"Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Now in Early Access on Steam"

When it comes to genre-defining works, few would argue that Game of Thrones has become the quintessential example of dark medieval fantasy for modern audiences. Since the conclusion of the HBO miniseries, the original setting of Westeros has remained largely dormant, with the exception of the spin-off series, House of the Dragon. However, fans of the franchise have something new to look forward to on the gaming front.

Netmarble's upcoming release, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, is set to enter early access on March 26th. There's a catch for mobile players, though—it will initially be available only on Steam. This decision marks an interesting shift for Netmarble, a company traditionally focused on mobile gaming. The move to Steam could be seen as a strategic play to leverage the massive appeal of Game of Thrones and potentially pave the way for a successful mobile launch in the future.

Netmarble's approach to launch Game of Thrones: Kingsroad on Steam first may serve as a stress test, given that PC players tend to scrutinize game performance more rigorously. This strategy, while understandable, might leave mobile enthusiasts feeling sidelined, reminiscent of similar tactics used by other companies with games like Once Human and Delta Force, where PC releases were prioritized over mobile.

This raises the question: Are we witnessing a broader shift towards PC-first strategies from companies traditionally focused on mobile gaming? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, if you're eager to pass the time while waiting for Game of Thrones: Kingsroad to make its way to mobile, why not explore some of the top five new mobile games we've highlighted this week?

Insert Jon Snow knowing nothing joke here