game of thrones

HBO Is Giving Us ‘The Winds of Winter’ Before George R.R. Martin Could

2015 Writers Guild Awards L.A. Ceremony - Arrivals
George R.R. Martin. Photo: JB Lacroix/Getty Images

Have you been waiting patiently for The Winds of Winter, the sixth installment of George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series? Well, you’re finally getting it, sort of, in the form of the season-six finale of Game of Thrones, which HBO just confirmed will be titled “The Winds of Winter,†so technically, we were right: “The Winds of Winter†will come out in June 2016. Don’t you love it when your wishes are granted in an extremely literal and unsatisfying manner?

In other important episode-title news, this year’s ever-pivotal ninth installment will be titled “Battle of the Bastards,†which indicates that season six is building toward exactly what it’s seemed like it’s building toward. Unlike some episodes this year, it will be a full 60 minutes long; the finale will be the longest Thrones yet, at 69 minutes. Nice.

HBO Releases GOT Season 6 Finale Title, Runtime