"Wheel of Time RPG Confirmed, No Release Date Yet - May Launch on PS6 and Next Xbox"

The recent announcement of a video game adaptation of The Wheel of Time has taken fans by surprise and ignited a wave of skepticism across online communities. According to a report from Variety, a Hollywood trade publication, iwot Studios is developing a "AAA open-world role-playing game" for PC and consoles, based on Robert Jordan's beloved 14-book series. The project, which is expected to have a three-year development timeline, is being spearheaded by iwot Studios' newly established Montreal-based game developer, under the leadership of former Warner Bros. Games executive, Craig Alexander. Alexander's past successes with titles like The Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Asheron's Call would typically generate excitement. However, the involvement of iwot Studios and the ambitious three-year development schedule have raised doubts among fans.

A quick search on iwot Studios reveals a strained relationship with the The Wheel of Time fanbase. The company, which acquired the rights to the series in 2004 under its previous name, Red Eagle Entertainment, has been labeled by some as an "IP camper," accused of holding onto the intellectual property without making significant progress. Fans have expressed frustration over what they perceive as iwot's failure to capitalize on the series, pointing to multiple unfulfilled projects. A particularly vocal critique can be found in a decade-old Reddit post, which has fueled further skepticism.

The idea of a new studio rapidly producing a triple-A RPG that meets the high expectations of The Wheel of Time fans has led to a widespread "we'll believe it when we see it" sentiment online. This skepticism is compounded by the fact that a new studio claiming to deliver such a complex game in just three years seems highly ambitious to many.

On a more positive note, The Wheel of Time has recently seen success with its Amazon Prime Video series, which concluded its third season to favorable reviews. After facing backlash for significant deviations from the source material in its first two seasons, the show managed to win back much of the core fanbase with a well-received third season. The series has also attracted a new audience, expanding the franchise's reach.

In an effort to delve deeper into the game project, I arranged a video call with Rick Selvage, the head of iwot Studios, and Craig Alexander, who leads the studio's video game division. The goal was to gain a clearer picture of the project's current status, its scope, and what fans can anticipate, as well as to address the online criticism directly with the developers.