Since the first Alan Wake released in 2010, Remedy has been hard at work on other projects that have continued to grow the studio's reputation and singular style. Alan Wake 2 will be carrying over the DNA of these more recent Remedy games, specifically 2019's Control. The most recent Alan Wake 2 trailer showcases creepy visuals and an eerie atmosphere, strengthening that connection to Control.

Though Remedy first made waves with the original Max Payne games in the early 2000s, the studio would eventually wander away from the gritty, hyper-violent world of New York's underbelly and release games with more experimental, supernatural, almost Lynchian premises and tones. This trend of off-beat, interpretable storytelling would be repeated with Control, which is set in the same universe as Alan Wake. Given this clear connection, many fans expected Alan Wake 2 to share similarities with Control, but the most recent Gamescom trailer for the game really drives this connection home.

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Alan Wake 2 Looks Full of Control Energy

Control follows the story of Jesse Faden as she assumes the role of Director of the Federal Bureau of Control, a government agency that is charged with investigating paranormal phenomena. Nearly all of Control takes place in the FBC headquarters, and the stuffy, anachronistic, warped office environment allows for a number of eerie happenings and tricks. Additionally, the out-of-time nature of the building allows for a unique aesthetic via analog devices and generally outdated technology. Alan Wake 2's new trailer seems to adopt some of these distinct facets.

Besides explicit references and characters that concretely tie it to Control, the most recent Alan Wake 2 trailer takes on an erratic, dream-like tone, so there is a lot that can be dissected and potentially tied back to Control from a thematic standpoint. On a surface level, the trailer is full of the same outdated tech as Control; Wake is seen using a typewriter, watching a show on an old TV, and observing a traditional film projector. These may not seem like significant choices at first, but the removal of familiar devices adds to the unsettling and alien tone of both the Alan Wake 2 trailer and Control.

Something else that adds to the compelling tone and mystery of Alan Wake 2 is the inclusion of live-action segments in the trailer, switching between in-game footage and real actors—a move that Control pulled off several times as well. The inclusion of outdated technology creates an unsettling atmosphere and with how realistic the in-game footage can sometimes appear, it's not always immediately clear what is "real" and what isn't, something that is very thematically resonant in the case of both Control and Alan Wake 2.

The various environments of Alan Wake 2, based on this trailer, also seem to share some similar qualities with those of Control. Control is set in a location many people are familiar with: an office building. Alan Wake 2's trailer centers on other familiar spaces, like hotel hallways, subways, and movie theaters. This adds to the horror of Alan Wake 2 and Control as the games recontextualize mundane places that most players will have some experience with, making them feel altered and unsafe.

With Control and the Alan Wake franchise, it's clear that Remedy has developed a unique brand of video game horror. They may wear their video game, film, and literary references on their sleeves, but that doesn't make them any less distinct or special. As this brand of horror becomes more recognizable, it's likely that players will catch even more similarities between Alan Wake 2, Control, and future Remedy releases.

Alan Wake 2 releases October 27, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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