Here’s everything we know about Alan Wake 2 (so far)
Alan Wake 2 is coming. Developer Remedy Entertainment revealed Alan Wake 2 in December 2021, confirming that at long last, a sequel to the 2010 cult classic title is on the way. The game won’t be done for a while yet, but Remedy is already sharing some key details, including how this will be a much darker story. With Remedy fully embracing horror as a genre, this could end up being one of the best Xbox horror games available. Here’s everything we know about Alan Wake 2 so far.
What is Alan Wake 2?
Source: Epic Games Publishing
The original Alan Wake told the story of a burned-out mystery writer named Alan Wake. While on vacation with his wife, Alice, Alan was lured in by a Dark Presence, an entity that brought a terrifying story to life in the Pacific Northwest town of Bright Falls. The people of the town were slowly possessed by darkness, turned into The Taken, creatures that could only be harmed after being stripped of said darkness with light. Alice was abducted by the Dark Presence, who promised he could have his wife back if he finished his latest story.
Alan also learned that this had previously happened to another writer named Thomas Zane, as the Dark Presence seeks to amplify and embody the writing that happens near it, using the writing to reshape the world and tell its own stories. After much difficulty, Alan managed to defeat the presence and save Alice, but in doing so became trapped in the Dark Place, something he realized is far bigger than he ever imagined with the haunting words, “It’s not a lake, it’s an ocean.”
Alan Wake 2 trailers
Source: Epic Games Publishing
“We all come to a story with hopes and expectations, looking for an answer. Sometimes it would be better to live with that hope, without ever finding the story. This is not the story you want it to be. This story will eat you alive. This story is a monster and monsters wear many faces,” Alan warns.
Alan Wake 2 actor
No, that isn’t Jake Gyllenhaal in the announcement trailer. The actor’s name is Ilkka Villi, a Finnish actor and writer. He portrayed Alan Wake in the original Alan Wake and associated live-action media such as the song War by Poets of the Fall. Meanwhile, American voice actor Matthew Porretta is also returning to voice the writer. So yes, Remedy got both of the original actors for Alan Wake back.
Alan Wake 2 gameplay and features
Source: Epic Games Publishing
“We are diving deeper than ever, into an ocean of darkness,” creative director Sam Lake notes. Remedy notes that as a full survival-horror game, that there are even worse things lurking in the dark than the Taken of Bright Falls, adding that Alan Wake 2 will be a “chilling experience with familiar psychological horror elements.”
Speaking with IGN, Lake also adds that there are small portions of the original concept for Alan Wake 2 (from years ago) that are in this game, but most of it is new ideas. Lake adds that the switch to survival-horror has brought in a lot of new “fresh, exciting ideas.”
Alan Wake 2 is also rated M, as opposed to the T rating of the original game. Lake says this is a design choice, one that is “liberating” for the team in not having to hold back on any ideas or themes.
Is Alan Wake 2 connected to Control?
Source: 505 Games
Alan Wake 2 platforms
Source: Epic Games Publishing
Being built for this hardware means Alan Wake 2 can take full advantage of the ultra-fast SSDs in the latest consoles, as well as being designed around CPU and GPU hardware that’s far superior to the prior generation of consoles. This means higher frame rates, more intense visual effects, and faster loading times across the board.
Like Quantum Break and Control, Alan Wake runs on Remedy’s proprietary Northlight engine, which Lake adds is allowing Alan Wake 2 to be “by far be the best-looking, most beautiful Remedy game ever.”
When is Alan Wake 2’s release date?
Source: Epic Games Publishing
Remedy Entertainment is going dark right now, but the studio plans to share more information about the game at some point in Summer 2022. We’ll keep you updated on all the latest news regarding Alan Wake 2.
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