Highlights

  • Alan Wake 2 received critical acclaim for its shift to a grounded survival style and innovative use of live-action segments in gaming.
  • Remedy Entertainment's focus on other projects suggests that Alan Wake 3 may be a long way off and may not follow traditional expectations.
  • The ending of Alan Wake 2 and its story updates open up the possibility for a third game that may not feature Alan as the main protagonist.

Warning: Spoilers for Alan Wake and Alan Wake 2Alan Wake 2 made 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 with Alan 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 its 2019 paranormal thriller Control, codenamed "Condor," as well as remakes of the first two Max Payne games. It's likely that Alan 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 a memorable performance at The Game Awards 2023 , Remedy took home the Best Narrative, Best Direction, and Best Art Direction awards for Alan Wake 2.

alan wake 2 closeup on alan
Related
Why Alan Wake 3 Doesn't Need to Be a Horror Game

While Alan Wake 2 pivoted to full survival-horror, there's nothing stopping Remedy from changing genres again in its next chapter.

Alan Wake 3 Likely Won't Precisely be 'Alan Wake 3'

Alan Wake's Status in His Series

The story of Alan Wake is 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 of Alan 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 mode introduced 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 hypothetical Alan Wake 3 might 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 Wake has a fairly extensive cast, which only expanded in AW2, with one highlight being FBI 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 a third Alan Wake entry may not directly involve Alan, instead drawing from a pool of​​ other possible protagonists:

  • Saga Anderson
  • Alex Casey
  • Alice Wake
  • Thomas Zane
  • Tor and Odin Anderson

Preceding AW2, 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. AWE tied directly to Alan Wake, and dropped hints of what was to come. Remedy may take this same approach with the two upcoming DLCs for Alan Wake 2, which are conjectured to feature characters other than Alan, and thus may inform its intentions for the direction of an Alan 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.