The Max Payne Remakes Might Be More Than You Expect

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Max Payne

Highlights

The Max Payne remakes could fit into the Remedy Connected Universe rather nicely, bridging the gap between iconic games like Alan Wake and Control.
Remedy's meta storytelling could bring Max Payne into a larger universe filled with alternate worlds and realities.
While this is unlikely to happen given Rockstar's ownership of the IP, as well as Sam Lake saying that original Max Payne is not part of the Remedy Connected Universe, there is a chance for the remakes to surprise players with some connective tissue.

Remedy's recent confirmation of the first two Max Payne games getting remakes is exciting news for many longtime fans of the developer, but there might be more to these remakes than first meets the eye. The Max Payne franchise is the series that put Remedy on the map, and although the company eventually had to sell the property, the developer is set to head remakes of the first and second game.

Remedy hasn't been able to make a new installment in the Max Payne franchise in years, so the news of these remakes is exciting, especially considering the wider implications. Remedy has been building an extended universe for a while now, and the Max Payne remakes could actually be much more than what they seem.

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Max Payne Remakes Have Bigger Implications

The Alan Wake series embraces the highly strange, offering some of the most compelling narratives in gaming. Before Alan Wake 2 arrived on the scene, Remedy planted the seeds of its extended universe with Control in 2019. To the delight of many Alan Wake fans, Control confirmed that the game was connected to Alan and his odd world. Alan Wake 2 further built upon this universe, and the strange supernatural aspects of Remedy's world could bring Max Payne into this larger universe.

Remedy Hinting At Many Worlds

A major moment in Control is when protagonist Jesse Faden finally talks with her long-lost brother, Dylan. During their conversation, Dylan mentioned meeting a man in his dreams named Mr. Door who spoke of many different worlds. Mr. Door made his big reveal in Alan Wake 2, further connecting the games. This talk of alternate worlds and realities is a big theme in Alan Wake 2, since he can alter reality through his writing. These many worlds could be the key to how the Max Payne games become part of Remedy's universe.

Alan's Stories

Alan's gift as a writer has more power than he originally thought, as his stories can transform the world around him. In Alan Wake 2, detectives Saga Anderson and her partner Alex Casey make their way into Bright Falls. What Alan originally believes to be story inspiration while stuck in the Dark Place actually happens to be moments from Alex Casey's current life, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. With Remedy's Sam Lake being the face model for both Alex Casey and Max Payne, the resemblance between the characters could actually be a fun way for Remedy to dive deeper into meta storytelling that it's become so well known for.

Following the events of Alan Wake 2, Alan could still continue to take inspiration from Alex Casey's life, crafting the character of Max Payne for a new story. One of the most obvious references to Max Payne in Alan Wake 2 happens at Oceanview Hotel when Alan has a vision of two police officers talking about an "inner circle" and a "new designer drug". The Inner Circle is a secret society in Max Payne, while Valkyr from the series could be the designer drug in question. This is already proof that Sam Lake is weaving in details from Max Payne into Remedy's universe, meaning the remakes could dive even deeper into this.

With Rockstar having ownership of Max Payne , there is a barrier to the franchise being properly included in the Remedy Connected Universe. Additionally, in a rockpapershotgun interview, Sam Lake said that the original Max Payne games are officially not part of the RCU despite Easter eggs, though perhaps the remakes will be a different story.

Max Payne's Place In The Remedy Universe

It's possible that the Max Payne remakes could just be straightforward, but Remedy has established that it has its sights set on growing its franchises and universe. Remedy's planned projects are going to expand its mind-bending world, and Max Payne would play a perfect part in the overarching story.

When it comes to the developer's future, Remedy has promised exciting things are ahead. Though Sam Lake has stated that Max Payne will not officially become a part of Remedy's universe beyond the various Easter eggs, it would be great to see plans change and Lake finally get to bring his first hit character into the complex world he's weaving together.