Paramount is reconstituting its video game operation, launching a new game studio and setting a leadership team for the division.
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| Paramount Games Studio |
Like its media peers, the company has deployed various strategies over the years in the sector, which has historically not been a straightforward process for Hollywood despite all of its established IP. Ramping up in gaming is considered a priority as the company looks to close its pending merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, which has had an up-and-down journey in gaming but remains committed to the space.
Paramount Games Studio encompasses all Paramount and Skydance gaming studios, including Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media. Last August, Paramount and Skydance closed their $8.4 billion merger.
Initial titles on the studio’s slate include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin from THQ Nordic and Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game from Gameplay Group International and PM Studios, the latter of which is slated to launch on Thursday, July 2.
Leading the newly created unit is President Tony Driscoll, a former executive with Epic Games, Warner Bros., AT&T, and Disney. Driscoll will serve concurrently as Executive Vice President (EVP) and head of corporate strategy and development, and will continue to lead integration planning efforts for the WBD transaction. Paramount has said the $110 billion deal will close by the end of September. It still needs approval from a handful of key regulatory agencies and has also drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, activist groups and an industry coalition that includes some prominent actors.
Other key execs in the gaming unit include Dan Prigg, EVP and head of games; Shawn Kittelsen, Senior Vice President (SVP), head of creative and production; Andrea Silvers, SVP, marketing and communications; Kara Bilkiss, SVP, business development and licensing; and Ray Davis, SVP of engineering.
“This division launch marks a meaningful evolution in how we think about games – not as an extension of our business, but as a core pillar of our content strategy alongside film, television, and streaming,” Driscoll said in a statement. “We are committed to creating exceptional games for every type of player, from casual to AAA, and building enduring experiences across our beloved Paramount IP and original worlds that deepen fan engagement and drive long-term growth.”
More from Variety, who first reported the story:
Paramount Skydance Launches New Video Game Studio as ‘Core Pillar’ of Content Strategy Alongside TV, Films and Streaming (EXCLUSIVE)
David Ellison has been moving pieces around the board in reshaping the new Paramount Skydance over the past year. But one key division remained out of play in his master media plan — until now.
On Friday, Paramount Skydance unveiled Paramount Games Studio, a unified gaming studio that combines Skydance’s two existing game studios, Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media, with Paramount’s intellectual property, as Paramount’s gaming business has largely consisted of licensing IP to third parties.
Variety has confirmed that both of Skydance New Media’s in development projects, “Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra” and an untitled Star Wars game made in collaboration with Lucasfilm, are still in the works. As for its new slate, Paramount Games Studio will make the announcement of its first game, a AAA title, during Summer Game Fest at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles Friday.
To lead its new gaming efforts, Paramount has named Tony Driscoll, the company’s head of corporate strategy and development, as president of Paramount Games Studio. Driscoll is intended to service in both roles concurrently “and will continue to lead our integration planning effort for the Warner Bros. Discovery transaction,” per Paramount.
Paramount Games Studio launches as Paramount Skydance is awaiting regulatory approval on its pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. WBD has its own in-house video game studio, which produces titles based on Harry Potter, “Game of Thrones,” the DC Universe and more WBD IP.
Along with Driscoll, the leadership team at Paramount Games Studio includes two top Skydance Games vets: Dan Prigg, who was previously head of Skydance Interactive, is now executive vice president, head of games for Paramount, while Shawn Kittelsen has been set as senior vice president, head of creative & production.
Skydance New Media’s previous leadership team is also experiencing a shakeup with Amy Hennig moving from her role as co-president of Skydance New Media to become Paramount Games Studio’s studio creative director. Julian Beak, who served alongside Hennig as co-president of New Media, has exited the company amid the changes.
Other key roles include Andrea Silvers as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications; Kara Bilkiss, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Licensing; and Ray Davis, Senior Vice President of Engineering.
“This division launch marks a meaningful evolution in how we think about games – not as an extension of our business, but as a core pillar of our content strategy alongside film, television, and streaming,” Driscoll said. “We are committed to creating exceptional games for every type of player, from casual to AAA, and building enduring experiences across our beloved Paramount IP and original worlds that deepen fan engagement and drive long-term growth.”
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Original source: Deadline.
