At first, it may seem like the most extravagant investment for a strategy game, but this is exactly why the new Game of Thrones game must be taken seriously. PlaySide has assembled a dedicated dragon research team for Game of Thrones: War for Westeros.

One of the most unexpected announcements at Summer Game Fest 2025 was a new Game of Thrones title. While Netmarble recently released Kingsroad, the first open-world RPG set in this fantasy world, strategy was one genre that hadn’t yet fully tapped into George R. R. Martin’s universe. PlaySide, developer of Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, is going all-in, determined to deliver what fans want—while also tackling wild questions like: Do dragons explode when they die?

Although the Targaryens are the only house capable of riding dragons, we don’t see them in the show until the end of Season 1, and they only truly come into action in Season 2. This aura of mystery and spectacle grew with every season, but neither plot twists nor the threat of the White Walkers could protect the dragons, so their deaths eventually became part of the norm.

Given how much mystery still surrounds these creatures, Australian studio PlaySide has made dragons a central focus. Ryan McMahon, the game’s director, told PC Gamer, “We have a small research and development team specifically for dragons—people and projects dedicated entirely to them.” This attention to detail means these winged beasts aren’t just powerful units, but will have depth and fit into the logic of Westeros.

One of the longest-running debates on the team is what actually happens when a dragon dies. Does it explode from the fiery energy inside? Does it simply crash and die? The series never really shows this; since the later seasons aren’t based on Martin’s work, the subject remains speculation. According to Michael McAlister, PlaySide’s global marketing head, one theory is that dragons “are like bombs,” and their deaths could have devastating consequences on the battlefield.

The best part: these uncertainties won’t remain just story elements—they’ll actually affect gameplay. A dragon’s death could set off an explosion, for example, which can be used strategically—“Should I sacrifice my own dragon on an enemy unit to catch them all in the blast?” McMahon wonders.

Game Of Thrones: War for Westeros

Despite the team’s obsession with dragons, McMahon made it clear that War for Westeros will focus exclusively on the main Game of Thrones storyline for now—not including other series or spinoffs, at least due to licensing. However, he didn’t rule out expansions bringing in additional characters or creatures in the future.

While the original HBO series limited dragon use because of CGI costs, the strategy game puts Targaryen dragons center stage, both narratively and mechanically. One thing’s for sure: their deaths will not be quiet or meaningless events this time around.

With its almost realistic approach to dragon behavior and impact on the battlefield, Game of Thrones: War for Westeros aims to be one of the year’s standout RTS titles—and perhaps the best Game of Thrones strategy game yet.

Source: 3djuegos