Remedy Entertainment, the game company behind the popular game franchise, Alan Wake, is set to release the highly anticipated sequel, Alan Wake 2, on October 27th. Recently, the Remedy management team has been engaging with the media to promote the game, providing us with a deeper understanding of what to expect.
According to Sam Lake, the Creative Director at Remedy, the development of Alan Wake 2 took a staggering 13 years, following the release of the first installment back in 2010. This lengthy gap can be attributed to market conditions that weren’t conducive to the production of a sequel. At that time, the game’s initial publisher, Microsoft Game Studios, shifted its focus towards online, live service games. As a result, Remedy steered its efforts towards creating the game “Quantum Break” in 2016 instead.
Afterwards, Remedy went on to develop and release the highly successful game, “Control,” in 2018, which had a narrative connection to the Alan Wake universe. This led to the green light for the production of Alan Wake 2, with the added involvement of Epic Games as an investor and distributor.
Due to the significant time gap between the first and second installments, as well as the limited commercial success of the first game (selling only 3.1 million copies on Xbox 360 and PC), there’s a high chance that many players may not have played the initial game or may have forgotten its storyline. To address this, the game’s design team decided to introduce a new protagonist, Saga Anderson, an FBI agent tasked with finding the original protagonist, Alan Wake.
The addition of a new main character allows new players to easily immerse themselves in the game, as it doesn’t require a deep knowledge of the first installment’s storyline. Additionally, it provides a fresh perspective for returning players.
At certain points in the storyline, players have the ability to switch between both main characters, offering a new and unique gameplay experience. This aspect enhances the gameplay’s intrigue. The Remedy team has mentioned that the main concept behind this sequel is “duality,” emphasizing the connection between two different worlds and the two playable characters.
Another new feature in Alan Wake 2 is the “Mind Place,” which represents the thoughts and knowledge accumulated in Saga Anderson’s mind. As an FBI agent dedicated to solving mysteries, her mind is filled with various pieces of information, much like a detective’s case board seen in movies. Players can gather and compile the information they come across in the game into profiles, in order to unravel the game’s mysteries and connections. This is done through an in-game screen.
As for Alan Wake himself, the other trapped character, he resides in a dimension known as the Dark Place, where he has a room called the “Writer’s Room.” In this room, Alan can “rewrite” his own story based on the progression of events in the game.
The game engine utilized for Alan Wake 2 is the Northlight Engine, developed by Remedy and previously used for games like “Quantum Break” and “Control.” Those who had the opportunity to play the preview version of the game compared its stunning graphics to that of Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 Remake.
For the full interview, please visit VGC.
TLDR: Remedy Entertainment is set to release Alan Wake 2, the long-awaited sequel to the popular horror game franchise, after a 13-year gap. The game introduces a new protagonist, Saga Anderson, an FBI agent searching for the original protagonist, Alan Wake. Players can switch between both characters at certain points in the game. The storyline revolves around the concept of “duality,” connecting two different worlds. New features include the “Mind Place,” where Saga compiles information, and the “Writer’s Room,” where Alan can rewrite his own story. The game utilizes the Northlight Engine, providing stunning graphics. Epic Games is an investor and distributor for the game.
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