The creative director behind Alan Wake 2 and Control has delved into the shared universe between the games and revealed more information on what's to come from Remedy Entertainment. Sam Lake, an auteur-like figure behind the Finnish developers, sat down for a short interview with IGN where he discussed the future of the Remedy Connected Universe with Control 2, as well as their upcoming remakes of Max Payne 1 and 2, and 2025's FBC: Firebreak.
Sam Lake, the pen name for Sami Antero Järvi, has creatively led titles like the first two iterations of Max Payne, the Alan Wake games, and Control. All of these titles have received critical acclaim, with the latter titles being praised for their revolutionary approach to meta-narratives and unique gameplay. The release of 2019's Control saw the beginnings of the Remedy Connected Universe becoming explicit thanks to the AWE DLC, where the protagonist Jesse Faden investigates Alan Wake's otherworldly experiences in Bright Falls. Lake's comments in this IGN interview shed light on the expansion of the RCU and its creative vision.
Control And Alan Wake Exist In The Same World
When questioned on how the Remedy Connected Universe could conclude in the interview with IGN, Sam Lake was quick to respond that "it's too early to start talking about an endgame." He clarified that the foundations of the RCU have now been built, thanks to the connections made in Control's AWE and Alan Wake 2, and multiple franchises will be part of the overall experience. As Max Payne and Quantum Break, another Remedy title, have licenses owned by Rockstar and Xbox respectively, Lake may be referencing these titles or entirely new IPs yet to be announced.
"I love tying these things together, I love making it deeper and expanding on the lore. It really feels like this kind of opportunity to take these strands that we have put there, expand, entertain different ideas. It feels really exciting. And the way we are looking at it is, every game needs to be enjoyable on its own and stand on its own feet, but then, for our fans, for people who have been playing other Remedy games, we want to put in a lot of content for them to discover for the ongoing universe story." - Sam Lake, IGN
The focus of Remedy and Sam Lake's creative vision for their RCU is ensuring that all the titles are textually linked, yet remain understandable as standalone experiences. Lake even refers to the older games developed by Remedy as being part of the "rabbit hole" that gamers can refer back to and explore. Additionally, the interview delves into Remedy's partnership with Annapurna Interactive, which will develop the universe into movies and TV shows. It's possible that these multimedia collaborations, which Alan Wake 2 has already delved into with its cutaways to filmed sections and music, may expand the RCU beyond gaming.
Our Take: The Remedy Connected Universe Continues To Excel
Upcoming Remedy Games Are Highly Anticipated By Fans
The foundations created by Alan Wake 2 and Control demonstrate that the RCU is an ambitious and intriguing approach to the gaming narrative. The intertwining of these two titles, and Sam Lake's comments on other franchises, rewards fans with rich lore and multifaceted meta-storytelling that feels fresh. Control and Alan Wake offer independent narratives which are excellent in their own right, but the additional intrigue of their connections is highly compelling.
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Who should play Alan Wake in the upcoming adaptation?
On the heels of the sequel game scoring rave reviews and becoming a sales hit, Remedy and Annapurna have teamed to develop movie and TV adaptations of Alan Wake, as well as fellow universe title Control. While no decision has been made as to whether Alan Wake will be a movie or TV show, I find myself more intrigued by the question of who should play the titular character in the adaptation. Voice actor Matthew Porretta has done a fantastic job with the role across both games, though Ilkka Villi also brought a surprising emotional gravitas to the live-action segments of the sequel that he should be considered for the role. That being said, I think Michiel Huisman would be an excellent choice, particularly when looking back at The Haunting of Hill House.
Alan Wake 2 stands out as one of the finest modern psychological horror games, demonstrated by its score of 89 on Metacritic. Its DLC hinted at the connection to Control 2, which will continue the paranormal narrative from its predecessor and examine how the Federal Bureau of Control will continue under the direction of Jesse. Whilst gamers await the new titles from Remedy, such as Control 2, FBC: Firebreak, and the Max Payne remakes, the deeper connections between the pre-existing games in the RCU will be meticulously picked apart by fans.
Source: Metacritic, Youtube - IGN, YouTube - Remedy Entertainment
Released October 27, 2023
Developer(s) Remedy Entertainment
English (US) ·