Following years of stalled development efforts, acclaimed fantasy author Brandon Sanderson is actively seeking partners to bring his epic *mistborn* series to the video game world.Sanderson announced in his annual update that he’s engaged in preliminary talks with multiple AAA game studios, a significant step after regaining full control of the property’s rights [[2]]. This push for a *Mistborn* game comes as Sanderson increasingly prioritizes creative control over adaptations of his work, a strategy gaining traction in the entertainment industry.
The author of Mistborn is potentially on the verge of realizing a long-held ambition.
Brandon Sanderson, the acclaimed fantasy author, revealed he is in talks with several AAA game development studios to create a video game based on his popular Mistborn series. The news, shared in his annual “State of the Sanderson” update, signals a potential breakthrough after previous attempts to adapt his work for both film and gaming stalled.
Sanderson previously granted film and game rights together in 2016 to DMG Entertainment, with plans to adapt Mistborn: The Final Empire and the broader Cosmere universe. However, the project ultimately failed to move forward. The author explained that he’s now able to pursue game development independently after regaining control of the rights.
“I’m starting to get really interested in video games, and I feel like I’m finally in a stable enough position to make a Mistborn game happen,” Sanderson wrote. “To that end, I’ve started talking to a few AAA developers. This is just the first step, but it’s encouraging. These rights were tied up with film rights for the last six or seven years, so I’ve only recently been able to shop them around. This time I’m trying to do things differently to retain control of the game rights. I’ve already piqued the interest of some – very good – large players in the gaming industry. So, if you’re a AAA studio or a large indie studio decision-maker and have always wanted to make a Mistborn or Stormlight game, you should reach out to my representatives.”
This development comes after a previous Mistborn game project, Mistborn: Birthright, developed by Little Orbit, was cancelled in 2012. Little Orbit later gained notoriety for the failure of Unsung Story. Sanderson himself is a passionate gamer, and in 2022 publicly joked about FromSoftware’s collaboration with George R.R. Martin on the mythology of Elden Ring. He has also directly contributed to game development, collaborating with Unknown Worlds on the turn-based strategy game Moonbreaker.
Sanderson expressed particular excitement about the potential for a AAA title set on Scadrial, the world of Mistborn. The series’ intricate magic systems – Allomancy and Feruchemy – and deeply developed mythology lend themselves well to the action-RPG genre, offering significant potential for immersive gameplay. The news highlights the growing trend of authors and intellectual property owners seeking greater creative control over adaptations of their work.
Source: WCCFTech, Brandon Sanderson
