Stephen King isn’t just a legend in the horror community; he’s someone who lends his platform, brilliance, and wisdom to those who also hope to see it flourish. From recommending shows and books for lovers of all things frightful to lending his own words as inspiration, he’s as much a fan of the spooky and mysterious as the rest of us.
So when the action/adventure game Alan Wake begins, those who love things that send chills up your spine will recognize an important quote from King himself – thanks the game’s writer, Sam Lake, recently opened up about what it took to get the rights to use that specific quote.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Lake says that it was essential to use a quote from King in Alan Wake, and the cost was nothing like he was expecting:
“Creating the original Alan Wake, I really, really desperately wanted a quote from him to start it off. It’s my understanding he wanted $1 for us to get the rights to use it. [It was] so very generous.”
He continued by saying that King has done “things like that before” and also promises, “I’m sure we will be talking about Stephen King influences in [Alan Wake], among other things.”
King’s kindness can’t be understated, especially when a community is so important. For gamers, horror lovers, and anyone who has found their place in the pop culture community, we know the importance of paying homage to those who set the standard, and King is undoubtedly one of them.
For those who haven’t played the game, you may be wondering what the quote is. Lake describes that it’s something from an article written by King back in 2008 and kicks off an opening line from Wake himself.
“‘Nightmares exist outside of logic, and there’s little fun to be had in explanations; they’re antithetical to the poetry of fear.’ In a horror story, the victim keeps asking ‘why?’ But there can be no explanation, and there shouldn’t be one. The unanswered mystery is what stays with us the longest, and it’s what we’ll remember in the end. My name is Alan Wake, I’m a writer.”
Alan Wake is available to play across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms since its remaster in 2021, and Alan Wake II is on the horizon with an Oct. 27 release date. We have a feeling there will soon be more King influence on the way.