Remedy's Long-Awaited Alan Wake 2 is Finally a Reality and it's Ambitious

After achieving immense success with Control, a game that garnered ten million players and widespread critical acclaim upon its release in 2019, Remedy could have easily opted to develop a sequel. However, the Finnish studio chose a riskier path by deciding to create a sequel to its 2010 Xbox game, Alan Wake, a title that holds a special place in the hearts of Remedy's team, particularly creative director Sam Lake. Although the first Alan Wake did not achieve the commercial success Remedy or Microsoft had hoped for, it has developed a cult following over the years. The game's influence can be seen in Remedy's subsequent releases, with the team frequently expressing their desire to revisit the Alan Wake universe. Now, with the publishing rights to the game secured from Microsoft in 2019, Remedy has finally been able to bring Alan Wake 2 to life. According to Lake, 'There is a lot of passion involved in doing this... I have been lobbying and trying to make Alan Wake 2 happen for a decade.' Game director Kyle Rowley adds that the concept for Alan Wake 2 was conceived before Control's release, and the team began working on it in earnest after completing their work on the single-player mode for Crossfire. The opportunity to develop Alan Wake 2 arose after Remedy acquired the publishing rights to the game from Microsoft in 2019. The studio then incorporated Alan Wake references into Control and later created a full crossover between the two games with Control's 2020 expansion, AWE. In 2021, Remedy released a remastered version of the original Alan Wake, paving the way for the development of a new Alan Wake title, with Epic Games serving as the publisher. Lake expresses his excitement about the project, stating, 'Through all of this, there has been a burning ambition to really stretch ourselves far... Now we will show and make something exceptional.' Alan Wake 2 is not merely a sequel; it introduces detective gameplay and a new character, Saga Anderson, while also shifting the game's genre to survival horror. Although the first Alan Wake had elements of horror, Lake acknowledges that it was not a traditional survival horror experience. The new game aims to provide a more intense and frightening experience, with a greater emphasis on storytelling, character development, and player choice. Remedy's decision to focus on the horror aspect of the game has helped the team in building a more cohesive and engaging experience. However, the game's release coincides with a crowded period for the horror genre, with several high-profile titles, including The Callisto Protocol and remakes of Dead Space and Resident Evil 4, being released around the same time. Despite this, Lake and Rowley are confident that Alan Wake 2 will stand out due to its unique tone, which blends elements of horror, mystery, and dark humor. The game's setting, a small town in the Pacific Northwest, adds to its distinct atmosphere, which is characterized by quirky characters, humorous moments, and a sense of unease. Rowley notes that the team drew inspiration from various sources, including the anthology series True Detective and the films of Ari Aster, such as Hereditary and Midsommar. These influences have helped shape the game's narrative and atmosphere, which focuses on the psychological horror elements and the blurring of reality and fiction. The development of Alan Wake 2 has been a long and challenging process, with the team facing obstacles such as the COVID-19 lockdowns, which affected the game's early development. However, the team has learned from their experiences working on previous games, including Quantum Break and Control, and has built upon the foundations established during those projects. Remedy has also been mindful of the game's place within their 'Connected Universe,' which includes the original Alan Wake and Control. The team has ensured that Alan Wake 2 can be enjoyed as a standalone experience, with new character Saga Anderson serving as a point-of-view character who introduces players to the world of Alan Wake. While the game is part of a larger universe, it is designed to be accessible to newcomers, with the Remedy Universe-related content being discoverable through exploration. After seeing the game and speaking with the team, it is clear that Alan Wake 2 has the potential to succeed in a crowded market, offering a unique and captivating experience that will appeal to both fans of the original game and newcomers to the series.