If you’ve ever wished the dragons in the Game of Thrones universe got more screen time, and I’m talking more than just a quick roast or a fiery exit, PlaySide Studios might be the studio for you. Their upcoming RTS, Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, has an exceptional team focused exclusively on dragons, answering some of the most burning questions about these legendary beasts, including whether they explode upon death.
Game director Ryan McMahon shared during Summer Game Fest that the dragons have been a significant focus. They’ve assembled an entire R&D team dedicated solely to dragons. It’s a bit wild, but it makes sense given how crucial these creatures are to the franchise’s identity. Fans obsess over details, and the team at PlaySide has found themselves deep in the same lore debates, especially since the books and show sometimes tell different tales.
One of the juiciest questions they’ve mulled over: what happens when a dragon dies? McMahon wasn’t ready to commit to a definitive answer yet, but this mystery will influence gameplay and the environment in War for Westeros. Michael McAlister, PlaySide’s global head of marketing and communications, dropped a tantalizing hint: dragons might behave like bombs when they fall. “The implication is that when a dragon crashes, it explodes like a nuclear bomb,” he said. Interesting, right? The team has been debating whether this explosion happens every time or only under certain conditions.
McMahon referenced House of the Dragon, where dragons often explode on death, connecting the dots between their fiery breath and why such an event might occur. But does that explosion trigger every time a dragon dies? Or is it a rarer spectacle? This question alone could shape battle strategies. For example, would it be tactical to purposely sacrifice your own dragon near enemy units to maximize destruction? Or do dragons flop and burn quietly? The answers will spice up how players approach their aerial power plays.
Of course, the original HBO series had some memorable dragon moments, but CGI budgets limited how much screen time those beasts could get. House of the Dragon has upped the ante on dragon action, but for now, War for Westeros sticks to the original Game of Thrones IP, meaning no direct crossover with the prequel’s characters or events—at least not yet. McMahon did leave the door slightly open for future possibilities, though.
