Alan Wake 2 Releasing Sooner Than Expected?
Alan Wake 2 is fully playable and in the last stages of polishing.
It’s been months since last we heard anything about the Alan Wake franchise, and most of the stuff we previously heard related to the remake of the original 2010 game. However, the CEO of Remedy Entertainment just dropped news regarding Alan Wake 2, stating that the game is already fully playable from start to finish, meaning that the production now shifts into the final polishing stages.
According to Destructoid, the CEO of Remedy Entertainment, Tero Virlata, stated that the game is fully playable, but the studio is still working on some of the game’s content before moving into the final polishing of the horror gaming experience. Unfortunately, there’s still no precise release date for Alan Wake 2, but judging from his statement, the gaming horror-loving public apparently won’t have to wait long to sink its teeth into the upcoming game. Could this mean that the game is actually coming sooner than expected?
Well, not really. The expectation for Alan Wake 2, in terms of release date, was always 2023. Remedy Entertainment first announced the game at the 2021 Game Awards, catching the fandom off guard by offering a sequel to the cult-classic action adventure. The studio announced the game for 2023, and now that we’re here, it seems that Remedy is making good on their progress towards meeting the release window. This is a bit uncommon in the gaming industry, as the market faced massive delays across the board, partially due to the worldwide pandemic.
With that said, we learned that the Remedy planned Alan Wake 2 for years before the official announcement took place and that the entire production is a massive undertaking. According to people at Remedy, Alan Wake 2 is the studio’s largest project ever, as it ties into Remedy’s Connected Universe, which encapsulates the original game, as well as 2019’s control, where the eponymous Alan appeared as part of the DLC, as well as its sequel, Control 2. Apparently, the game will also tease many connections between the titles and some of its lore.
According to Game director Kyle Rowley, the upcoming Alan Wake 2 is set up in a way in which the narrative can be enjoyed by those who haven’t played the original or the last year’s Alan Wake Remastered, which hasn’t really lived up to Remedy’s sales expectations. Virtala did mention that the Alan Wake Remastered hasn’t reached a point at which it has begun generating royalties, but the studio forecasts that the release of Alan Wake 2 would boost the sales of the original remastered game.
And there might be some truth to the CEO’s words. While Alan Wake 2 is on the right track, development-wise, the title still doesn’t have a precise release date—which isn’t as ensuring as it used to be in the past. Still, knowing the exact release date brings the game closer to the audiences who might want to revisit the original narrative before diving into the new game instead of revisiting the narrative, which might not get a sequel. And the gaming industry isn’t short on cancelations these days—just look at Ubisoft and Electronic Arts.
