The recent announcement of a new The Wheel of Time video game development has sent ripples of surprise and skepticism throughout the fan community. According to a report from Variety, a Hollywood trade publication, the game is touted as an upcoming "AAA open-world role-playing game" designed for PC and consoles, drawing from Robert Jordan's beloved 14-book saga. The project is expected to span a three-year development period, which has further fueled doubts among fans.

The game is being crafted at iwot Studios' newly established Montreal-based studio, headed by Craig Alexander, a former executive at Warner Bros. Games. Alexander brings a wealth of experience, having previously managed development for Turbine's (now WB Games Boston) notable franchises such as The Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Asheron's Call. Despite this promising leadership, the involvement of iwot Studios, which acquired the rights to The Wheel of Time as Red Eagle Entertainment back in 2004, has sparked concerns. The studio's reputation and the seemingly ambitious three-year timeline have led to raised eyebrows and skepticism.

A quick online search shows that iwot Studios has a strained relationship with the dedicated The Wheel of Time fanbase. Many fans express distrust, accusing iwot of being an "IP camper" and alleging that the studio has mishandled the franchise's intellectual property over the years. Some even reference a decade-old Reddit post that amplifies these grievances. Furthermore, the notion that a new video game development studio could swiftly produce a high-quality, triple-A RPG that meets the lofty expectations of fans has contributed to a widespread "we'll believe it when we see it" sentiment across the internet.

Despite these concerns, The Wheel of Time has recently seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to its Amazon Prime Video series. The show, which has just concluded its third season (with a fourth yet to be confirmed), managed to win back fans after initial deviations from the source material in the first two seasons. Season 3 was particularly well-received, expanding the series' audience and rekindling interest in the franchise.

In light of these developments, I sought to delve deeper into the project by conducting a video call with Rick Selvage, the head of iwot Studios, and Craig Alexander, who leads the studio's video game development efforts. Our conversation aimed to clarify the project's current status, its scope, what fans can anticipate, and to address the online criticism directly with the studio's leadership.