As part of the Summer Game Fest 2023 presentation, Alan Wake 2 was given a new gameplay trailer. While not a tremendous amount was shown off, we got to see in-engine footage of new protagonist Saga Anderson as she explores the dark and deadly woods of Bright Falls. While Alan Wake 2 will be a survival-horror game at its core, Saga’s segments look more like those with Alan in the first installment.
Before the gameplay presentation, a short interview with Remedy Creative Director Sam Lake said that you’ll be able to switch between controlling Alan and Saga at different points during the campaign. The narrative between the two isn’t strictly linear, though Lake didn’t quite confirm whether there would be branching paths. This gameplay mechanic was confirmed through a recent behind-the-scenes video, where the development team talked about the game’s “theme of duality.”
While there’s still a lot we don’t know about Alan Wake 2, we do know it’s part of a larger universe that includes Control and Max Payne. Seeing as Alan Wake was part of Control‘s AWE DLC, we wouldn’t be surprised if there are some Easter eggs at least, though absolutely nothing like that has been confirmed by Remedy. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Another Alan Wake 2 gameplay trailer was revealed during the PlayStation Showcase in May, though it was more on the cinematic side. It also confirmed the game’s platforms and release date. There’s sure to be more to come in the next few months.
Alan Wake 2 will be released on October 17, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It will be a digital-only release on all platforms.
