It's fair to say that the recent announcement of a The Wheel of Time video game being in development has taken fans by surprise and sparked a wave of skepticism across the internet.
The announcement, initially reported by the Hollywood trade publication Variety, outlined plans for a "AAA open-world role-playing game" set to be released on PC and consoles, drawing inspiration from Robert Jordan's beloved 14-book series, The Wheel of Time. A three-year development timeline was also hinted at.
This ambitious project is being spearheaded by iwot Studios' newly established game development studio in Montreal, under the leadership of former Warner Bros. Games executive, Craig Alexander. Alexander has a robust track record, having previously overseen the development of several successful franchises at Turbine (now WB Games Boston), including The Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Asheron's Call. Normally, this would be a cause for celebration among fans. However, the involvement of iwot Studios, which acquired the rights to The Wheel of Time (originally as Red Eagle Entertainment) back in 2004, along with the mention of a seemingly ambitious three-year development cycle, has raised eyebrows.
A quick online search reveals a strained relationship between iwot Studios and the core The Wheel of Time fanbase. Numerous posts from skeptical fans label iwot as an "IP camper," suggesting that the company has been holding onto the rights without effectively leveraging them. Others accuse iwot of "squandering" the The Wheel of Time IP, citing multiple projects that have fizzled out over the years. A particularly critical 10-year-old Reddit post has become a focal point for these grievances.
This backdrop, combined with doubts about a newly formed studio's ability to deliver a AAA RPG that meets the high expectations of The Wheel of Time fans, has fostered a "we'll believe it when we see it" sentiment online.
However, *The Wheel of Time* has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to its successful Amazon Prime Video series, which concluded its third season to critical acclaim (with a fourth season yet to be confirmed). The show has not only brought the series to a new audience but has also managed to win back core fans after initial concerns over significant deviations from the books in Seasons 1 and 2. Season 3 was seen as a significant improvement, helping to restore faith in the adaptation.With all this context in mind, I sought out more information directly from iwot Studios. In a video call, I spoke with Rick Selvage, the head of iwot Studios, and Craig Alexander, who leads the video game division, to gain insight into the project's status, its scope, and what fans can anticipate. We also discussed the online criticism to gather their perspective and response.
