Alan Wake 2: everything we know so far
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Alan Wake 2 is a third-person survival horror game and comes as a highly anticipated sequel to Remedy Entertainment’s 2010 cult classic: Alan Wake.
Alan Wake 2 will be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, as well as for PC via the Epic Game Store. While Remedy has been tight-lipped when it comes to solid details about the game, what we know so far suggests a return to the suspenseful horror fundamentals that made it Alan Wake so iconic when it first came out.
The Alan Wake games follow the life and times of an author of the same name, who becomes embroiled in the dark machinations of a supernatural force. The original Alan Wake channels Twin Peaks vibes in a big way, with rustic horror steeped in Americana. The disturbing sensation of Alan Wake also have a compelling psychological element, drawing players into the dark and foreboding horror of its world. For the sequel, it looks like Remedy is doubling down on the horror at the heart of the series. Want to know more? Read on for everything we know Alan Wake 2 so far.
Spoilers for Alan Wake ahead.
Alan Wake 2: Get to the point
- What is it? The sequel to psychological thriller Alan Wake
- When can I play it? TB 2023
- What can I play it on? PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (via Epic Game Store)
Alan Wake 2 release date and platforms
Remedy Entertainment has confirmed this Alan Wake 2 will appear in 2023, although an exact date has not yet been confirmed.
This has also been confirmed by the developer Alan Wake 2 will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC (via Epic Game Store).
Alan Wake 2 trailers
Latest trailer
Alan Wake 2 was officially announced at The Game Awards 2021 with an announcement trailer of just under a minute. The CGI is as dark and foreboding as you’d expect, showing a crime scene with a bloodied body on an altar before cutting to Alan standing on a road in ever-changing locations amid torrential rain. “This story is about a monster,” says Alan. “And monsters have many faces.”
This certainly seems to be a shift towards a more survival horror genre and we can’t wait to see how it develops. Watch the trailer below:
More trailers
Even if there was only one Alan Wake 2 trailer so far, Remedy Entertainment has its own YouTube channel (opens in new tab) which is worth keeping an eye on if you want to know what’s going on with their latest title.
The channel also features a anniversary update which, while not necessarily a trailer, is full of exciting tidbits about the design decisions behind the game.
Alan Wake 2 story and environment
Although little has been confirmed about the details of Alan Wake 2‘s story, the first game’s finale, and subsequent DLC have written some pretty big checks, story-wise.
At the end of the first game, Alan found himself trapped in the “Dark Place”, the Lovecraftian parallel dimension from which the darkness that hunted him seemed to emanate. In DLC episodes titled “The Signal” and “The Writer”, Alan was able to free himself by confronting a twisted, mirrored version of himself.
It seems likely that Remedy will try to develop these themes Alan Wake 2 – it’s definitely what we want to see in the sequel.
Alan Wake 2 gameplay
While Remedy has given little concrete information on what to expect from gameplay in Alan Wake 2there are a few nuggets of information that can help us figure out exactly what to expect.
In a special Blog post 12th anniversary (opens in new tab) Remedy has announced that Alan Wake 2 is said to be the developer’s “first survival horror game”. The implication here is that we’ll see more survival elements in the sequel than we did in the original Alan Wakewhich focused more on psychological horror.
That said, it seems likely that the unwieldy and compelling third-person action of the original will be alive and well in some form in the sequel.
Alan Wake 2 news
Alan Wake 2 now has a build that can be played from start to finish
In February 2023, Remedy’s CEO Tero Virtala announced that “Alan Wake 2 is in full production… and it is playable from start to finish”(via video game chronicle (opens in new tab)). Virtala went on to say that the studio “will then move on to polishing the experience”, confirming that “Alan Wake is a unique brand that is of great value to the company today.”
It remains third person with original voice acting returning
Sam Lake confirmed Twitter (opens in new tab) That Alan Wake 2 will be third-person just like the first game, and those voice actors from the original game (Ilkka Villi and Matthew Porretta) will return for the sequel.