Rumoured Game of Thrones MMORPG is 10 years too late
With news of a rumoured Game of Thrones MMORPG potentially being on the way, we feel like we're replicating that iconic "But Krusty, why now, why not 20 years ago?" meme. Fantasy games are big business right now, but alongside the Elden Rings, Baldur's Gates, and Dragon's Dogmas, can Game of Thrones make a dent?
While there's no escaping the popularity of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" books and HBO's live-action Game of Thrones series, it's fair to say we've passed the peak of Thrones. The main series ended in 2019, and even five years later, we're lamenting the dumpster fire that was Game of Thrones Season 8.
Nexon reportedly working on Game of Thrones MMORPG
Click to enlargeAccording to Redanian Intelligence, THE FINALS publisher Nexon is working on a Game of Thrones MMORPG. It's apparently going to be in the style of Diablo Immortal, with players being able to choose between playing as a male or female character. The idea is that you'll have a customisable character instead of someone from the books.
In terms of the setting, Nexon's rumoured MMORPG might use the Wall and Winterfell as key locales, with it being placed between Seasons 4 and 5 of the HBO series. There are mentions of other possible realms, and in terms of MMORPG potential, we'll be disappointed if we're confined to just one of the Seven Kingdoms.
It's important to note that Nexon hasn't confirmed the Game of Thrones game's existence yet, but with the developer having previously worked on MapleStory, this wouldn't be its first MMORPG. We'll admit that while we would've once jumped at this idea, the time for a Thrones MMORPG might've passed.
A decade too late
Click to enlargeWith Game of Thrones Season 4 debuting in 2014, we can't help but feel like this would've worked a decade ago. Even in the immediate aftermath of the abysmal Season 8, a Game of Thrones MMORG could've soared up the charts. Locking yourself into such a specific period of the show seems like a strange idea.
The Thronesverse is still expanding, with the likes of House of the Dragon, the Kit Harington-led Jon Snow sequel, and a series set during Aegon's Conquest. Any of these would've made more sense for a Thrones MMORPG, or perhaps, just tell a wholly original story in a brand-new period of the mythos.
Martin has already sketched out thousands of years of Thrones lore, and like we saw House of the Dragon soar by tackling a different period, it feels like this is a missed opportunity. It's also noted that stars like Harington and Maisie Williams aren't expected to reprise their roles - at least in the game's first form.
'When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die'
Click to enlargeThere's also the fact that Game of Thrones games have failed to capitalise on the potential of the IP. 2012's Game of Thrones was criticised for shoddy graphics, and while things have come a long way since, if a game released at the height of the show's popularity is a flop, does one released now stand a chance?
Then there was Telltale's Game of Thrones, which proved more successful with the developer's classic point-and-click formula but failed to get a second season. Since then, Game of Thrones is largely remembered for a string of lacklustre mobile titles and tower defence offerings.
Fantasy MMORPGs mean big business, and if Nexon follows in The Lord of the Rings Online's footsteps, we could be onto something special. We previously covered how Warner Bros. could be looking at reinvigorating the Thrones name under Gotham Knights' Warner Bros. Montreal, but so far, nothing has come from it.
Despite House of the Dragon's success and excitement surrounding upcoming projects, even Thrones diehards will admit our love for the original series is in the rearview mirror. It's not just Season 8 that's dragging the once-lauded Thrones name down, and with history teaching us that games set in this world tend to get a frosty reception, it'll take more than Dragon's fiery breath to heat up the hype on this one.
