It’s been over a decade since our favorite thriller novelist Alan Wake graced our screens and after a long wait, he’s back for Alan Wake 2.
For newcomers to the dark world of Alan Wake, our original introduction to the series follows our main character who makes a living off of his thriller novels.
Unbeknownst to him, a family vacation is about to take a gruesome twist as his wife disappears and he begins living out the events from the plot in his latest novel that he has no recollection of writing.
After a decade of waiting, the follow-up is finally here! Alan is back on the hunt, and the gloomy smolder in his eyes only seems to be amplified by the journey he is about to embark on.
While we don’t know much about the heavily anticipated sequel from Remedy Entertainment, we do have some information to prepare you to dive in once the game is released.
Alan Wake 2 Release Date
Alan Wake 2 is expected to launch sometime in 2023. However, a specific date has not been announced. The last confirmation about the details of the release came from Remedy in October of 2022 where they stated the timeline for the game was still on par.
Alan Wake 2 Trailer
In the only trailer revealed for the upcoming sequel, we see an aged Alan giving a brief monologue as the world around him seems to jump from past to present. There’s an alluring eeriness about the scene around Alan that lets you know right from the start — things are going to go DARK quickly.
At the end of the trailer, we see a grimacing face that I assume could only be Mr. Scratch — Alan’s evil double who will play a significant role in unfolding the plot of our follow-up story.
Latest Alan Wake News
From the limited information we’ve been given we know that Alan Wake 2 is in full production and scheduled for a 2023 release.
According to a new financial report from Remedy Entertainment, the game is now playable from start to finish with developers working on fine tweaks.
“The game will soon have all content in place, and it is playable from start to finish,” writes a Remedy Entertainment insider.
Alan Wake 2 is the highest priority for the studio currently even among the other titles they are working on.
What Platforms Will Alan Wake 2 Be On?
Alan Wake 2 will be available on PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X, and Series S.
The game will not be available for Steam per the deal made between Remedy and Epic Games for Epic to publish their next two games. This will be an EGS exclusive.
For players wanting a co-op experience, don’t expect it with this game as it is single-player focused.
Alan Wake 2 Story Explained
Based purely on speculation, the world around Alan Wake 2 looks like it’s going to focus more on the thematic horror elements and the dark psychology behind the characters.
Mr. Scratch is the favored antagonist, and we haven’t heard anything to dispel these rumors.
We see Alan holding a flashlight in the trailer, leading us to believe the combat style of the original game is still going to be in effect with the light helping players combat the dark presence around Alan’s enemies leaving them open to gunfire.
This is a survival game after all, so players should expect to continue the detective role while maneuvering through various locations.
One thing that remains uncertain is whether Alan was able to escape the dark place that he banished himself to at the end of the first game. If you are unaware of what the dark place is, it’s a realm that exists beneath the town of Bright Falls where reality can be rewritten.
We should expect Mr. Scratch won’t be the only evil presence Alan runs into, especially if he in fact did not return from the dark place and still has to fight his way back to the real world.
A Look At Alan Wake 2’s Concept Art
In a video update posted by Remedy, Creative director Sam Lake, along with Ilkka Villi and Matthew Porretta (the voice and physical appearance behind Alan, the group discussed the sequel as well as new concept art.
“It’s a new genre, and we are pushing further into the horror aspect. It’s like you’re really seeing who Alan Wake is,” said Poretta.
No demos have been released, and everything remains under wraps. From the trailer, we are able to see the artist and designers behind the game have been working on giving the game an almost antique design style with the grim colorization and pop of specific details like the rain and blood to really capture the dark essence of the two worlds Alan is trapped between.
Alan’s Reality
One thing for certain is that Alan could be in an alternate reality and will need to wake himself up during the course of the game or he could’ve managed an escape from the dark place and brought evil back to the surface world.
The limited information coupled with the years of waiting has put Alan Wake 2 at the top of our gaming list. We expect this release to revamp interest in the original game, as well as the spin-offs. We know that once the heavy hitters of the gaming world get their hands on their early copies, it’ll only amplify the excitement around the horror/mystery thriller.
This is the boost that Remedy Entertainment has been needing and we appreciate the fact that they didn’t rush the development of this follow-up story. This is the type of game where detail can make or break the user’s experience, and from what we’ve seen and heard, Remedy has made that top priority.
We’re extremely excited to get our hands on a copy of this game as soon as we can.
Alan Wake 2 will be released soon on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
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