Game of Thrones Season 5 Available for Download on August 31st

In what looks to be yet another strike by HBO to try and combat Game of Thrones‘ hilariously over the top piracy numbers, the release of Season 5 in digital format will come far earlier than usual. According to Entertainment Weekly, for the first time, the digital and DVD/Blu-ray versions will be released independently of each other. The digital version is set to release in one month’s time, on August 31st, 2015. The DVD and Blu-ray versions will not be out until March 15th of next year.

In years past, Game of Thrones fans have had to wait for the digital versions to be released along with the Blu-ray and DVD versions months after the season had finished airing. The March date for the DVD and Blu-ray is a slightly longer wait than fans have had since Season 1, when the  DVDs weren’t released until March of 2012, barely a month before the Season 2 premiere. Since then, the release dates for every season have come post-holiday shopping, in February. Season 4, for instance, came out on DVD on February 17th of this year. So this year, if you must have the physical media, you’re going to have to wait a month longer than usual.

But if you just want the digital downloads, and don’t want a bunch of discs in a box to gather dust on yet another overcrowded shelf, you’re in luck. Digital HD Download will be available starting next month, through most on-demand services. Walmart.com was the first to strike with the promise of special offers if you purchase through VUDU (their digital on demand service,) including getting the first episode of the Season instantly when you pre-purchase the season, or pre-order the the season on DVD or Blu-ray through their regular website. It will be interesting to see if others feel the need to do something similar. Currently Amazon.com has the DVD and Blu-ray available to prepurchase, but there’s nothing to connects it to buying it digitally.

Speaking of special features, the extras for the digital download version of Game of Thrones Season 5 include:

• “An Introduction to Dorne”
• “Poisons of Westeros”
• “The Weapons of Dorne”
• The “A Day in the Life” making of Game of Thrones special

Next: HBO Says Game of Thrones to run AT LEAST Eight Seasons