The recent announcement of a The Wheel of Time video game has sent ripples of surprise and skepticism through the fan community. According to a report from Variety, a "AAA open-world role-playing game" based on Robert Jordan's epic 14-book series is in the works for PC and consoles, with a projected development timeline of three years.
This ambitious project is being spearheaded by iwot Studios' newly established Montreal-based game developer, under the leadership of Craig Alexander, a former Warner Bros. Games executive. Alexander's impressive resume includes overseeing the development of major titles such as The Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Asheron's Call. Normally, this would be cause for celebration among fans. However, the involvement of iwot Studios, which acquired the rights to The Wheel of Time (initially as Red Eagle Entertainment) back in 2004, and the ambitious three-year development timeline have raised concerns.
A quick search online reveals a strained relationship between iwot Studios and the dedicated The Wheel of Time fanbase. Numerous posts from skeptical fans accuse iwot of being an "IP camper" and criticize the studio for allegedly squandering the IP over the years with projects that never materialized. A particularly vocal critique can be found in a decade-old Reddit thread, amplifying these concerns.
The skepticism is further fueled by doubts about whether a new studio can realistically deliver a high-caliber RPG that meets the lofty expectations of The Wheel of Time enthusiasts within such a short timeframe. This has led to a cautious "we'll believe it when we see it" sentiment across online forums.
On a positive note, The Wheel of Time has recently gained a broader audience through its Amazon Prime Video series, which concluded its third season to much acclaim. After some initial backlash due to significant deviations from the source material in Seasons 1 and 2, Season 3 managed to win back much of the core fanbase with its improved fidelity to the books.
In an effort to delve deeper into the project, I had the opportunity to speak with Rick Selvage, head of iwot Studios, and Craig Alexander, the studio head overseeing the video game development, via a video call. Our conversation aimed to clarify the project's current status, its scope, what fans can anticipate, and to address the swirling online criticism directly with those at the helm.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
