Game of Thrones is one of the most successful television series of all time, and it changed the game when it comes to modern viewing. Now, streaming services are splashing millions on new fantasy series. Hoping to replicate the cultural impact that the George R.R Martin adaptation had.
House of the Dragon is HBO’s attempt to keep Martin’s universe alive, and it has been met with critical acclaim so far. However, it is nowhere near as notorious as its predecessor yet, and arguably needs to do more to boost its viewing figures.
Branching Out into Related Games
One of the best ways for a franchise to reach a wide audience in the modern age is to branch out into a range of different media. This allows it to get in front of a diverse audience and make more people aware of the series.
There are various ways to do this, with related mobile apps representing a tried and tested approach. HBO could release an official mobile app that gives people the chance to get to know the various characters from the series in more detail. This would be helpful, as there are loads of different Westerosi players to keep track of and it can get confusing at times.
The online casino industry is another great place to market franchises in the modern age. Slot games come in a variety of genres, designed to appeal to as many players as possible. For instance, there are animal-themed games like Fluffy Favourites, which aim to give players a cuteness overload. Then, there are fantasy epics like Age of the Gods, which are designed to thrill. A House of the Dragon slot game could easily fit in and allure players in the online casino sector.
Less Waiting Time Between Seasons
There was only one year’s wait between the early seasons of Game of Thrones, and this helped towards its early success. The same can’t be said for House of the Dragon, which had a two-year gap between season one and season two.
This is a long time to wait, and the HBO offering was unable to capitalise on its early hype. By the time the second season was released, it felt like the series had lost momentum and was starting from stage one again. HBO should work on bringing out new episodes as soon as possible, or the series will never take off in the same way that Game of Thrones did.
Explore Secondary Characters in Spinoffs
It could make sense for HBO to explore some spinoffs of House of the Dragon while the series is still airing. For people who haven’t read Martin’s Fire and Blood, it can be hard to keep track of all the characters. There could be supplementary series that explore some of these people in more detail, thus giving viewers more sense of their motivations and the world they inhabit.
House of the Dragon is excellent, and certainly has the potential to be as big as Game of Thrones. However, it’s clear that HBO needs to do more to turn it into as great a success as its predecessor.
