Paramount has announced the formation of Paramount Games Studios, a new development studio meant to unify their existing Paramount and Skydance studios, with Tony Driscoll as President.
The goal of the new studio is to transform world-class IPs into immersive and enduring franchise experiences. Tony Driscoll will also continue his role as EVP of Corporate Strategy and Development, and brings with him more than two decades of leadership experience across entertainment, media and emerging technologies. This includes his roles at Epic Games, Warner Bros., Disney and AT&T, which he says has shaped his perspective about what games can be at their best.
“There is no more powerful fan relationship than one where you put someone inside a world. Games are the ultimate expression of that," said Driscoll. "I spent the early part of my career at Walt Disney Imagineering, and one of the main lessons that stayed with me is that there is no more powerful fan relationship than one where you put someone inside a world. Games are the ultimate expression of that."
He continued:
“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. 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.”
The goal is not only to make great games, but to build franchise platforms and fan communities.
"When done well, the games we develop are foundations for fan communities to grow inside these worlds," Driscoll explains. "The core games come first; you have to earn community with something worth caring about. But the ceiling on what these franchises can become is a function of how deeply fans can participate."
That's a lesson Driscoll learned firsthand, while working at Epic Games. There, Driscoll built the IP Partner Program, which is the architecture behind how major brands show up inside Fortnite, and he's now bringing that same thinking to Paramount.
He went on to state that he’s particularly interested in the creator economy, where he sees an enormous and still underappreciated opportunity taking shape.
"The creator economy on platforms like Fortnite and Roblox is already one of the most interesting things happening in games, with billions of hours already being played in experiences built by independent creators," he says. "And related to that trend, AI tools are going to make it easier than ever for anyone with a creative idea to actually build it. Many of the traditional constraints around skills and capital are going to start to fall away for a whole tier of interactive entertainment. For a company that owns a substantial portfolio of beloved IP, that's an enormous opportunity."
“The ceiling on what these franchises can become is a function of how deeply fans can participate.”
Driscoll is joined by a seasoned executive bench with deep experience across AAA game development, global publishing and entertainment leadership, including:
Dan Prigg will serve as Executive Vice President, Head of Games. Prigg has extensive gaming industry experience leading interactive entertainment businesses, including senior roles at Scopely and Unity.
Shawn Kittelsen will serve as Senior Vice President, Head of Creative & Production. Kittelsen is an acclaimed creative and narrative leader across major franchises, including Mortal Kombat 11, Injustice 2, The Walking Dead, and Invincible at NetherRealm Studios and WB Games.
Andrea Silvers will serve as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications. Silvers is an industry veteran focused on building community-first marketing ecosystems with leadership roles at Electronic Arts, EA Sports, Xero, and DocSend.
Kara Bilkiss will serve as Senior Vice President, Business Development & Licensing. Bilkiss is a seasoned gaming executive with more than 20 years of experience across XR, PC, console, and mobile, including leadership roles at Microsoft Gaming - Activision Blizzard King, Sony Pictures, and The Walt Disney Company, driving growth, strategic partnerships, and multibillion-dollar gaming portfolios.
Ray Davis will serve as Senior Vice President of Engineering. Davis is a veteran engineering leader who has helped shape major gaming franchises and breakthrough technologies through senior roles at Epic Games, Microsoft and Drifter Entertainment, with key contributions to Gears of War, Unreal Engine 4, Xbox, Kinect and HoloLens.
“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.”
"Our development background means we understand what it actually takes to build something great," he says. "And having all of that alongside an incredible IP library under one roof makes us a better publishing partner, a more discerning licensor, and a more capable developer — all at once."
For more, you can check out the new trailer below.
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