Game of Thrones Project Set for 2026 Brings Back Jon Snow
A new Game of Thrones project is set to arrive later in 2026, and it’s bringing a familiar face with it: Jon Snow. Jon was a major presence in the original HBO series, yet he hasn’t shown up in the franchise’s prequel spin-offs so far. That absence makes sense on a timeline level—both House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are set many years before Snow is even born.
Key takeaways
- A new Game of Thrones release is planned for later in 2026 and will include Jon Snow as a central character.
- Speculation about a Jon Snow-focused HBO series has reportedly been shelved in favor of an Arya Stark sequel direction.
- Game of Thrones: War for Westeros is a PC real-time strategy game slated for a launch this year.
- The game’s trailer shows Jon Snow fighting the Night King, getting killed, then returning as a wight.
- Four playable factions are confirmed so far: House Stark, House Lannister, House Targaryen, and the White Walkers.
Jon Snow’s return (and what it means for the franchise)
There’s been plenty of chatter over the years about a Jon Snow spinoff at HBO, but those plans appear to have been dropped. Instead, HBO is reportedly looking at moving forward with an Arya Stark sequel series. It’s still possible that Kit Harrington could show up in that Arya project as Jon Snow, though no announcement has been made confirming any involvement.
In the meantime, there is at least one upcoming Game of Thrones game that’s already tipped to include Jon Snow for sure.
Game of Thrones Season 8 is often remembered for its missteps, and the article points to one possible problem that could already be showing up in House of the Dragon.
Game of Thrones: War for Westeros is bringing back Jon Snow
Game of Thrones: War for Westeros is a real-time strategy title that’s set to launch later this year on PC, and Jon Snow will be one of the game’s main playable figures. The cinematic reveal trailer frames Snow facing off against the Night King, only for Snow to be slain by him and then brought back as a wight.
For players who want to flip the script, the game will still let you take on the Night King from the other side—at least in terms of faction choice. Four factions have been confirmed so far.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Game of Thrones: War for Westeros playable factions include House Stark, House Lannister, House Targaryen, and the White Walkers. Each faction is led by a different character: Jon Snow leads House Stark, Jaime Lannister leads House Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen leads House Targaryen, and the Night King leads the White Walkers. The factions are also said to have distinct visuals and armies, which should help the game recreate the series’ large-scale battle feel.
- A dragon breathes fire onto a battlefield in Game of Thrones War For Westeros (Credits: PlaySide Studios/Warner Bros. Games)
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much concrete information released about Game of Thrones: War for Westeros since the initial reveal. The game was announced at last year’s Summer Game Fest, and updates have been scarce in the months since. Still, the most recent official messaging indicates that Game of Thrones: War for Westeros remains planned for a 2026 release—meaning fans can expect to play it later this year.
Even if the launch ends up slipping into 2027, the expectation is that fans should receive progress updates in the relatively near future.
Sign in to claim your place on the leaderboard!
As a franchise, Game of Thrones is in a noticeable comeback phase. The final seasons of the original series weren’t widely liked, and the first two seasons of House of the Dragon had their share of peaks and valleys. However, House of the Dragon Season 3 has been landing with near-universal acclaim so far. Meanwhile, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms aired on HBO earlier this year and has also received a strong amount of praise.
With Game of Thrones: War for Westeros releasing in 2026, it would be a “cherry on top” for an already standout period for the IP. Regardless of the exact date, the hope is that the game can help keep the franchise moving forward. A Game of Thrones RTS is also framed as an especially natural fit, making the final outcome something fans will be eager to see.
