Paramount is no longer content to simply broadcast the sprawling world of Taylor Sheridan. According to Shawn Kittelsen of Paramount Game Studios, the company’s freshly minted in-house games division has its sights set on turning the so-called Sheridanverse into interactive experiences — with Yellowstone and Lioness flagged as top priorities for adaptation.
It’s an ambitious signal from a studio still finding its footing. Rather than chasing a single blockbuster licence, Kittelsen frames the strategy around a whole connected catalogue of properties. That’s a smart play on paper: Sheridan’s shows already trade in the kind of morally grey characters, high-stakes conflict and cinematic landscapes that translate well to a game controller.
Picture the possibilities. Yellowstone, with its ranch politics, land feuds and slow-burn tension, could lend itself to anything from a narrative-driven open world to a management-and-survival hybrid set across the Dutton empire’s vast Montana acreage. Lioness, meanwhile — a taut espionage thriller — points in a very different direction, closer to a tactical, story-first action title built around undercover operations and split-second decisions.
Here’s the important caveat: none of this exists yet in any tangible form. There are no announced titles, no platforms, no release windows and no pricing. What we have is a statement of intent from someone whose job is precisely to build that pipeline. Treat it as a roadmap being drawn rather than a destination that’s been reached.
Still, the direction matters. Hollywood and gaming have spent years circling each other, and adaptations have a famously spotty track record — for every triumph there’s a cautionary tale. What tends to separate the successes is a studio that respects the source material and gives developers room to build something native to the medium, rather than bolting a game onto a TV episode. Whether Paramount can pull that off is the open question.
A few reasons for cautious optimism:
- Built-in audiences. The Sheridanverse commands a large, loyal viewership, giving any game a ready-made fanbase.
- Rich source worlds. These shows are heavy on lore, geography and character — the raw ingredients good games are made from.
- In-house control. Developing internally means Paramount owns the vision end to end, avoiding the licensing tangles that have sunk past efforts.
The flip side is equally real. Standing up a game studio and shipping quality titles is a multi-year endeavour, and prioritising two properties is a long way from delivering finished products. Early enthusiasm from an executive is exactly the sort of thing that can quietly evaporate.
For now, file this under promising ambition. Fans of the Duttons and the operatives of Lioness have something to keep an eye on — just don’t expect to be saddling up or going dark in-game anytime soon. The intent is clear; the execution is where the story really begins.
