Game of Thrones: Kingsroad launches free-to-play on PC and mobile May 21

After a month of early access, developer Netmarble has announced that Game of Thrones: Kingsroad will be free-to-play and available on PC and mobile devices come May 21.

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The open-world RPG is set during season 4 of HBO's hit TV series, featuring familiar characters such as Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister, and Ramsay Bolton. The game also features the TV actors' likeness, and fleshed-out versions of its iconic locations like Castle Black and Winterfell.

While Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is primarily a single-player experience, the game features online co-op features and monetization mechanics. Steam reviews currently sit at 'Mixed' over 1000 reviews, praising the game's writing, tone, and character customization, while lambasting the game's aggressive pay-to-win features.

Based on the user feedback, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad somewhat echoes the sentiment towards Marvel's Avengers (2020): a decent base game weighed down by the mobile-style monetization practices and mechanics. Early reviews trend towards praise for the game's graphics and story. However, the microtransactions appear to be inescapable, with 'RP Points' required for simple mechanics like looting bosses, gear upgrades, or story progression. The game has also been criticized for its half-baked co-op, which is limited to dungeons and appears more like an afterthought than a core feature.

Following the closure of major studios like Monolith Productions, WB Games has reiterated its commitment to free-to-play and live service games, particularly for its big IPs like Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and the DC Universe. On that basis, monetization practices don't come as a surprise but rather, as a glimpse of what's to come.