Paramount Games Studio Formed, Unites Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media

Why It Matters

The consolidation signals Paramount’s commitment to treat gaming as a core pillar of its content strategy, unlocking new revenue streams and deeper fan engagement across its IP portfolio.

Key Takeaways

• Paramount Games Studios merges Skydance Interactive and New Media
• Tony Driscoll appointed president, also EVP of corporate strategy
• First game reveal slated for Summer Game Fest 2026
• Team includes veterans from EA, Epic, Unity, and Disney
• Focus on franchise platforms to boost fan engagement across media

Pulse Analysis

Paramount Skydance’s creation of Paramount Games Studios marks a decisive step into interactive entertainment, uniting the company’s two existing development arms—Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media—under a single banner. The move reflects a broader industry shift where traditional media conglomerates are building in‑house gaming capabilities to leverage their vast intellectual property portfolios. By consolidating resources, Paramount aims to accelerate production pipelines, reduce reliance on external publishers, and align game development with its film, television, and streaming strategies. The timing coincides with heightened investor interest in cross‑platform franchises that can generate recurring revenue streams.

The studio’s leadership roster reads like a who’s‑who of the gaming world. President Tony Driscoll brings corporate strategy expertise, while veterans such as Dan Prigg (formerly Scopely, Unity), Shawn Kittelsen (NetherRealm, WB Games), Andrea Silvers (EA, EA Sports), Kara Bilkiss (Microsoft Gaming, Activision/Blizzard King) and Ray Davis (Epic Games, Xbox) provide deep experience across AAA, mobile, and emerging XR formats. This blend of creative, technical, and commercial talent positions the studio to deliver both blockbuster titles and community‑first experiences, ensuring that each project can serve as a launchpad for broader Paramount IP expansion.

Paramount’s announced slate—including Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra and an untitled Star Wars title—signals an intent to turn marquee franchises into live service ecosystems. By treating games as a core pillar rather than an ancillary product, the company hopes to cultivate fan communities that feed back into movies, series, and merchandising, creating a virtuous cycle of engagement. The upcoming reveal at Summer Game Fest 2026 will be the first test of this integrated approach. If successful, Paramount could set a new benchmark for media‑to‑gaming synergy, challenging rivals such as Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery.