The recent announcement of a The Wheel of Time video game has certainly stirred the pot among fans, blending surprise with a dash of skepticism. According to Variety, a "AAA open-world role-playing game" based on Robert Jordan’s beloved 14-book epic is in the works for PC and consoles, with a projected three-year development timeline.
This project is being crafted by iwot Studios’ new game development arm in Montreal, spearheaded by Craig Alexander, a former Warner Bros. Games executive. Alexander's resume includes overseeing notable titles like The Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Asheron's Call. Typically, such credentials would ignite excitement, but the involvement of iwot Studios, previously known as Red Eagle Entertainment, which acquired The Wheel of Time rights back in 2004, has raised eyebrows. The skepticism is further fueled by the ambitious three-year development window and iwot Studios' rocky history with the The Wheel of Time fanbase.
A quick online search reveals a strained relationship between iwot Studios and the dedicated fans. Many express doubts, labeling iwot as an "IP camper" and accusing them of mismanaging the The Wheel of Time IP over the years. Failed projects and a decade-old Reddit thread amplify these concerns. The notion that a newly formed studio can deliver a triple-A RPG that lives up to the series' expectations in just three years has led to a widespread "we'll believe it when we see it" sentiment online.
On a brighter note, *The Wheel of Time* has enjoyed renewed popularity thanks to its Amazon Prime Video series, which concluded its third season to positive reviews. After initial hiccups with significant deviations from the books in Seasons 1 and 2, Season 3 managed to win back much of the core fanbase. This surge in interest has introduced the series to a new audience, setting a hopeful stage for the upcoming video game.Curious to delve deeper, I reached out to iwot Studios for more details. In a video call with Rick Selvage, the head of iwot Studios, and Craig Alexander, the studio head overseeing the game's development, I sought to understand the project's current status, its scope, what fans can anticipate, and how they address the online criticism.
