Why is it now called Heroes and Forsaken?

The name change came directly from community feedback. Many players and Wheel of Time fans shared that while Battle for Randland was recognizable to some, it did not fully capture the heart of the game.

Heroes and Forsaken expresses the core of what this project is about: the clash between Light and Shadow, and the Leaders who define that struggle. It is clear to fans of the series and approachable for new players discovering The Wheel of Time for the first time.

We want the title to speak for itself: this is a game of choices, of ideals, and of the battles that shape the Ages.

Are you using AI art?

Short answer: For some 2D card illustrations early on, yes, used as artist-supervised placeholders to prototype quickly.
Everything you see in a match is hand-made. Our 3D companions, models, animations, rigs, textures, boards, VFX, UI, and card frames are created by artists without generative AI.

Were a small team (~10). The hybrid workflow for a subset of card art looked like this: an artist defines the brief/composition, may rough in a base, then heavy paintover/redraw in Photoshop to meet lore and readability. No image ships straight from a prompt.

Our plan: as we hire more illustrators, were replacing every hybrid placeholder with fully commissioned art, and crediting artists in-game and on our site.

Is this an asset flip or a rebrand of an older project?

No. Heroes and Forsaken has a new codebase, rules, economy, and content. While we had access to prior project assets, we did not ship them as they didnt meet our technical, gameplay, or quality needs. Everything in Heroes and Forsaken was built anew.

Is this official?

Yes. This is an officially licensed The Wheel of Time digital trading card game.

Who are you working with on this project?

The Wheel of Time IP is held by iwot (Red Eagle, the rights holders). We are grateful to them for giving us this opportunity and for trusting Witsteen with full creative control.

We know the community has mixed feelings about iwot due to past adaptations, but we want to be clear: they opened the door, and Witsteen is leading the creative work. Our relationship with them is positive, supportive, and focused on letting us build the best possible game.

This project exists because of a shared desire to see The Wheel of Time grow as a true transmedia universe. Witsteen is an independent studio, and our focus is on delivering a game that treats the world and its characters with the care they deserve.

Will there be NFTs or blockchain?

No. No NFTs. No crypto. No blockchain.

Is it pay to win?

No. Purchases unlock cosmetics, chests, and a seasonal battle pass. Competitive advantages must be earned through play.

• The battle pass is the main progression path.

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• Chests contain the same cards you can also earn by playing, balanced so paying players do not get insurmountable advantages.

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• Example: powerful cards unlock through play or free battle pass tiers, not by direct purchase.

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What is the monetization model?

Free to play. Seasonal battle pass roughly every 2 to 3 months. Optional cosmetics. Optional purchasable chests. No hidden systems. Clear value for every purchase.

Will you respect The Wheel of Time lore and names?

Yes. We operate strictly within the licensed world and use in-universe naming. We are working closely with our licensing partners and dedicated lore experts to ensure authenticity. If you see a misspelling or something that feels off, please reach out and we will correct it quickly.

I played Cards of Eternity: The Wheel of Time. Will my old stuff carry over? (edited Sep 19 2025)

Short answer: No. Heroes and Forsaken is a different game built from the ground up. No cards, packs, currency, or progression transfer from Cards of Eternity: The Wheel of Time.

We did explore ways to recognize prior spend and time. After a full audit of the old project we could not use its code, data formats, or content in Heroes and Forsaken. Nothing was compatible with our rules, servers, or economy.

All Cards of Eternity items and accounts remain with the previous studio. They will take that content back to their card game that is not set in The Wheel of Time if and when they reopen that project.

Who is Witsteen?

Witsteen is an independent game studio in Belgium. We were founded to build Heroes and Forsaken, the official The Wheel of Time digital trading card game. We are a small team of 10 motivated developers and artists, focused on one project and one goal: making Heroes and Forsaken the best game it can be for fans and TCG players.

Platforms and cross play

Launching on Steam and Epic on PC, plus iOS and Android. Accounts are cross play. You can log in with the same account on all platforms.

Will there be a single player or story mode?

At launch our focus is on competitive play and core systems. We plan to expand with PvE events and story-driven content over time.

How often will new cards be released?

We aim for a steady cadence tied to the battle pass cycle, every 2 to 3 months. Each release will bring new cards, balance updates, and cosmetics.

How will balance be handled?

Balance patches will be frequent and transparent. We will monitor both competitive data and community feedback, and share clear patch notes for every update.

Will there be regional servers?

Yes. We plan to host servers in multiple regions to ensure stable connections and fair matchmaking.

Is there cross-progression?

Yes. Your account progress carries across PC and mobile platforms.

How much storage will the game take?

Final install size will be confirmed closer to launch, but our goal is to keep it lightweight compared to larger AAA card games.

Will there be achievements or rewards outside of the battle pass?

Yes. We plan to add Steam achievements and in-game milestones that reward cosmetics and resources.

What about cheating or botting?

We have server side validation and anti-cheat systems in place. Reports will be investigated quickly and action taken to keep matches fair.

How do I give feedback?

As mentioned earlier, we want to make this game for the fans and we would love to make it with the fans. Any feedback is valuable, so feel free to email us directly at games@witsteen.com