Alan Wake II Xbox Playstation PC Gaming

[David76]

Alan Wake 2 finally has a release date, but Remedy Entertainment has shared that it will have a digital only release.

Earlier this week, Remedy Entertainment finally shared a proper look at the upcoming survival horror game Alan Wake 2, the long-awaited follow-up to the 2010 original. It's looking incredibly good so far, but for the physical collectors out there you're going to hit a bit of a snag: according to Remedy itself, a physical release isn't planned at this point in time, apparently because this means it can keep the cost of the game lower.

Alan Wake 2 - Gameplay Reveal Trailer | PS5 Games

• David76
• 29 May 2023

Monsters wear many faces Alan Wake 2 releases on October 17, 2023! The long awaited sequel to...

Remedy shared an FAQ shortly after the reveal at the PlayStation showcase going over some of the most pressing questions some of you might have had, as well as some you might not. Pretty early on in the FAQ Remedy wrote that it will be available digitally on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, later explaining why it made this decision. In response to the question "Why is Alan Wake 2 a digital-only release?" Remedy wrote, "There are many reasons for this.

"For one, a large number of [players] have shifted to digital only. You can buy a Sony PlayStation 5 without a disc drive and Microsoft's Xbox Series S is a digital-only console. It is not uncommon to release modern games as digital-only. Secondly, not releasing a disc helps keep the price of the game at $59.99 / €59.99 and the PC version at $49.99 / €49.99. Finally, we did not want to ship a disc product and have it require a download for the game - we do not think this would make for a great experience either."

That last point is likely in reference to the growing trend of games with physical discs essentially just being glorified download codes, something that many players have expressed frustration at. The FAQ did also note that "there are currently no plans to release Alan Wake 2 on disc." This obviously doesn't rule out a release in the future, but don't place any bets on there being one.

At least we know that there'll be plenty of Alan Wake to come, as the FAQ also shared that there will be an Expansion Pass that will include two bits of big DLC, the Night Springs Expansion and the Lake House expansion. While these don't have a release window, we do also know Alan Wake 2 will be out October 17, just a few months away.

 

[David76]

Another look at Alan Wake 2 was provided this evening during the big Summer Game Fest 2023 presentation.

You definitely get a feel of the game's rather creepy locations set in the Pacific Northwest region.

 

[Tom]

Another look at Alan Wake 2 was provided this evening during the big Summer Game Fest 2023 presentation.

Not really anything to write home about, but journos getting to look at more of it in LA yesterday shared some interesting details.

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1667276250212372480

Continuation of Robinson's thread; The two-character setup allows players to adjust the tone of the experience to their desired pacing, says Remedy - more intense horror or exploring Bright Falls etc. Quirky characters are back with lots of dialogue options.

Narratively, the new FBI protagonist seems to be a way of allowing players who skipped or forgot the original to catch up on the story. Remedy say you start as Saga, then have freedom to switch between her and Wake. Alan will have his own 'mind palace' too

The mind palace is pulled up instantly in real time (so if you do it in combat you'll likely die) and allows players to put clues on a big board, profile characters, upgrade weapons etc. Remedy says it iterated on this one feature for 18 months to balance player autonomy

Co-director told me if AW1 was inspired by Twin Peaks, then AW2 is True Detective - that includes art direction too. "The slow burn nature and buddy cop scenario from TD season 1 is there and those ritualistic serial killings"

 

[David76]

Alan Wake 2 creative director Sam Lake and game director Kyle Rowley have further clarified why the game is getting a digital-only release.

Back in May, when we got our first proper look at Alan Wake 2, we also learned that the game would not be getting a physical release, instead opting for a digital-only release. At the time, in an FAQ, it was explained that the reasoning for this is it would keep the price of the game lower, as the cost of discs and packaging would mean the game would need to be priced up across the board. Now, in an interview with Eurogamer, Lake and Rowley have expanded upon the reasoning behind the decision, saying that doing so will also give Remedy "more time to polish."

"Yeah, it is digital only, and kind of coming to this idea, both from Remedy and Epic's perspective, that's our current thinking. It just felt it makes sense for this, and the timing felt right," Lake explained to Eurogamer. Rowley went on to say, "As creatives obviously, by going digital-only it does allow us more time to polish the game. Like, a significant amount of weeks actually. Because otherwise, the game that goes on the disc, obviously it has to be playable without a patch.

"We didn't want to release something that we weren't proud of basically, and that we didn't want players to play. So hopefully this way we can give you a better version of the game."

 

[Gemma]

The release date has been delayed 10 days until October 27th.

 

[David76]

Remedy Entertainment has shown off 11 minutes of new Alan Wake 2 gameplay, giving us a peak at an early mission with FBI agent Saga Anderson.



As shared with IGN First, the latest Alan Wake 2 trailer gives us a look at the foreboding town of Watery, a location FBI agent Saga Anderson visits during one of the game's earliest missions. The town can be found in the American North West and was originally founded by Finnish settlers but now looks like it might be home to some slightly more sinister beings. The trailer sees Anderson fight her way through Watery and the Coffee World theme park, solving puzzles, conducting investigations, and meeting a few of the locals along the way. According to the video's description, Watery "may even be home to a familiar face to fans of Remedy's other games."

 

[David76]

Alan Wake 2 launches on October 27, but ahead of that, players can preload the much-anticipated sequel so they can get started the second it unlocks. Developer Remedy Entertainment has now confirmed when preloading begins (on console at least) and how much space the game will take up on your storage device.

Preloading begins 48 hours prior to launch on Xbox and PlayStation, which means players can start preloading on October 24 at 9 PM PT / 12 AM ET / 7 AM GMT. You can see a breakdown of preloading start times below.

Alan Wake 2 file sizes

• PlayStation 5 -- 85GB
• Xbox Series X|S -- 82GB
• PC -- 86GB

A new trailer was showcased at today's Xbox Partner Preview Livestream Event

Alan Wake 2 - Launch Trailer - Xbox Partner Preview

• David76
• 25 Oct 2023

Ritualistic murders in a small town. An FBI agent looking for answers, and a writer looking for...

 

[Tom]

The reviews are coming in and most are very, very positive.

Everything, down to the puzzles, feels appropriately placed. That's before even acknowledging the gorgeous cast of actors involved in the project and the truly compelling story that unfolds for Alan as well as Saga, who each gain an interesting presence in Bright Falls and the world beyond. It doesn't feel like the most satisfying combat, and it's rather easy to beat, but this is also exactly what I wanted and more from an Alan Wake sequel. It is also the best original horror game of 2023 by a wide margin, and a damn fine video game overall.

Attack of the Fanboy (4.5/5)

Alan Wake 2 is smartly written, visually arresting and thematically complex. It can be obtuse and perplexing, but that's a feature, not a bug. It brings together not only the worlds of several Remedy games, but demonstrates all the narrative and gameplay lessons the studio has learned over the last thirteen years. Alan Wake 2 rewards fans of the first game for their patience, and invites new players along for a wild, sometimes terrifying and mind-bending ride.

COGconnected (9/10)

Alan Wake 2 deserves recognition for what it has accomplished with its graphics and audio design, but many will be let down by the gameplay and story. Even if the game's rather frustrating technical problems didn't exist, Alan Wake 2 would still be a disappointment because of its shortcomings in those departments. That being said, Alan Wake 2 is home to some of the best moments in any game this year, with two sequences in particular standing out as especially memorable. To go into detail would be to spoil them for anyone who plans on playing the game, but rest assured that despite its issues, Alan Wake 2 has a few bright spots that may still make it worth it for hardcore fans of the original game. Others will want to hold out for a patch and a sale.

Gamerant (2.5/5)

I may end up regretting how much I've fallen for Alan Wake 2. Now, this review is certainly not written to fit into a critical consensus I don't yet know anything about, but it's always vulnerable to step out of the shadows and proclaim that you consider a given game to be a masterpiece. But Remedy deserve that honour, they deserve all the praise I can muster for being brave enough to make some exciting design choices that limit Alan Wake 2's mass appeal, but increase the enjoyment for those of us who remain. They deserve for me to call this game what I think it is - a masterpiece. They deserve a 10, and even though the game industry's prince charming will be bathing in Game of the Year awards in December, I'll be thinking of Cauldron Lake.

Gamereactor UK (10/10)

The idea of what Alan Wake 2 could be has changed so much over the years, but in playing the game, I was reminded of Sam Lake saying how he was so happy that all the previous versions of this game never worked out, and how excited he was that this is the Alan Wake 2 the world has finally received. I have to emphatically agree. The mere existence of an Alan Wake 2 would have, at different points over the years, felt like a minor miracle, but for it to be this one, that feels singular in its achievements, and coming from a studio that refuses to shy away from the paths less traveled, makes Alan Wake 2 a miracle illuminated.

Gamespot (10/10)

Alan Wake 2 is a strange, imaginative, and truly ambitious sequel that never fails to upend your expectations. While some of the bigger concepts presented by Remedy Entertainment lack refinement, a few rough edges don't detract from a consistently confident and startlingly original adventure. You won't find anything else quite like Alan Wake 2 this generation.

GamesRadar+ (5/5)

There is nothing you'll play this year like Alan Wake 2. The choice of two protagonists works wonderfully, with an interwoven plot that is Remedy at their best. I love the twists and turns it takes, with an incredible atmosphere set that boosts everything it touches, including the combat. Alan Wake 2 is breathtaking both visually and audibly, whether in Bright Falls or The Dark Place. Our departure thirteen years ago is long forgotten; Alan Wake's return is a triumph.

Gamingtrend (9/10)

Alan Wake 2 is funny, scary, intense, mysterious, enthralling – and a bunch of other buzzwords I could rattle off – all at the same time. I couldn't help but smile at how silly some sections were, while others had me practically jumping out of my seat. This is Remedy Entertainment at its very best and, for me, eclipses what the team had achieved with Alan Wake, Quantum Break, and Control.

Alan Wake 2 is the best Remedy Entertainment game, and is a strong contender for one of the best games of 2023.

GLHF in Sports Illustrated (9/10)

Alan Wake II delivers one of the boldest and most brain-bending survival-horror storylines this side of Silent Hill 2, presents it with uniformly immaculate art direction and audio design, and reinvigorates the series' signature light-based shooting as though it's been locked and loaded with a fresh pack of Energizers. Even though its skill-upgrade systems seem a little superfluous and there were a few repeated cliches in Saga's story that stuck in my craw, I nonetheless found both sides of this twisted tale to be endlessly fascinating, frequently fear-inducing, and consistently surprising. Alan Wake II is a superb survival-horror sequel that makes the cult-classic original seem like little more than a rough first draft by comparison.

IGN (9/10)

The game is not only imaginative and impeccably designed but also incredibly consistent in its quality in a way that few games ever are. With terrific gameplay, no shortage of creativity, and a twisty, dark story, this is simply a must-play experience whether you're into horror, action, or adventure games. Remedy has absolutely outdone itself with Alan Wake 2, delivering a truly remarkable game.

PCGamesN (9/10)

Alan Wake 2 is everything I wanted and more from the sequel, and I am so grateful that a studio like Remedy Games exist, and playing through this game was a stark reminder of why this industry could do with more developers just like them.

In a year full of truly great games, Alan Wake 2 easily ranks among them as a must-play and is my personal game of the year so far. It is the perfect game to play this Halloween, so do yourself a favour, and pick up this page turner.

PlayStation Universe (9.5/10)

While I'm sure there were countless drafts and edits throughout the journey to this point, this Alan Wake II is proof that great things come to those who wait. Like breaking through after a thirteen year stretch of writer's block, I can only imagine the sense of relief in letting this monster of a game loose.

Press-Start.com.au (9.5/10)

Alan Wake 2 is an incredible achievement. Visually, it is one of the most impressive and haunting games available and the ability to seamlessly change and alter the world on a whim is a technical feat that few have done successfully. In many ways, Alan Wake 2 feels like a love letter to the history of Remedy and its universe. Not only will players stumble upon characters from and references to other games, but they will also find a number of previous actors like James McCaffery, who played Max Payne. Every part of this game is a pleasant surprise that only leaves one excited about the Remedy renaissance that seems to be coming.

Screenrant (5/5)

Trying to make sense of Alan Wake 2 before its narrative has been told is an act of futility, but it's some of the most interesting futility I've faced in a horror game. You don't come here for blazing action and brutal gore. That's Resident Evil 4 or Dead Space. You don't come here to stretch your items and survive a known malevolent force. That's System Shock. You come here because there's a story to be told, and that story will bend and break its rules as much as it needs to in order to reach its conclusions. Alan Wake 2 builds upon a foundation that I felt was effective, but missing something in the original. In narrative, atmosphere, and gameplay, this sequel captures the sense of a self-aware, fictional world that's always contorting itself in real-time to move forward, and the result is a surreal horror/thriller masterpiece.

Shacknews (9/10)

Remedy has always been seen to push boundaries, or experiment with different ideas using its own kooky melting pot of creative innovation, but never has it felt as accomplished as it is with Alan Wake 2. This feels like the game this developer has wanted to make for years, unrestrained in the best possible way as it goes hard on layered storytelling, flawed yet fascinating heroes and a series which for over a decade now has been harbouring untold potential. To see that ambition finally realised is a delight, and the end result is one of the best survival horror games I've ever played. It's Remedy let loose, debuting a shared universe that is bound to continue changing the game for years to come.

TheGamer (5/5)

Just as it gives equal screen time to its two protagonists, Alan Wake 2 is a fine blend of equal parts narrative and survival horror. Both aspects are brought together in brilliant fashion to create a game that is going to mess with your head, scare the hell out of you and make you grin about it as you plunge forward once more, eager to see what's next.

The Sixth Axis (10/10)

While Alan Wake 2 drove me up the wall as I pieced together its fractal story and resisted the urge to succumb to its mind-bending live-action scenes, it continually impressed me. I was genuinely sad as I edged closer to the game's conclusion. I want more of this tantalising cast of characters and ever-so-creepy town… more of this big psychedelic trip that refuses to let you predict where it's going. I can't get enough of this story about the battle between dark and light, good and evil, and the fight to overcome our own protagonist's subconsciousness.

Modern day horror experiences don't get much better than this, and I'm pleased we've got more to come in, at least, two sets of DLC.

VG247 (5/5)

Remedy has at least four more games in the pipeline, and at this point, we wouldn't be surprised if it manages to tie them all together, too. There are gameplay annoyances in Alan Wake 2 that stop it from topping the survival horror charts on those terms alone, but the narrative and technical achievements Remedy has managed here feel beyond what's being done at any other studio. Long may it continue.

VGC (5/5)

With its excellent trippy horror story, memorable characters, amazing atmosphere, and some of the best visuals in gaming to date, Alan Wake II is a game like few others and Remedy Entertainment's best. It took 13 years for the acclaimed writer to come back, but the long wait was worth it. We could have hardly wished for a better sequel, despite the derivative survival horror gameplay holding the experience back a bit.

Wccftech (9/10)

Alan Wake 2 is the culmination of all that Remedy has learned over the past 20+ years. It is a triumph in every way and you should play it, now.

Xboxera (10/10)

 

[Boot Cleaner]

I wasn't a big fan of the original Alan Wake - a decent game, but ultimately pretty repetitive and one-note. But I think Remedy really finally started to fulfill some of the things they've been chasing for years with Control, so I'm very interested in AWII as it seems to push their aesthetic ambitions further again, including the likes of live-action footage integration.

 

[David76]

Remedy plans to add New Game+ options to Alan Wake 2. The options are expected to be added in an update sometime after the game's launch though an exact date was not specified.

The update would give options to restart the game after completion, such as retaining weapons and upgrades earned during your first playthrough. The Nightmare difficulty level will presumably be a harder mode intended for players who crave a challenge, while additional collectables and video content will give story-focused players new things to hunt for.

It appears Remedy has significant plans to support Alan Wake 2 beyond release, including free DLC packs as confirmed by one of the game's directors at EGX.

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1717269848886038876