Summary
Warning: Spoilers for Alan Wake and Alan Wake 2Alan Wake 2made a big splash in the horror sphere and the gaming world at large when it launched in October 2023. 13 years on from Remedy Entertainment’s original cult favorite, fans as well as newcomers were granted an excellent modern generation entry withAlan Wake 2. The sequel shifted to a more grounded survival style versus the previous heavier action atmosphere and game design, and saw some of the most unique use of live-action segments in gaming thus far, resulting in an all-around acclaimed experience.
Remedy is currently focusing on other projects, including a multiplayer co-op spin-off to its2019 paranormal thrillerControl, codenamed “Condor,” as well as remakes of the first twoMax Paynegames. It’s likely thatAlan Wake 3,if it is in the cards, will be a long ways away - more importantly,AW2’s ending and its subsequent story updates as well as its general narrative framework could mean that a third release won’t necessarily involve or entail what might traditionally be expected.
Along with amemorable performance at The Game Awards 2023, Remedy took home the Best Narrative, Best Direction, and Best Art Direction awards forAlan Wake 2.
Alan Wake 3 Likely Won’t Precisely be ‘Alan Wake 3’
Alan Wake’s Status in His Series
Thestory ofAlan Wakeis full of winding twists and mind-bending turns. As is typical of many of Remedy’s works, and especially in this case, the tale incorporates meta layers in much of its setup and unfolding events. By the end ofAlan Wake 2, the titular writer has gone through a roller coaster, alternating between the otherworldly dimension he was trapped in since the first title, and varying versions of reality, as he attempts to outwit the Dark Presence, the menacing supernatural force he’s pit against, via writing the perfect novel that will dispel it from manipulating or endangering the world again.
Adding yet another wrinkle,Alan Wake 2’s Final Draft modeintroduced an entirely new, updated ending, changing the main plot’s conclusion significantly. Whereas in the base ending, while Alan and his allies halted the Dark Presence, their fate was left somewhat uncertain, still lost between realities. However, Final Draft showed that they were able to indeed defeat it and escape, overwriting the existing ending in the true spirit of the story and setting up a variety of possible directions a hypotheticalAlan Wake 3might take. Alan appeared to gain his own reality-shifting ability, and with the threat conquered, it seemed like his journey was at an end.
Why A Possible Alan Wake 3 Might Not Feature Alan as the Main Protagonist
Alan Wakehas a fairly extensive cast, which only expanded inAW2, with one highlight beingFBI Agent Saga Anderson, who served as the game’s dual protagonist. Alan’s wife, Alice, also played a bigger part, having been revealed to have conducted her own research and investigations into his dilemma in the Dark Place, and was able to assist him from behind the scenes. It could very well be the case that athirdAlan Wakeentrymay not directly involve Alan, instead drawing from a pool of other possible protagonists:
PrecedingAW2,Control’s last piece of DLC content,AWE, was actually the first official introduction and incorporation of the studio’s Remedy Connected Universe, its plan to link all its titles under a shared narrative umbrella.AWEtied directly toAlan Wake, and dropped hints of what was to come. Remedy may take this same approach with the twoupcoming DLCs forAlan Wake 2, which are conjectured to feature characters other than Alan, and thus may inform its intentions for the direction of anAlan Wake 3, if it plans to develop one. Given that Alan’s personal adventure looks to be complete, at least at this point, it’s an interesting thought experiment to ponder the path that Remedy might have in mind to continue from without Alan being central to the next stage.
