After a long time since 2010, we are now almost ready to experience the dark and strange thriller once again. What has changed in Remedy’s universe ever since?
Here’s everything you need to know before the upcoming release of Alan Wake 2.
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Release Date & Platforms
Alan Wake 2 will be coming on October 27, 2023. However, the pre-orders for the game are currently open.
The game will be released on the following platforms:
- PC (via Epic Games Store)
- Xbox Series X|S
- PlayStation 5
The game will only be released digitally, and there are no plans for a disc-based version of Alan Wake 2.
PC System Requirements
The minimum or recommended system requirements have not been announced by the game developers yet. However, do note that Alan Wake 2 leans heavily on visual fidelity, which means a modern mid to high-end system would be required to experience the game smoothly.
We will make sure to update the system requirements for Alan Wake 2 as soon as they are available.
Editions & Prices
Alan Wake 2 will be released in 2 different editions:
- Standard Edition: Priced at $49.99 / €49.99 / £39.99 on PC, and $59.99 / €59.99 / £49.99 on Consoles, this edition would only include a digital copy of the game.
- Deluxe Edition: Priced at $49.99 / €49.99 / £39.99 on PC and $59.99 / €59.99 / £49.99 on Consoles would include the base game and the following exclusive content:
- Digital copy of Alan Wake 2
- Expansion pass (includes Night Springs and Lake House expansions)
- Nordic shotgun skin for Saga
- Parliament shotgun skin for Alan
- Crimson windbreaker for Saga
- Celebrity suit for Alan
- Lantern charm for Saga
You will receive the following items on pre-ordering either of the two versions:
- Ornate Revolver Skin for Alan
- Survival Resources Pack for Saga
- Oh Deer Diner Sweater for Saga
Setting
Alan Wake 2 is set across two major locations, the Pacific Northwest and The Dark Place.
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is naturally beautiful. Yet you will find a haunting mystery creeping up in the dark and foggy mountains. The forested landscape stretched across Washington State in the U.S. offers three distinct locations to explore:
- The town of Bright Falls (where the first Alan Walk was set)
- A run-down city of Watery based on the fishing and logging industry
- A nearby popular hiking destination – the Cauldron Lake.
The Dark Place
The Dark Place is a world where fiction turns into reality. Just under the fenced Cauldron Lake, the Dark Place draws its appearance from the mind of whoever it comes in contact with, which is Alan in this case. The fears and horrors of Alan Wake surround him turning into reality as the place turns into a twisted and horrific form of New York.
Alan Wake 2 Story and Plot
Before we start with the plot, it is worth noting that even though Alan Wake 2 is a sequel, the developers have mentioned that the game provides a standalone experience. This means that even with no past knowledge of the previous game, you can enjoy Alan Wake 2 without any worry.
However, for the fans who are into the Alan Wake universe, it is recommended to play Control and Control’s AWE expansion to get a better experience.
The Story of Alan Wake
The story picks up 13 years after the original Alan Wake. The lost writer, who was able to save his wife from the supernatural entity called the Dark Presence, is now trapped in the Dark Place. The Dark Place is a mysterious world below the Cauldron Lake where the fiction can turn into reality. For the last 13 years, Alan has been fighting the horrors to stay sane so that he can write a story about the morbid reality around him in an attempt to escape. So far, he has failed to beat the devil at his own game.
The Story of Saga Anderson
The game features a second playable protagonist, Saga Anderson. Saga is a reputed FBI agent who is known for solving impossible cases. She arrives to investigate a string of ritualistic murders in the small community of Bright Falls. But Anderson’s case slides into a nightmare when she discovers a horror story that starts to come true to her while suggesting links to Alan Wake, merging the stories of both protagonists.
The Plot of the Original Alan Wake
Alan Wake was a bestselling writer who had come to Bright Falls with his wife Alice Wake, a photographer, for a vacation to fix their marriage, while also overcoming his writer’s block. The couple found themselves in trouble with a supernatural force called Dark Presence.
Alan’s horror story came to life while his wife Alice was held hostage by the entity. He fought this dark presence and wrote an ending to the horror story, causing the entity to return to where it came from. Alan was able to save his wife but became trapped in the Dark Place under the Cauldron Lake himself.
Gameplay
Alan Wake 2 is looking to accompany the original narrative comprising combats, puzzles, and interactive story moments. Wake and Anderson will both use various firearms and a flashlight to traverse through the game world.
Similar to the original game, the flashlight will be used to make the enemies vulnerable to firearm attacks. The player will need to strategize the usage of flashlights and firearms in order to have enough ammunition and battery to survive.
According to Sam Lake, the creative director of Remedy Entertainment, “[Alan Wake 2] leans much more on building up to an encounter and then having more strategic resource management and all. So we chose to give more variety in combat but also have less combat, instead we’ll have more moments to do things with the story.” This means that we will have more time to explore the world, do detective work, solve puzzles, and interact with the story.
While playing as Saga, the player can access the Mind Place by simply pausing the game. Mind Place is a 3D menu with no enemies, featuring a visual representation of Saga’s thoughts. The players will be able to interact with this menu, such as managing a pin board to connect cues, as well as profiling characters to gather information.
Similar to this, the game also features the Writer’s Room. This will be the space where Alan writes stories in his desperate attempt to escape.
Size
Alan Wake 2 is longer than any other game from Remedy. Traditionally, Remedy has a history of releasing games on the shorter side, often with a runtime of around 10 hours.
However this time, Alan Wake 2’s playtime is set to be more than 20 hours. The game will also feature two paid expansions in the future called Night Springs and The Lake House, similar to Control. There will be plenty of achievements which the player can complete by allocating extra time towards them.
