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The White Walkers’ army in the upcoming PC strategy game Game of Thrones: War for Westeros reportedly includes ice spiders—creatures Old Nan described in season one. Game director Ryan McMahon says they appear in the gameplay trailer as an actual unit, bringing one of the show’s most unsettling legends onto the battlefield.

What is the upcoming official Game of Thrones release?

Game of Thrones: War for Westeros is a real-time strategy game from PlaySide Studios, listed for PC on Steam. Its setting and factions draw on the world of the television series, but the ice-spider detail comes from a report about an interview and trailer—not an independent hands-on test of the game.

In the interview, McMahon connected the unit to Old Nan’s season-one stories: “That’s something which has only ever been spoken about in tales by Old Nan in season 1, and that’s an actual unit in the game.” The account is reported by Gamixo, which credits Polygon as its source.

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Why are ice spiders such a chilling reveal?

Old Nan’s stories made ice spiders part of the distant, frightening folklore surrounding the North and the White Walkers. Making them a playable army unit changes their role: rather than remaining only a tale, they are described as part of the White Walker faction’s forces. The available reporting does not establish their exact abilities, appearance in the finished game, or how they will affect a match.

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How is War for Westeros expected to play?

A campaign over territory and the Iron Throne

The reported campaign begins with a player controlling territory on a map of Westeros and seeking to expand through conquest. Alliances and betrayals can shape the struggle, and player decisions affect which faction and hero ultimately claim the Iron Throne.

Objective-based battles

The report also describes skirmishes built around objectives, with players gathering resources and producing armies. That suggests a strategy loop of building forces and competing for map control, though the cited material does not provide a full breakdown of faction mechanics, multiplayer modes, or unit statistics.

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When will War for Westeros launch?

PlaySide’s development update, published 17 July 2026, says the game is planned to launch in early 2027. Steam currently lists the release year as 2027 and marks the game as not yet available. Neither source gives a firm launch day or price, so the timing remains a plan rather than a confirmed date. Check PlaySide’s development update and the Steam listing for current status.

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What the announcement does—and does not—confirm

  • Reported: McMahon says ice spiders are an actual White Walker unit and appear in the gameplay trailer.
  • Reported: The campaign involves territory, conquest, alliances, betrayals, resource gathering, and army production.
  • Not established by these sources: A firm release date, price, detailed ice-spider abilities, final-game performance, or hands-on gameplay findings.

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