The War for Westeros Developers Are Planning for a Flood of Game of Thrones Fans Who Have Never Played an RTS

The War for Westeros is a real-time strategy game designed by PlaySide, a studio that anticipates a flood of Game of Thrones fans, both seasoned RTS players and newcomers, when the game launches. The popularity of the Game of Thrones franchise and its spinoffs, such as House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will undoubtedly draw players from two distinct groups: those who are already experienced in RTS games and those who have never played an RTS before.

To cater to both groups, PlaySide has focused on making War for Westeros approachable. Game director Ryan McMahon emphasized that the game's design is centered around accessibility, ensuring that newcomers can easily learn the game's systems. The studio has implemented a robust tutorial system and a "set and forget" worker unit mechanic, which allows players to build buildings and let them take care of resource farming without constant attention.

The AI is also tailored to provide players with breathing room to learn the game's mechanics through single-player mode before dipping their toes into multiplayer. PlaySide runs weekly playtests and internal tournaments to gather data on player behavior, faction balance, and hero effectiveness. While Jon Snow and other popular characters from Game of Thrones are included, McMahon revealed that Tywin Lannister and Robb Stark have become the most popular heroes during playtests.

This shift in popularity indicates that players are focusing more on the units' strengths rather than the heroes themselves, which is a positive development for the game's balance and appeal.