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

The recent announcement of a video game adaptation of Robert Jordan's iconic 14-book series, The Wheel of Time, has sent ripples of surprise and skepticism throughout the fan community. As reported by Variety, a "AAA open-world role-playing game" is in development for PC and consoles, with a projected three-year timeline. The project is being spearheaded by iwot Studios' newly established Montreal-based game development team, under the guidance of Craig Alexander, a former Warner Bros. Games executive with a robust portfolio that includes The Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and Asheron's Call.

Despite Alexander's impressive credentials, the announcement has been met with cautious optimism at best. The involvement of iwot Studios, which has held the rights to The Wheel of Time since acquiring them from Red Eagle Entertainment in 2004, has been a point of contention. A quick online search uncovers a strained relationship between iwot Studios and the dedicated fanbase, with accusations of the company being an "IP camper" and failing to capitalize on the franchise's potential. Some fans reference a decade-old Reddit post that amplifies these concerns.

The skepticism is further fueled by the ambitious claim of delivering a triple-A RPG within a relatively short three-year window, especially from a studio that seems to have emerged from obscurity. The online sentiment leans heavily toward a "we'll believe it when we see it" stance.

However, The Wheel of Time has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to the successful Amazon Prime Video series, which recently concluded its third season. While the show initially faced backlash for deviating from the source material in its first two seasons, Season 3 managed to win back much of the core audience's favor. This renewed interest might provide a fertile ground for the upcoming video game.

In an effort to address these concerns and gain more insight into the project, I had the opportunity to speak with Rick Selvage, head of iwot Studios, and Craig Alexander, the studio head overseeing the game's development, via a video call. Our discussion aimed to clarify the project's current status, its scope, what fans can anticipate, and how they plan to respond to the online criticism.