Developer Note | Season 1: The Drowned God Wakes

Hello, this is JANG, the Executive Producer of Game of Thrones: Kingsroad.

As we prepare for our next big step, we want to take a moment to recognize everyone who’s been with us along the journey. Since the earliest days of Early Access, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad has grown with the support of a passionate and dedicated community. More than a month after the official launch, the continued interest and thoughtful feedback remain a great source of encouragement for the team.

With Season 1 just around the corner, the team has been feeling a mix of excitement and pressure. We’re eager to finally share the content that’s been prepared, while also working hard to improve the overall quality and incorporate community feedback wherever possible. It’s been a busy and intense time for the entire team.

Following up on our previous developer note, where we introduced the core concept behind the upcoming season, today’s note will dive deeper by covering improvements made based on community input, an overview of how the season system works, and the current state of preparations.

There’s a lot to look forward to as new adventures unfold with the season update.

Let’s get started.

⚔️ UPDATE

1. Season Content

Season 1: The Drowned God Wakes is on the horizon.

This season introduces the Kraken, faithfully adapted from A Song of Ice and Fire lore as a massive, squid-like creature said to dwell in the far northern reaches of the Sunset Sea. It also serves as the sigil of House Greyjoy.

Clearing seasonal content will advance Season Pass missions. As the pass level increases, players will unlock exclusive seasonal progression elements along the way.

This unique progression system, which is only active during the season, encourages new builds and strategies each time. By stepping outside the boundaries of standard content loops, the season system offers a distinct and fresh path for standalone progression with every update.

2. Seasonal Wormwalks & Beyond the Wall Expeditions

In line with the new season structure, both Wormwalks and Beyond the Wall Expeditions will be reworked to integrate seasonal progression.

The existing “Wormwalk Challenges” will remain unchanged, while a brand-new, season-exclusive Seasonal Wormwalks mode will be introduced.

Both Seasonal Wormwalks and Seasonal Beyond the Wall Expeditions will feature season-exclusive progression elements, offering fresh growth mechanics and new gameplay experiences.

3. New Artifacts

Three new Artifacts will be added, including the legendary-grade Artifact The Broken Sword.

4. Seasonal Quests

New quests will be added, set against the backdrop of the Iron Islands invasion and religious revelation, which serve as the central themes of the season. Additional quests tied to the lore of the new legendary Artifact The Broken Sword will also be introduced.

5. Crow’s Nest Region Expansion

Following the official release, the first regional expansion will unfold in the heart of the Stormlands: Crow’s Nest.

This expansion weaves a complex and layered narrative of infiltration, psychological warfare, and political conflict, delivering the dark, grounded storytelling that defines Game of Thrones.

Griffin’s Roost has fallen into turmoil after Ronnet Connington pledged loyalty to Baratheon in King’s Landing, and the natural fortress has now been seized by traitorous mercenaries colluding with one of the Great Houses. Now, this battleground lies at the heart of the upcoming regional expansion.

However, the truth surrounding Griffin’s Roost goes far beyond mere warfare.

Within its shadow, those who conceal ambition in silence, those who cling to the past, and those who have compromised for survival become the key figures surrounding Griffin’s Roost, each carrying their own beliefs and desires as they stand before the player’s choices.

The Crow’s Nest storyline marks the beginning of a campaign to suppress a rebellion, under direct orders from the King.

Stannis Baratheon dispatches the player to the battlefield to reclaim Griffin’s Roost, the stronghold of the traitorous Lord Ronnet Connington, who colluded with the remnants of House Lannister.

Though presented as a northern plea for aid, his true ambition is clear: to bring order to the Stormlands and restore stability to the realm.

Now is the time to enter a tale of betrayal, political intrigue, and pivotal choices that will define the truth.

6. Kraken Raid

We previously introduced the Kraken Raid: Kraken in an earlier developer note. For this update, we’re excited to give a first glimpse of the Kraken in action with exclusive gameplay footage.

▶️ Watch Kraken Raid Gameplay

Join forces with your party and face off against the massive Kraken, a formidable foe that will test your teamwork and strategy. Prepare for an epic battle unlike any other.

7. Amulet System

With the upcoming addition of the Kraken Raid, a new progression feature called the Amulet System will be introduced. Players will craft and upgrade Amulets using materials earned as rewards from the Kraken Raid. 

This update will include three Amulet types across different rarities, and a new Amulet slot will be added to the equipment interface, allowing players to equip one Amulet at a time.

8. World Boss

We’re well aware that the current difficulty of World Boss Drogon is low, making it challenging for everyone to participate. With the upcoming Season 1 update, a new difficulty for the World Boss Drogon will be introduced in Crow’s Nest, our new region.

⚜️ IMPROVEMENTS AND UPCOMING CONTENT

1. RP-Based Content Adjustments

Since launch, many players have expressed concerns about the limitations caused by RP. To help alleviate this, both Altar of Memories and Beyond the Wall Expeditions will be updated to no longer require RP to claim rewards.

Instead, each activity will use its own independent reward count, and players will be able to claim rewards as long as they have remaining reward counts.

The upcoming Kraken Raid will follow the same structure, offering rewards based on a separate count without consuming RP.

2. Momentum Penalty Removal

The momentum penalty that was applied in battles based on momentum differences will be removed in the upcoming update.

This change is designed to give players greater flexibility when engaging enemies, even with lower momentum. With precise control and strategy, these encounters will become more approachable.

If there are any enemies you’ve been hesitant to challenge, this update will offer the perfect chance to face them head-on.

3. Mobile UI & Controller Support

There’s been a great deal of feedback regarding the mobile experience, particularly around the UI and controller support for players on mobile devices. Our team is currently conducting a comprehensive review of these areas, and long-term improvements are in the works. Specifically, we’re working on improving gamepad and controller functionality on mobile, and we’re also preparing for Steam Deck support among other various enhancements.

4. Equipment

We understand that the limited availability of Hardener items has made it challenging to customize equipment and jewelry effects to suit different playstyles. We are actively exploring long-term solutions to make these materials more accessible in the future. Additionally, we’re working to ease overall progression through improved content rewards and adjustments to the season pass, allowing for a wider range of flexible builds.

5. Other Improvements

⮞ Set Collection Tracking in Equipment Crafting

Players currently need to switch between the Equipment Crafting and Collection menus to track their set collection progress. In the upcoming update, this information will be displayed directly within the Equipment Crafting UI.

⮞ Improved Mount Behavior for Fast Travel

To reduce friction during fast travel, players will automatically be mounted upon fast traveling, eliminating the need to manually mount again after moving to another destination.

⮞ New Helmet-Inclusive Outfit Option

New outfits featuring helmets are planned for the update. When equipped, players will have the option to toggle the helmet’s visibility on or off.

⮞ Tutorial Skip for Alternate Characters

To streamline progression for alternate characters, a tutorial skip option will be added, allowing players to bypass unnecessary steps when leveling new characters on the same account.

That concludes today’s developer note.

We want to thank the community for all the valuable feedback and insights shared so far. The team carefully reviews all of it to ensure that player voices are heard and reflected in the ongoing development of the game.

Season 1 has been designed to offer a fresh and engaging experience, delivering new challenges and opportunities for players to explore. We’re excited to see how the community embraces this next chapter.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to transparency and collaboration, and we’ll continue sharing updates on upcoming features, improvements, and plans in future developer notes.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.

Sincerely,

JANG

Executive Producer, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad