Alan Wake 2 marks the long-awaited return of horror novelist Alan Wake, and developer Remedy Entertainment is going all out for this sequel. Alan Wake 2 is an ambitious sequel with two playable heroes, two realities to explore, and two secrets to solve.
In fact, Alan Wake 2 is probably one of the most anticipated future horror games, with Remedy stating that this eerie survival horror experience would be released as one of the year’s most important new games in 2023. It’s been nearly a decade since we fought against the darkness in one of the best Xbox 360 games, so keep reading to find out all we know so far about Alan Wake 2.
Alan Wake 2 Gameplay
Alan Wake 2 gameplay is a significant shift from the first game. Alan has been locked in the Dark Place for 13 years, and as a result, Remedy Games has gone full psychological horror for this long-awaited sequel. One of the most significant gameplay changes is the addition of a new playable protagonist, Saga Anderson, who is a seasoned FBI agent assigned to Bright Falls with her partner Alex Casey (played by Sam Lake) to investigate a series of ritualistic murders that had claimed one of the agency’s own.
While Saga and the investigation into this weird cult activity in Bright Falls, Cauldron Lake, and Watery will take up half of the game, that isn’t the only horror you’ll have to face. The other part of Alan Wake 2 will find you commanding the famous writer in his own nightmare, with Alan stuck in a Dark Place that has come to resemble New York City. You’ll be able to play as both characters and swap back and forth between their stories as you like.
Aside from the ambitious new narrative framework, there are also significant improvements to combat. The camera is now pushed in closer to the shoulder, with fighting reminiscent of the Resident Evil remakes. You’ll still need to employ light to deal with tremendous otherworldly forces, but your options will be much more constrained this time around as Remedy embraces the survival horror genre.
Alan Wake 2 Release Date
Alan Wake 2 will be released on October 27, 2023. Remedy confirmed the news during the PlayStation Showcase, where the first gameplay clip was also unveiled. The game was supposed to be released on October 17, but Remedy opted to push it back by ten days to give it more breathing room in a crowded release window.
Trapped in a nightmare, Alan Wake has been trying to write his way out. But what happens when something else escapes?
Here there's only victims and monsters. And monsters wear many faces.
Alan Wake 2 releases October 27. Pre-purchase now at https://t.co/5CvKjxP1Zs 🔦 #AlanWake pic.twitter.com/E3E0pMvsYE
— Alan Wake 2 (@alanwake) August 22, 2023
Alan Wake 2 Platforms
Alan Wake 2 will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC (through the Epic Games Store). Remedy has stated that no PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch versions are in the works. Alan Wake 2 will also be a digital-only release to help keep the price low.
Alan Wake 2 Story
The plot of Alan Wake 2 revolves around two worlds, two characters, and two mysteries. The one Remedy is now discussing is around a series of ritualistic killings affecting Bright Falls, Cauldron Lake, and Watery (a new explorable location in Alan Wake 2). Saga Anderson, a skilled FBI investigator, arrives in Bright Falls with her partner Alex Casey – voiced by James McCaffrey and resembling Sam Lake in the original Max Payne team.
Throughout this, there is the Alan Wake of it all. The author has been confined in the Dark Place beneath Cauldron Lake for 13 years, which has taken the form of a nightmare New York City. You’ll also take on the role of Wake, who is attempting to compose a dark fiction capable of changing the reality around him in such a way that he can make his long-awaited escape – no matter the repercussions.
The Alan Wake 2 plotline will follow both of these plots, with Remedy allowing players to switch between characters. You’ll be able to witness all of Saga’s research in Bright Falls before jumping over to Alan in the Dark Place, or bounce between the two whenever you choose.
Alan Wake 2 Development
Alan Wake 2 is being developed by Remedy Entertainment using its proprietary game engine Northlight, and Lake told IGN that it will be “the best-looking, most beautiful Remedy game ever.” The engine has also been utilized by the firm in prior titles such as Control.
“We feel that, especially for this kind of experience, where atmosphere and stylization are more important than ever before, we know Northlight so well that we can focus on certain things and push certain things forward.”
Lake also highlighted in his PlayStation Blog post that the team has never truly ceased toying with ideas for the sequel in between other projects.
“After Alan Wake, I eagerly worked on Alan Wake 2 with a small core team, dreaming up different incarnations of the concept for over a decade, in between every project we’ve made.”
This procedure, according to the author, also featured versions of Alan Wake 2 that will never see the light of day.
“It’s easy to be happy and excited now that Alan Wake 2 is finally happening based on our most recent iteration of the concept, rather than previous ones.”
