When is the Alan Wake 2 release date? The long-awaited sequel to Remedy’s supernatural thriller is finally coming, and sooner than some of us have thought possible. The possibility of a sequel was first teased in Control’s second DLC expansion, which featured Alan Wake as one of the main characters. Now, it’s finally on its way.
Remedy has confirmed Alan Wake 2 and Control share the same universe, so you might want to familiarize yourself with both action-adventure games before starting the next chapter in Alan’s adventure. Now that there’s an Alan Wake 2 release date, we now have details on where Alan has been all these years, how new protagonist Saga Anderson fits into the story, and what we can expect from the gameplay.
Alan Wake 2 release date
The Alan Wake 2 release date is set for Friday, October 27, 2023. According to an official announcement from developer Remedy, the ten-day delay from its initial release date is to give “more space for everyone to enjoy their favorite games” in a month of big releases.
Across PC and consoles, there are a bunch of exciting new games to look forward to in October, including Cities Skylines 2 and Lord of the Fallen. Remedy acknowledges that competition in its statement, and promises fans to expect more details on Alan Wake 2 during Gamescom opening night live on August 22, 2023.
Alan Wake 2 is due to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It’s available exclusively on PC via the Epic Games Store as part of a publishing deal with Remedy Entertainment. According to Remedy, there will be no physical version in a bid to keep costs down.
Alan Wake 2 gameplay
Alan Wake 2’s gameplay is already shaping up to be quite different than its predecessor, with a renewed focus on exploration that demands a slow pace, which is sure to bolster the psychological horror promised by Remedy. That said, it remains a third-person shooter experience at its core, with a particular focus on puzzle-solving and manipulating light to beat back foes. PCGamesN caught up with Sam Lake to hear more about Alan Wake 2’s combat, which is forecast to eclipse that of its predecessor.
Of course, combat and tone aren’t the only elements set to make a departure from the original game. Protagonist Alan Wake is joined by FBI agent Saga Anderson, as they both work in tandem to uncover their respective mysteries. While Anderson is on the hunt to solve a string of strange murders and disappearances in Bright Fall, Alan is trapped in a nightmare world known as the Dark Place and desperate to escape. Their stories are split into two distinct campaigns that eventually converge in later chapters.
Both characters also have access to a liminal investigative space to take stock of clues they’ve uncovered to bring them both incrementally closer to the truth. Anderson’s Mind Place is more akin to a traditional crime board, awash with photographs, sticky notes, and thread. Conversely, Alan’s Writer’s Room contains a plot board that follows the format of a narrative brainstorm. Both can be accessed at any time during exploration, allowing us to progress the plot.
Alan Wake 2 trailers
Since Alan Wake 2’s initial announcement trailer back in 2021, Remedy has released several behind-the-scenes videos that delve into the various characters and features of the survival horror game. The first introduces Saga Anderson, positioning her as a counterpart to Alan as her story runs adjacently to his own. Melanie Liburd is both the face and voice of Saga, who you may recognize as Zoe Baker in This Is Us or as a Red Priestess in Game of Thrones.
In the same video, we learn that we will be able to explore Bright Falls, the fictional Pacific Northwest town where Alan Wake 2 is set, while revisiting areas from the first game such as Cauldron Lake. It’s also revealed that Alan Wake has been missing for 13 years, suddenly returning during the events of the sequel. Remedy has also released a gameplay reveal trailer featuring Alan and Saga as they both fight to survive the nightmare that has consumed Bright Falls, culminating in their eventual meeting.
The second behind-the-scenes trailer shows more about the game design methodology, the frustrations the development team experienced throughout the years, and how proud everyone is that this current polished iteration is the most exciting version they’ve seen. A further trailer affords us a glimpse of Saga Anderson’s Mind Place.
The next behind-the-scenes trailer reveals the Dark Place, the strange alternate world that Alan has been trapped within for 13 years. It also delves into how his character has changed since the previous game. We experienced a more immediate sense of how disorienting and disconcerting Alan Wake 2 is likely to be in the Gamescom ONL trailer, which includes live-action sequences to add to Alan Wake 2’s surreality.
Alan Wake 2 is set to prove that a strong narrative can carry an adventure to the end, so we have a list of the best story games if you’re looking for something to tide you over. We also have a list of the best upcoming games if you’re looking for AAA titles to add to your wishlist.
