Ok calling it now 8 seasons is a ruse.

[the tower of albion]

There just isn't enough story left for eight seasons so I think they're going to do what AMC did with the final season of Breaking Bad split it in two - add more episodes to the schedule for the seventh season then split it in two. Personally I think they should just finish it next year. HBO needs to move on. Maybe option the English Language rights to the Witcher or Move on the Roberts Rebellion or Dunk and Egg. I find the show has become tiresome, they should cook up whats left as a hearty stew rather than a thin tasteless broth.