Alan Wake 2 Expands the Remedy Connected Universe
Thirteen years after the release of its predecessor, Alan Wake 2 continues the story of the beloved haunted novelist. However, this sequel is not just about Alan’s tale. It is also the third entry in the Remedy Connected Universe, a concept that allows the games from Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment to overlap, connect, and influence each other. In an interview with Sam Lake, creative director of Alan Wake 2 and Remedy’s storyteller, he sheds light on the Remedy Connected Universe and the interconnectedness of the studio’s games.
Remedy Entertainment, established in 1995, has created five different worlds over the years. While the new connected universe will bring together Remedy’s games, not all of the studio’s creations will be included. According to Lake, “It is very clearly Alan Wake and Control, because they are Remedy’s own IPs. Quantum Break and Max Payne, from our earlier games, are not part of this.” However, the studio still enjoys incorporating Easter eggs and references to their previous works. These nods are a way to have fun with their fans while adding depth to the universe.
Alan Wake 2 is both the third and second game in the connected universe. Originally, the Remedy Connected Universe did not exist when the first Alan Wake was released. It was only after nine years when Remedy launched Control that the idea of the RCU came to life. Control introduced Federal Bureau of Control investigations related to the events of Alan Wake, solidifying the shared world. The subsequent expansion for Control, called AWE, further strengthened the connection between the two games.
Alan Wake 2 offers a different perspective on the Federal Bureau of Control. While Control focused on the paranormal investigations from the Bureau’s point of view, Alan Wake 2 allows players to experience the encounters from the perspective of someone outside the Bureau. The FBC will play a significant role in the game, going beyond a mere Easter egg. Lake states that the FBC’s presence and key characters tied to it are integral to the Remedy Connected Universe.
Remedy has always enjoyed incorporating elaborate Easter eggs into their games. Even before the Remedy Connected Universe, the studio experimented with the idea of connecting their games. In the first Alan Wake, players can find manuscript pages from Alan’s Alex Casey novels, a nod to Remedy’s Max Payne. The manuscripts were even voiced by James McCaffrey, the voice actor for Max Payne. While they couldn’t include Max Payne in Alan Wake due to ownership rights, this connection established a link between the games.
In Alan Wake 2, Remedy goes one step further and brings Alex Casey back as one of the central characters. Casey, a fictional character created by Alan himself, becomes a human presence in the game. James McCaffrey not only voices Casey but also lends his likeness to the character, as a playful reference to Remedy’s past. This meta layer adds depth and humor to the story.
Alan Wake 2 explores themes of twisted mirrors, echoes, and the boundaries between reality and imagination. The different versions of Alex Casey players encounter are their own entities, separate from Max Payne. The game introduces an older, more experienced, and cynical Casey as the FBI partner of Saga Anderson, the second protagonist in Alan Wake 2. This version of Casey exists in the real world and provides a contrast to the fictional detective within Alan’s novels.
With Alan Wake 2, Remedy expands the Remedy Connected Universe by intertwining the worlds of Alan Wake and Control. The game not only continues Alan’s story but also delves deeper into the interconnectedness of Remedy’s games. As fans eagerly await the release of Alan Wake 2, they can expect a rich and immersive experience within this expanding universe.