Brandon Sanderson, the prolific fantasy author behind the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive, just revealed he’s in talks with AAA game studios about finally turning his beloved Cosmere universe into a major video game. In his annual State of the Sanderson blog post for 2025, the author confirmed that real interest from the gaming industry has emerged, and for the first time in 6-7 years, he’s actually able to shop the rights around. But here’s the twist – after watching film rights tie up his video game options for years, Sanderson is determined to retain creative control this time.
What Sanderson Actually Said
In his year-end recap, Sanderson wrote: “I’ve started to get some real interest on the video game front, and I feel I’m finally getting established enough that we can make a Mistborn game happen.” He emphasized that discussions are at “Step One only,” meaning these are extremely early conversations where he’s essentially pitching the concept to see which studios bite.
The key detail that explains why this is happening now: “These rights were tied up with the film rights for the last six to seven years, so I didn’t get to test the market on them until recently.” Bundling film and game rights together is common in Hollywood deals, but it creates a nightmare scenario where neither gets made because the film side stalls out. Sanderson clearly learned from that experience.
The Creative Control Angle
What makes this different from typical author-to-game adaptations is Sanderson’s explicit focus on maintaining control. “I’m trying to do things differently this time in an effort to retain control of my video game rights,” he stated. This suggests previous discussions may have involved studios wanting to buy the IP outright or demanding creative freedom Sanderson wasn’t comfortable granting.
Sanderson added that he already has “interest from some major players in the video game industry (who I like a lot),” and threw out an open invitation: “So if you are a decision maker at a AAA studio, or a major independent, and you’ve always wanted to make a Mistborn or Stormlight game, you would want to contact my reps now.” That’s not how these deals usually work – authors don’t publicly solicit pitches. The fact that he’s doing it anyway suggests he’s testing leverage and creating competition between interested studios.
Why Mistborn Works for Games
If you’re not familiar with Mistborn, it’s a fantasy series set on the world of Scadrial where certain individuals can ingest and “burn” metals to gain superpowers. Allomancy, as the magic system is called, gives users abilities like enhanced strength, emotional manipulation, precognition, and most iconically, the ability to push and pull on metal objects to launch themselves through the air in physics-defying acrobatics.
Fans and developers have long recognized that Mistborn’s magic system reads like it was designed specifically for video game mechanics. Sanderson himself is an avid gamer – he plays Magic: The Gathering, discusses games frequently with fans, and has acknowledged that video game design principles influenced how he structures magic systems. Each power has specific costs, limitations, and synergies with other abilities. There are resource management considerations. The physics-based movement could translate directly into traversal mechanics that would make Spider-Man’s web-swinging look pedestrian.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Series | Mistborn (Era 1: Trilogy, Era 2: Western fantasy) |
| Magic System | Allomancy – burn metals for superpowers |
| Game Potential | Physics-based movement, resource management, power combos |
| Previous Game | Moonbreaker (strategy miniatures, different IP) |
| Tabletop RPG | Cosmere RPG by Brotherwise Games (2025) |
| Current Status | Early pitching stage, no deals signed |
The Combat Considerations
One concern fans have raised is whether a Mistborn game would use turn-based combat or real-time action. Characters like Kelsier and Vin are defined by constant motion, agility, and split-second decision-making during fights. A turn-based system where you wait for actions to resolve would feel fundamentally wrong for a series where combat happens at superhuman speeds with characters ricocheting off metal objects mid-battle.
That said, the Cosmere tabletop RPG that launched in 2025 successfully adapted these systems to turn-based play through clever mechanics. Brotherwise Games worked directly with Sanderson on that project, proving that thoughtful adaptation can make his magic systems work in formats that seem incompatible at first glance. A video game would need to find its own solution, likely leaning into action-RPG territory rather than traditional turn-based design.
The AAA Studio Question
Sanderson hasn’t named which studios he’s talking to, though he mentions engaging with “studio executives” rather than just lower-level producers like in past discussions. That suggests he’s getting meetings with decision-makers who can actually greenlight projects, not just exploratory conversations that go nowhere.
Several studios would make sense as potential partners. CD Projekt Red has experience with dense fantasy worlds and magic systems through The Witcher. Obsidian Entertainment specializes in RPGs with complex narrative branches, which would suit Sanderson’s storytelling. BioWare built their reputation on epic fantasy RPGs, though their recent struggles might make them less appealing. Arkane Studios crafted Dishonored’s physics-based supernatural abilities, which share DNA with Allomancy’s metal-pushing mechanics.
Of course, “AAA studio” could also mean publishers like Sony, Microsoft, or even Riot Games, which already worked with Sanderson on Moonbreaker. The key will be finding a partner that respects Sanderson’s creative vision while having the technical chops to execute on the gameplay mechanics his magic systems demand.
Previous Gaming Attempts
This isn’t Sanderson’s first rodeo with video games. In 2021, he teased working on “a video game for several years” with “a game company many of you will have heard of, but probably not the one you’re thinking about right now.” That project turned out to be Moonbreaker, a digital strategy game featuring physical miniatures, developed by Unknown Worlds (the Subnautica studio) and published by Krafton.
Moonbreaker launched in early access in 2022 but struggled to find an audience and was eventually discontinued. The project was an entirely new IP that Sanderson created specifically for the game rather than adapting his existing work. By all accounts, he maintained significant creative control over Moonbreaker’s universe, suggesting he values that involvement enough to make it non-negotiable for future projects.
The Stormlight Possibility
While most attention focuses on Mistborn, Sanderson’s open invitation mentioned both Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive. Stormlight is arguably his magnum opus – a sprawling epic fantasy series with intricate worldbuilding, complex magic systems, and massive scope. It would make an incredible RPG, though the sheer scale might make it more intimidating for studios to tackle as a first Cosmere game.
Mistborn is the smarter starting point. The original trilogy is complete, the world is more contained, and the magic system is easier to communicate in trailers and marketing. If a Mistborn game succeeds, it opens the door for Stormlight adaptations down the line. Sanderson knows this – hence why Mistborn takes priority in discussions.
The Magic: The Gathering Connection
Speaking of Sanderson’s gaming connections, he recently visited Wizards of the Coast headquarters, sparking speculation that his Cosmere universe might get a Magic: The Gathering crossover set through the Universes Beyond line. Fans are literally offering to sell kidneys if a Cosmere MTG set happens, and given that MTG has done sets for Lord of the Rings, Marvel, Star Trek, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a swords-and-sorcery fantasy universe from a MTG-loving author feels like a perfect fit.
While unrelated to the AAA game talks, a MTG collaboration would raise Cosmere’s profile among gamers and demonstrate market viability for video game adaptations. Cross-media synergy like that can only help Sanderson’s pitch to studios.
FAQs
Is Brandon Sanderson making a Mistborn video game?
Sanderson is in early talks with AAA studios about a potential Mistborn game, but no deals are signed yet. He’s at the pitching stage where studios are evaluating whether they want to commit resources.
Which studio is developing the Mistborn game?
No studio has been announced. Sanderson is currently in discussions with multiple AAA developers and major independent studios but hasn’t named any specific partners.
Why hasn’t there been a Mistborn game before now?
The video game rights were bundled with film rights for 6-7 years, preventing Sanderson from shopping them to game developers. Now that those rights are separated, he can actively pursue game adaptations.
Will Brandon Sanderson have creative control?
Yes, Sanderson has explicitly stated he’s “trying to do things differently this time in an effort to retain control of my video game rights,” suggesting creative oversight is a requirement for any deal.
What other Sanderson games exist?
Moonbreaker, a digital strategy game with miniatures created specifically for that project, launched in 2022 but was discontinued. The Cosmere RPG, a tabletop game developed with Brotherwise Games, launched in 2025.
Could The Stormlight Archive also become a game?
Yes, Sanderson’s open invitation to studios mentioned both Mistborn and Stormlight. However, Mistborn’s more contained scope makes it the likely starting point for video game adaptations.
What kind of game would Mistborn be?
Based on the magic system’s physics-based movement and action-oriented combat, fans expect an action-RPG rather than turn-based gameplay. The Allomancy mechanics would translate well to traversal and combat systems.
When might a Mistborn game release?
There’s no timeline. These are early pitching discussions, and even if a studio signs on immediately, AAA game development typically takes 3-5 years minimum. Don’t expect anything before 2029-2030 at the earliest.
Conclusion
Brandon Sanderson’s announcement that he’s actively pitching Mistborn to AAA studios represents the best shot fans have ever had at getting a major Cosmere video game. The timing is right – the IP rights are finally untangled from film complications, Sanderson has enough clout to demand creative control, and the gaming industry has shown it can successfully adapt complex fantasy properties when given proper resources and respect for source material. Whether this results in an actual game depends on finding the right studio partner who shares Sanderson’s vision and can execute on the technical challenges his magic systems present. But for the first time, it feels genuinely possible that we’ll see Kelsier and Vin launching through Luthadel’s mist-shrouded streets in a AAA game. Fingers crossed one of those studio executives reading Sanderson’s blog post picks up the phone.