I still remember the sting of early video game adaptations. From the Resident Evil movies in the early 2000s to the many misfires that followed, Hollywood seemed determined to either ignore what made games special or grab all the wrong pieces. Even when things improved—Uncharted was fine, Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequel were fun family rides—I never expected a game adaptation to feel like the game. Then PlayStation decided to go all-in, and by 2026, I’m watching the landscape change in real time. 🎮

For decades, PlayStation built first-party IPs that defined generations. Horizon, The Last of Us, God of War—these aren’t just games to me; they’re places I’ve lived in, characters I’ve grown with. So when Sony started shopping those stories to streaming services, I was skeptical but curious. The Last of Us was the first big test. After a movie adaptation spent years in development hell and got scrapped, HBO picked up the rights. Pre-production began in 2020, and on January 15, 2023, I finally sat down for the first episode. I expected another awkward live-action compromise. Instead, I got casting that felt eerily right, infected design that made my skin crawl, and an atmosphere that mirrored the game’s quiet dread. Based on those early trailers, I knew HBO was treating the source material with reverence.

By 2026, The Last of Us has already delivered its first season and moved deeper into its second, and I’m still impressed by how it expands the lore without betraying it. But it’s not the only PlayStation project I’ve been tracking. In February 2021, Peacock confirmed a Twisted Metal adaptation. Produced by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Will Arnett, and Michael Jonathan Smith, it follows Anthony Mackie’s John Doe as he crosses a wasteland to deliver a package, dodging raiders and marauders. Filming wrapped in late August 2022, and the show eventually hit screens. I went in expecting chaotic fun, and that’s exactly what I got—a loud, scrappy road trip that understands Twisted Metal’s absurd heart.

Netflix, meanwhile, has been experimenting with game partnerships for both animated and live-action adaptations. One of its upcoming projects is Horizon: Zero Dawn, helmed by Steve Blackman, the showrunner behind The Umbrella Academy. As of 2026, details are still scarce, but I’m fascinated by how they’ll handle Aloy’s post-apocalyptic world and its machine fauna. If they nail the visual scale, it could be stunning.

Then there’s God of War. PlayStation announced it was working with Amazon to produce a live-action adaptation for Prime Video. Amazon’s official description revealed it would largely follow God of War 2018, with Kratos and his son journeying to spread his wife’s ashes. That father-son axis is the emotional core, and I hope the series takes its time. Back in May 2022, a PlayStation earnings report also mentioned a Gran Turismo TV series in development, though an official announcement hasn’t happened yet. And a Ghost of Tsushima live-action adaptation is also in the works—not as a TV series, but as a single feature-length movie.

Here’s how I’d sum up the current slate:

I know adaptations can still fail. For every authentic triumph, there’s a project that misses the point. But PlayStation’s strategy feels different because it’s not just licensing logos—it’s treating its first-party franchises like prestige TV. The Last of Us proved that fidelity to character and atmosphere matters more than slavish scene-for-scene recreation. Twisted Metal proved that tone can carry a show. Horizon and God of War will test whether that approach scales to vastly different genres.

As a player, I’m no longer just hoping for a decent adaptation. I’m expecting a new golden age. If 2026 is any indication, PlayStation’s TV takeover is only getting started, and I’ll be watching every episode—controller in one hand, remote in the other. 📺