Thanks to George R. R. Martin's imagination and HBO's critically acclaimed Game of Thrones show, Westeros has become one of the biggest names in fantasy. Viewers have grown to love the varied landscape of the continent and the residents that live within. The story of the seven kingdoms of Westeros and its houses vying for control of the Iron Throne has been thrilling audiences for years, and it will only grow in popularity as House of the Dragon begins its tenure. Westeros is showing no signs of stopping as even more Game of Thrones spin-offs are in various stages of production, which means the world will only get more expansive.
The lands of Westeros have had much success on TV screen and in novels, but the property has always struggled breaking into the video game market. There have been many attempts at capturing the look and feel of the series, but most titles have fallen short. Games have tried to bring the world into the strategy genre, episodic stories, and even a card-based game. However, developers have not attempted to bring the world of Game of Thrones to the MMO genre. The fantastical world that George R. R. Martin created seems like the perfect fit for a MMO like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy 14 Online.
Westeros is an Expansive Fantasy Landscape
The continent of Westeros was once composed of seven different independent kingdoms vying for a place in the war-torn world. Since the Targaryen conquest, these seven kingdoms were put under the leadership of the Iron Throne, and Westeros was split into nine different realms with their own leading house. The North was led by House Stark, the Vale of Arryn was led by House Arryn, the Riverlands were controlled by House Tully, the Iron Islands followed House Greyjoy, the Westerlands were controlled by House Lannister, the Crownlands served as the seat of power for Westeros, the Stormlands were ruled by House Baratheon, the Reach followed House Tyrell, and Dorne was under the command of House Martell.
These nine realms and their ruling houses form the backbone of Westereos and its political structure. While they are ruled by the Iron throne, these houses all fight for more control of the land. Murder, backstabbing, political espionage, and the greasing of palms are all very regular activities, and they are also not above war - as seen during the events of Game of Thrones. However, it all pales in comparison to the impending crisis that the White Walkers and their undead armies pose once winter rears its ugly head.
Westeros is not the only continent present in A Song of Ice and Fire, as just to the east sits Essos. This is where the nine Free Cities sit and Daenerys Targaryen spends much of Game of Thrones as she prepares to make the trek across the Narrow Sea to Westeros. These cities all compete for the resources of Essos and are major trading partners for the seven kingdoms of Westeros. Not much is known about the continent outside these cities and the Dothraki that roam the land, as much of it is still waiting to be mapped.
The MMO Potential for Game of Thrones is Huge
The continents of Westeros and Essos are filled with stories waiting to be told. Not only is there the thrilling story of Game of Thrones and its prequel House of the Dragon, but also thousands of years of story that has not been explored. One of the best ways to explore these lands and their characters may be in the form of an MMO like World of Warcraft. This would not only allow developers to constantly expand the world with more story, but also allow fans to actually be a part of said story and tell their own tale in one of the most popular fantasy IPs.
The Game of Thrones MMO could take many forms. It could let players create their own character and join either one of the major houses of Westeros, or choose one of the nine realms to start in. They could then explore Westeros and its characters in a familiar timeline like Game of Thrones, or in a brand-new timeline that viewers have not seen yet. They could adventure across these lands and participate in all sorts of political espionage as they carve out a place for themselves in this continent. Wars could be declared, faction lines could change, characters could die, and the lands of Westeros could forever be changed in an evolving online title.
Game of Thrones would not be the first major fantasy franchise to receive an MMO, and it has worked out pretty well for some. Lord of the Rings Online is a pretty popular MMO that lets players explore the lands of Middle-earth and experience some brand-new stories, and Star Wars: The Old Republic has had a lot of success telling stories in a time period that has not been seen in the films. Players want to tell their own stories in their favorite franchises, and these MMOs are some of the best ways to do so.
There has never been a better time for the gaming industry to try again with Game of Thrones as House of the Dragon brings Westeros back into the public eye. While it would take a lot of work and time to make a game that can compare to the hit show, an MMO may be the best way to explore Westeros. It would give players a way to live and breathe fantasy, and could further expand the franchise beyond HBO's programming.