Acclaimed writer Brandon Sanderson has revealed he’s in talks with major game studios about turning his widely beloved Mistborn book series into a video game. Sanderson confirmed the news in his yearly newsletter but stressed the project is still in early pitching stages.
No studio has been named. No deal has been signed. No release window exists. Sanderson is essentially shopping the concept around to see if AAA developers are interested.
Mistborn centers on Allomancy, a magic system where characters ingest and burn metals to gain powers. Allomancers push and pull on metal objects to fly across rooftops, fight in mid-air duels, and enhance their physical abilities. The system has built-in resource management since metals run out and need replenishing.
Fans have long argued the series reads like a game design document. The traversal mechanics resemble Insomniac’s Spider-Man‘s web-swinging or the movement in Dishonored. Combat blends verticality with environmental interaction. Powers have clear rules and limitations that translate naturally to game mechanics.
One of Sanderson’s trademarks is his worldbuilding and magic systems, which follow strict internal logic with defined costs, tradeoffs, and resource management. These defined rules precision makes his work ideal for adaptation, but Sanderson and many of his readers are also particular about how these systems are depicted.
A Mistborn adaptation has been on the table for years
This isn’t the first time a Mistborn game has been up for discussion. An earlier attempt over a decade ago never materialized into a released title. Sanderson has mentioned game adaptation conversations before without results, but shows that he’s open to the idea.
This pitching stage usually means months or years before actual development begins. Studios hear the concept, evaluate budget needs, assess market fit, and decide if they want to commit resources. Most pitches to studios don’t lead to greenlit projects, but with an established fanbase, Sanderson’s prominent name and support, and a world that lends itself to video game mechanics, Mistborn is a natural fit and could lead to production.
