'Game of Thrones: War for Westeros' revealed at Summer Game Fest 2025
Developed and published by PlaySide Studios, War for Westeros was introduced with a chilling cinematic trailer that instantly set the tone. Fans were treated to a dramatic showdown between Jon Snow and the Night King, culminating in the undead commander not only defeating Jon, but resurrecting him as a wight. It's a grim twist that echoes the show's most memorable betrayals—and one that promises moral ambiguity and high stakes throughout the game.
But there's a catch—or two. War for Westeros is not the open-world action-RPG many fans had long hoped for. Instead, it embraces the real-time strategy (RTS) format, which, while niche, aligns surprisingly well with the political machinations and large-scale warfare that defined the original series.
For fans of strategy games, this could be a dream come true. For others, especially those more accustomed to narrative-driven RPGs or console-based experiences, it might feel like a missed opportunity. That sense is compounded by the fact that War for Westeros is currently only confirmed for PC, leaving console players out in the cold—at least for now.
At launch, players will have the option to lead one of several major factions, including House Stark, House Lannister, House Targaryen, and the Night King's undead army. The goal? Conquer the Seven Kingdoms through tactical mastery, cunning alliances, and brute force.
Both single-player and free-for-all PvP multiplayer modes are planned. In solo campaigns, iconic characters from the series will make appearances, helping anchor the RTS mechanics in familiar emotional beats. Multiplayer, on the other hand, promises chaotic power struggles between rival players, each commanding massive armies and vying for dominion over Westeros.
Expect robust unit variety—infantry, cavalry, siege engines, dragons, and even giants will all have their place on the battlefield. Strategic depth will come from how players deploy these forces, form alliances, and choose their battlegrounds, from The Wall to King's Landing and beyond.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
15 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
US astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of Nasa's Apollo 13, dies at 97
US astronaut Jim Lovell, the commander of the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon which nearly ended in disaster in 1970 after a mid-flight explosion, has died at the age of 97, Nasa announced Friday (August 8). The former Navy pilot, who was portrayed by actor Tom Hanks in the 1995 movie "Apollo 13," died in a Chicago suburb on Thursday, the US space agency said in a statement. "NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades," Nasa said in a statement, adding that the astronaut died on Thursday (August 7) in a Chicago suburb. The astronaut's "life and work inspired millions of people across the decades," Nasa said, praising his "character and steadfast courage." Lovell travelled to the Moon twice but never walked on the lunar surface. Yet he is considered one of the greats of the US space program after rescuing a mission that teetered on the brink of disaster as the world watched in suspense far below. "There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own," Hanks said in an Instagram post. "Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy." 'Houston, we've had a problem' Launched on April 11, 1970 — nine months after Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon — Apollo 13 was intended to be humanity's third lunar landing. The plan was that Lovell would walk on the Moon. The mission, which was also crewed by astronauts Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, was already considered fairly routine. Then an oxygen tank exploded on the way there. The disaster prompted Swigert to famously tell mission control: "Houston, we've had a problem." Lovell then repeated the phrase, which is slightly different to the one used in the Ron Howard movie, according to Nasa. The three astronauts and crew on the ground scrambled to find a solution. The United States followed the chaotic odyssey from the ground, fearing that the country could lose its first astronauts in space. Around 200,000 miles from Earth, the crew was forced to shelter in their Lunar Module, slingshot around the Moon and rapidly return to Earth. The composed leadership of Lovell — who was nicknamed "Smilin' Jim" — and the ingenuity of the Nasa team on the ground managed to get the crew safely back home. Lovell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but never returned to space. 'Our Hero' Born on March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovell worked as a Navy pilot before joining Nasa. He was one of three astronauts who became the first people to orbit the Moon during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. The mission also took the famous image "Earthrise," in which the blue planet peeks out from beyond the Moon. Lovell's family said they were "enormously proud of his amazing life and career," according to a statement released by Nasa. "But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero," the statement added. "We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humour, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible."
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
From Virgil Abloh to Salehe Bembury, here are the top sneaker designers of 2025
Sneakers are no longer just shoes — they are statements, symbols, and in many cases, spiritual artefacts. Once confined to the sports court or gym floor, they've now stomped onto the runways of Paris, the red carpets of Hollywood, and the moodboards of every luxury house worth its salt. But behind the sneaker's meteoric rise from performance gear to cultural totem lies a special breed of creatives — the designers who redefined the rules, reshaped the silhouettes, and turned functional footwear into collectible art. This isn't about brands. This is about the people behind the brands. These are the greatest sneaker designers of our generation — a league of men who didn't just ride the wave of sneaker culture, they made it. No name looms larger in this pantheon than Virgil Abloh. The late Off-White founder, architect by training and disruptor by instinct, turned sneaker design into a visual language of quotation marks, Helvetica text, and surgical deconstruction. His 2017 collaboration with Nike, known simply as 'The Ten', took 10 of the brand's most iconic silhouettes — the Air Jordan 1, the Air Presto, and the Air Max 90, among others — and reimagined them with exposed foam, zip ties, and handwritten labels. Virgil didn't just design sneakers; he decoded them, dismantled them, then rebuilt them as cultural commentary. For an entire generation, slipping on a pair of Off-White Nikes felt like wearing a thesis on style, identity, and postmodern irony. His legacy still echoes on every drop day. And then there's Kanye West, arguably the most polarising and powerful sneaker designer of all time. Long before Yeezy became a billion-dollar empire, Kanye had already flirted with footwear greatness via collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Nike. The Air Yeezy 2 'Red October' remains one of the most elusive and coveted sneakers ever released. But it was with adidas that Kanye truly broke the mold. The Yeezy Boost 350 V2, with its streamlined knit upper and futuristic sole, became a global uniform, seen on everyone from tech founders to TikTokers. He dared to make weird beautiful with silhouettes like the Yeezy Foam Runner and the Yeezy 450, showing that mass appeal could still be aggressively avant-garde. Whether you love him or loathe him, Kanye proved that a sneaker could be a megaphone — loud, unfiltered, and undeniably influential. Pharrell Williams took a different route — one of joy, colour, and inclusivity. With his adidas Human Race line, Pharrell brought spiritual motifs, multilingual embroidery, and a global message to sneaker culture. The NMDs, with slogans like 'Hu' and 'Equality', didn't just look good, they felt purposeful. His palette was endless, his energy infectious, and his ability to merge pop, fashion, and philosophy made him one of the most quietly revolutionary forces in the game. If Kanye brought chaos, Pharrell brought calm. His sneakers weren't made to dominate — they were made to connect. While these musicians-turned-designers brought stardust to the scene, it took someone like Kim Jones to bring structure — the kind only a true fashion insider could provide. The Dior x Air Jordan 1 was a watershed moment: it was the first time a streetwear icon met the ateliers of Parisian luxury. With Italian leather, soft grey tones, and a monogrammed swoosh, the Dior Jordan wasn't just a flex — it was a fashion event. Limited to just 8,500 pairs, it sold out instantly and continues to fetch eye-watering prices in the resale market. But Kim's influence goes beyond that one collab. Whether at Louis Vuitton, Dior, or now Fendi, he's consistently bridged the gap between street culture and couture with sneakers that don't scream — they whisper, expensively. Then there's Joe Freshgoods, the Chicago native whose work with New Balance and Converse introduced an entirely different cadence. Rooted in storytelling, Joe's designs are deeply personal — tapping into themes like Black identity, local pride, and emotional resilience. His New Balance 992 'No Emotions Are Emotions' wasn't just a sneaker, it was a statement on vulnerability in hypermasculine spaces. The packaging, the colourways, the messaging — all carefully orchestrated. With each release, Joe isn't just building hype — he's building a cultural record. He's the kind of designer who makes you read the shoe before you wear it. Sean Wotherspoon burst onto the scene with a bang — and corduroy. His winning entry for Nike's Vote Forward campaign, the Air Max 1/97, was an instant classic: a mash-up of vintage colours, recycled materials, and retro references. It looked like nothing else on the market. Since then, he's expanded his sustainable approach across adidas, Asics, and his own label, proving that eco-conscious design doesn't have to be boring. If sneakers had a climate conscience, Sean would be its patron saint. His playful sensibility, paired with his circular approach to production, has inspired a new wave of creators who see style and sustainability not as opposites, but as partners. Enter Salehe Bembury — a man who brought textures, topography, and tactility into the conversation. With stints at Yeezy and Versace, Salehe's design language is both organic and futuristic. His work with New Balance, especially the 2002R 'Peace Be the Journey', felt like wearable earth art. But it was his reinvention of Crocs — yes, Crocs — that shook the industry. The Pollex Clog, with its biomorphic fingerprint ridges and alien silhouette, became an unexpected grail. It was bold, sculptural, and surprisingly functional. In Salehe's hands, even the most maligned footwear can become a masterpiece. And finally, Sasha Saifin — or as he's known in design circles, Safa Sahin — the wildcard, the emerging force, the one who might just shape what's next. While still building his global recognition, Sasha's boldest work came during his stint as head of Sneaker Design at Balmain, where he unleashed the now-iconic Unicorn sneaker. With its sculptural sole, futuristic form, and aerodynamic curves, the Unicorn wasn't just a shoe — it was a statement. Part fashion, part mech, part fever dream, it looked like it had sprinted straight out of a dystopian Paris runway. Its design echoed Balmain's maximalist aesthetic but pushed it further into the realms of cyberpunk and wearable architecture. Sasha brought a cinematic edge to the luxury sneaker, blending tech-inspired design with couture-level construction. Though his time with Balmain has since concluded, the Unicorn endures not just as a high fashion oddity but also as a blueprint for what's possible when sneaker design breaks free of gravity. Sasha doesn't just remix what's trending — he dares to prototype the future. And that future? It's coming fast. Sneakers are already tapping into artificial intelligence-generated design, 3D printing, and even biofabricated materials. NFT-linked drops, augmented reality fitting, and smart sneakers that adapt to your gait or temperature aren't distant dreams — they're being prototyped right now. The line between fashion, technology, and personal expression is blurring faster than ever. And the next great designer might not come from a studio in Milan or Brooklyn, he or she might be coding from a dorm room or printing prototypes in their bedroom. What's clear is this: the sneaker isn't slowing down. It's becoming smarter and more symbolic. And behind each leap forward will be designers who refuse to colour inside the lines. The architects of sole — crafting not just shoes, but entire movements.
UAE Moments
a day ago
- UAE Moments
Boxing Legend Manny Pacquiao Hints Another Boxing Comeback This December
Manny Pacquiao isn't done yet. Fresh from his comeback fight against Mario 'El Azteca' Barrios in Las Vegas last month — which ended in a nail-biting majority draw — the 46-year-old says he's likely fighting again in December. The announcement came during a chat with veteran sports journalist Dyan Castillejo after his quick Italy getaway. 'HISTORY DIN 'YUN' Pacquiao is extremely proud to have made history after being back in MGM 🏟️ and of course it was made extra special with having his entire family there with him cheering their hearts out❤️ — Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) August 7, 2025 Comeback Fight Showed He's Still Got It On July 19, Pacquiao went 12 intense rounds for the WBC welterweight title at the MGM Grand. Judges couldn't agree, leaving the bout a draw and fans buzzing. Despite the split decision, Pacquiao's speed, footwork, and relentless pressure proved that age hasn't slowed him down much. Thank you Lord for keeping us safe in the ring. I want to thank my wife, my kids, my family, my team and everyone who supported me throughout this fight. To Mario Barrios, you are a true warrior. It was an honor to share the ring with you. Even after all these years, I felt… — Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) July 21, 2025 'Old Man' Still Packs a Punch Before the fight, 30-year-old Barrios playfully called him 'that old man.' After the match, that nickname didn't seem to stick — Pacquiao's conditioning and grit impressed even skeptics. In his post-fight interview, he looked sharp, lean, and ready for more. No Opponent Yet, But Buzz Is Building Pacquiao hasn't named who he'll face or where the fight will happen, but the December tease has fans and promoters talking. Whether it's his last dance or another chapter, one thing's clear — Manny's still a contender.
