Now that Remedy has all hands at the pump for time-bending Xbox One exclusive Quantum Break, hope of the studio cranking out an Alan Wake 2 has largely fizzled out since the release of the original survivor horror title in 2010. Half a decade later and the studio has finally provided some never-before-seen details relating to the sequel, including gameplay footage and detailing the reasons why the follow-up never hit the ground running despite the success of its forbearer.
During an extensive interview with Polygon, Creative Director Sam Lake recounted the studio’s initial plans for an Alan Wake 2 and how Remedy wanted to push ahead with a direct sequel shortly after the original 2010 release.
“For Alan Wake, from the get-go, we assumed there was going to be a sequel and we mapped things further out when it came to character, story, details and focus changes,” Lake explained. “We knew we would have to iterate and refine, but there was always a rough road map there.
“Definitely what we have mapped out is a longer thing than the first game and a sequel; there is more to it. In many ways, we see the universe as a bigger thing. Alan Wake is a very central character, but we have other characters around him like [friend and agent Barry Wheeler] and his wife Alice and Sheriff Sarah Breaker and other characters there.”
What’s interesting, though, is the fact that Remedy had built a prototype of Alan Wake 2 to present to Microsoft in the hope that the budding horror series would find a new home on Xbox One. Alas, it wasn’t to be, with the company’s Phil Spencer opting for Quantum Break in favor of a sequel in order to bolster the console’s roster of new IPs.
“I guess at the time Microsoft was looking for something slightly different for their portfolio,” Lake concluded.
Alan Wake 2 isn’t strictly speaking off the table, but don’t hold your breath for another installment anytime soon. As for Quantum Break, Remedy’s intriguing genre mash-up is slated to be released exclusively for Xbox One in early 2016.