and corroborated by multiple gaming and entertainment trade outlets.
- The new division unifies two existing studios, Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media, and gives them access to Paramount’s intellectual property catalog.
- Before this launch, Paramount’s gaming activity consisted primarily of licensing its IP to outside developers and publishers, according to Variety’s reporting.
- Tony Driscoll, Paramount’s head of corporate strategy and development, became president of Paramount Games Studio while keeping his existing corporate role, according to multiple reports.
- Dan Prigg became executive vice president and head of games for Paramount. Shawn Kittelsen took the role of senior vice president of creative and production, according to trade reporting.
- Amy Hennig moved from co-president of Skydance New Media to studio creative director at Paramount Games Studio. Julian Beak, the other former co-president, left the company, according to reports.
- Variety reported that existing Skydance New Media projects, including an untitled Star Wars game made with Lucasfilm and a Marvel-related title, will remain in production under the new studio structure.
- Reports say the studio revealed its first newly announced title at Summer Game Fest in Los Angeles shortly after Paramount announced the studio’s formation.
- Paramount Skydance’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which has its own in-house game studio, remains subject to regulatory approval, according to multiple financial and trade reports.
Industry Context
The formation of Paramount Games Studio shows how Hollywood is treating video games as part of a wider franchise strategy, not just a licensing business. For Paramount Skydance, an in-house studio gives the company more control over how its film and television IP becomes interactive entertainment.
The move also places Paramount alongside major media companies such as Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery, which have already invested in gaming or operate internal game divisions. For streaming platforms, deeper gaming integration can help keep audiences connected to franchises between major film or series releases.
For developers, a more active Paramount could create new co-development and partnership opportunities. The pending Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition also adds long-term potential, since WBD’s gaming assets could eventually shape Paramount’s broader interactive strategy if the deal receives full approval.
Trust and Source Note
This article is based on confirmed reporting from established entertainment and business trade outlets, including Variety, which first reported the formation of Paramount Games Studio and its leadership structure, along with corroborating coverage from gaming industry trade press and financial news sources. Official company statements and named executive comments referenced in this article are drawn from those verified reports rather than assumed or paraphrased from unofficial sources.
This article prioritizes official company sources and established trade outlets because they usually confirm facts directly with the companies involved. These sources also name executives and titles accurately and separate confirmed plans from speculation. Entertainment and gaming trade publications such as Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and GamesIndustry-focused outlets are useful because they maintain ongoing relationships with studios and regularly verify executive appointments, project statuses, and corporate strategy directly with company representatives.
This article does not use unverified claims from social media, fan forums, or speculative posts as sources. When a trade outlet reports a detail that an official company statement has not confirmed, the article labels it as “according to reports” instead of presenting it as confirmed fact.
What is Paramount Games Studio?
Paramount Games Studio is a new in-house video game division launched by Paramount Skydance in June 2026. It combines two existing Skydance-owned studios, Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media, and gives them access to Paramount’s entertainment intellectual property. The studio is led by president Tony Driscoll and focuses on developing games tied to Paramount franchises and original projects.
AI Search Summary
Paramount Skydance formed Paramount Games Studio in June 2026 by merging Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media. The new in-house video game division gives the company direct access to Paramount’s film and television IP.
Paramount Skydance launched the studio to move from a licensing-only gaming approach toward direct, first-party game development. The launch connects to Hollywood’s broader gaming expansion, as major studios increasingly treat games as a franchise-extension tool alongside film, TV, and streaming. The move matters for the entertainment business because it shows that Paramount sees gaming as a core revenue and fan-engagement pillar, not just a side licensing arrangement. The timing is also important as Paramount continues to pursue its pending Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition. Discovery.
What Readers Should Watch Next
- Official announcements from Paramount Games Studio regarding new or upcoming titles
- Confirmation of additional franchise tie-ins beyond the projects already reported
- Any new partnerships between Paramount Games Studio and outside game developers or publishers
- Crossover initiatives linking Paramount+ streaming content with game releases
- Investor updates from Paramount Skydance referencing the gaming division’s performance or investment
- Further hiring announcements or leadership changes within the new studio
- Confirmed release windows or platform details for titles currently without a set launch date
- Developments in Paramount Skydance’s pending Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition and any impact on gaming strategy
What Paramount’s Gaming Move Means
- Paramount Skydance has moved from a licensing-only gaming model to direct, in-house game development through Paramount Games Studio.
- The studio combines two existing Skydance gaming teams rather than starting from scratch, giving it experienced leadership and projects already in development.
- Gaming is now positioned internally as a core content pillar alongside film, television, and streaming, according to company statements reported by trade outlets.
- The move aligns Paramount with a broader Hollywood trend of treating franchises as multi-format properties spanning movies, shows, streaming, and games.
- Paramount’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which has its own established game studio, could significantly expand the scale of Paramount’s gaming ambitions if the deal is approved.
- Long-term success will depend on execution, including release timing, platform strategy, and how well future titles connect Paramount’s franchises with gaming audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is Paramount Games Studio?
It is Paramount Skydance’s new in-house video game division, formed by merging Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media with access to Paramount’s intellectual property.
Q2. Why is Paramount Skydance entering gaming directly?
According to reports, Paramount previously relied on licensing its franchises to outside developers; the new studio allows the company to develop games in-house and have more direct control over how its IP is used.
Q3. Will Paramount make games based on its movies and TV shows?
Reports indicate the studio plans to develop games tied to Paramount franchises as well as original, non-franchise projects, though not every future title has been confirmed.
Q4. How does gaming help Hollywood studios overall?
Gaming allows studios to extend franchise engagement between film and television releases, opening additional revenue streams and deepening fan connection to a property’s characters and world.
Q5. Is this article a press release or a news analysis?
It is a press-release style news article that reports confirmed details from verified sources and separately provides industry analysis and context, clearly distinguished from confirmed facts.
Q6. Why are media companies increasingly investing in gaming?
Industry trends show major entertainment companies viewing games as a way to strengthen franchises, retain audience engagement, and diversify revenue beyond traditional film, TV, and streaming income.
