IGN’s first hands-on preview of Game of Thrones: War for Westeros suggests the forthcoming real-time strategy game is a promising fit for the franchise, combining base-building warfare with recognisable houses, heroes and visual elements from the television series. Although the preview was limited, it indicates that developer PlaySide is aiming to make factions feel strategically and visually distinct rather than merely reskinning the same army.

The early alpha build offered only 1v1 skirmishes, online or offline, across two relatively small maps, with House Stark and House Lannister playable. Stark forces emphasise powerful cavalry and can recruit Night’s Watch units, Wildlings and northern beasts, while the Lannisters use gold-and-crimson troops and their own distinct forces; the game also features show-like character models for Jon Snow and Tywin Lannister. IGN praised the battles’ presentation, including fire and Wildfire effects, but reported that the camera was problematic in the preview build.