"Wheel of Time RPG Confirmed, No Release Date Yet -，可能 for PS6 and Next Xbox"

It’s fair to say the recent announcement of a The Wheel of Time video game being in the works caught fans by surprise — and sparked a healthy dose of skepticism online.

The announcement, first reported by Hollywood trade publication Variety, described an upcoming "AAA open-world role-playing game" for PC and consoles based on Robert Jordan's beloved 14-book series, The Wheel of Time. A three-year development period was also mentioned.

It's being developed at iwot Studios' new Montreal-based game developer, led by former Warner Bros. Games executive Craig Alexander. Alexander previously oversaw development for all Turbine (now WB Games Boston) franchises, including The Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Asheron's Call. Normally, this would spark significant excitement from fans. However, it's the name iwot Studios, which acquired the rights to The Wheel of Time (as Red Eagle Entertainment) in 2004, and the mention of a seemingly ambitious three-year development process that have raised eyebrows.

A quick online search of iwot Studios reveals a fractured relationship with the hardcore The Wheel of Time fanbase. I found multiple posts from skeptical fans about the business, with some accusing iwot of being an "IP camper." Others believe iwot has "squandered" the The Wheel of Time IP over the years, with multiple projects that failed to materialize. Fans often reference a 10-year-old Reddit post that goes even further with the complaints.

This skepticism, coupled with disbelief that a brand new video game development studio can essentially emerge from obscurity and deliver a triple-A RPG that meets The Wheel of Time fans' expectations, has led to a "we'll believe it when we see it" attitude online.

However, The Wheel of Time has found significant recent success with its Amazon Prime Video TV series, which just wrapped up Season 3 (with Season 4 yet to be announced). The show has introduced The Wheel of Time to a new audience, and, after initially upsetting the core fanbase with significant story changes in Seasons 1 and 2 compared to the books, managed to turn the narrative around with a much-improved Season 3.

With all this in mind, I sought to learn more from iwot Studios itself. Over a video call, I spoke with Rick Selvage, the boss of iwot Studios, and Craig Alexander, the studio head for the company’s video game efforts, to get a better understanding of the project's status, its scope, what fans can expect, and to address the online criticism directly with them.