Paramount Games Studio and Warner Bros. Games are set to join forces as a single gaming entity within the Skydance umbrella, a move that follows the closing of Paramount’s massive $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The integration will be directed by Tony Driscoll, who currently serves as president of Paramount Games Studio, and will also encompass a broader portfolio of interactive experiences tied to the extensive intellectual property owned by both legacy companies.
The deal, which was officially sealed earlier today, marks the culmination of a multi‑year negotiation that saw Paramount absorb Warner Bros. Discovery and rebrand the combined enterprise as Skydance. While the initial press release focused on the financial and strategic implications of the merger, it did not specifically address the fate of the two firms’ video‑game divisions.
A later internal memo, obtained by Variety, clarified that Skydance intends to merge the games and experiences arms of both Paramount and WBD into a single, cohesive unit that will manage development, publishing, and experiential projects across both brands. In practical terms, this means that Driscoll, who already leads Paramount Games Studio, will now head the broader "Games and Experiences" division while also taking on responsibilities for corporate strategy and development across Skydance’s entire entertainment portfolio.
"We are investing in our future growth engines alongside our core ambitions in TV, film and direct‑to‑consumer: games, experiences, consumer products, and publishing," Skydance President Andy Gordon said in the memo. He emphasized that these pillars are essential for cultivating fan engagement both in physical spaces—such as live events and merchandise—and in digital realms, where interactive storytelling continues to gain traction. Gordon highlighted the strategic value of leveraging the rich storytelling heritage of DC Comics, which falls under the Warner Bros.
Discovery catalog, to expand Skydance’s e‑commerce and brand‑connection initiatives. "These are core pillars of our strategy to build engagement and fandom in both the physical and digital worlds.
We want to meet consumers where they watch, play, and engage," he added, underscoring the company’s intent to create a seamless, cross‑platform experience for audiences. Paramount Games Studio itself is a relatively new operation, having been launched this summer under the leadership of Executive Vice President and Head of Games Dan Prigg. The studio was created to fuse Paramount’s extensive film and television IP with Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media, forming a hybrid development model that blends traditional licensing with in‑house creation.
Prigg explained to GamesIndustry.biz that, prior to the merger, Paramount’s involvement in gaming was limited to licensing deals rather than direct development or publishing. "They weren’t doing any internal development.
They weren’t really doing much in terms of co‑development and publishing," Prigg noted. "Skydance had a couple of studios, and we had licensing on our own." The decision to consolidate the two gaming divisions was driven by the belief that a single, unified team can better control the slate of projects, nurture brand ecosystems, and foster vibrant player communities. "One division can help control the slate, help with the brands, and really build the communities," Prigg said, pointing to the efficiencies and creative synergies that a merged structure can deliver.
Key leadership appointments accompany the structural change. Josh Silverman has been named president of global products and publishing, tasked with overseeing the rollout of new titles and managing relationships with third‑party distributors. Jim Sterner will remain as chief people officer, ensuring continuity in talent management and culture integration, while Jose Turkienicz will continue as president of global operations, handling the day‑to‑day logistical challenges of a global gaming enterprise. Skydance CEO David Ellison, who announced the merger, warned that the integration would involve "difficult decisions" and inevitable impacts on personnel and processes.
"Bringing together two companies of this size and complexity will require difficult decisions. There will be changes, and there will be impacts. I'm not going to pretend otherwise," Ellison said. He reassured stakeholders that the company would strive to make these choices swiftly and thoughtfully, maintaining transparent communication throughout the transition.
"What I can promise you is that we will move through those decisions as quickly and thoughtfully as we can. We will communicate directly. We will tell you what we know when we know it," he added. Ellison emphasized that the primary goal of the merger remains unchanged: to build a next‑generation media and entertainment conglomerate capable of delivering compelling content across every platform.
By uniting Paramount’s storied film franchises with Warner Bros.’s comic‑book universe and Skydance’s interactive expertise, the new gaming division aims to create immersive experiences that resonate with both longtime fans and new audiences. In summary, the consolidation of Paramount Games Studio and Warner Bros. Games under Skydance represents a strategic push to harness the combined IP assets, development talent, and publishing capabilities of two industry giants.
Led by Tony Driscoll and supported by a refreshed executive team, the merged unit is positioned to explore innovative game design, expand into experiential entertainment, and deepen consumer connections through a unified brand strategy. The coming months will likely see the announcement of new titles, cross‑media collaborations, and perhaps the first wave of integrated experiences that blend cinematic storytelling with interactive gameplay, signaling a bold new chapter for the combined Skydance gaming portfolio.