The summer exhibition season is winding down, culminating with the expansive gamescom 2023 event. Viewers were introduced to several new products and trailers for both familiar and highly anticipated titles. Among them was Alan Wake 2, whose gameplay was previewed in depth during the Summer Game Fest 2023 showcase and analyzed in a separate article. Here, the latest videos are examined, and all available details are gathered in one place.
Direct continuation
There is little doubt that Alan Wake 2 continues the story of the troubled author. This is not a reboot or a different dark tale from Remedy Entertainment bearing the same title. The game expands on ideas and threads present in the 2010 release, developing them further.
Alan has aged since the first game. Thirteen years have passed since the original events. During this time, Alan has kept writing a new book while tormented by the Darkness at the bottom of a mysterious lake. The trailers suggest Wake will find a way to escape captivity once again, yet the manuscript he creates could be forgotten just as before. As before, the player will need to search pages scattered across Bright Falls to gain insight. Additionally, Alan will collaborate with the player to craft another novel. By assembling photos and information, players gradually shape a narrative that alters the world around the author.
The writer is joined by an FBI agent and forensic psychologist named Saga Anderson, who may appear as a character in the forthcoming narrative. At first, their partnership does not go smoothly. In the gamescom trailer, Saga’s partner forcefully pins Alan against a wall, alleging that the writer is the killer in question. With Wake’s escape, Bright Falls is swept up in a wave of ritual murders that seem linked. Lawyers argue that Alan leads the bloody cult.
Two main characters
The game is confirmed to feature two complete campaigns, with players able to switch between them at any moment. To grasp the full picture, it’s best to experience Saga’s storyline first and then Alan’s, or vice versa. When one character investigates reality, the other’s situation grows even more complicated.
In the trailers, the author traverses a neon-lit night through a deserted New York filled with messages and supernatural forces. The atmosphere nods to the Control universe, and given that both games share a connected setting, there are hints of intriguing crossovers. It remains possible that the player witnesses the preparation for a perilous escape or that Darkness intermittently seizes the hero, dragging him into a nightmarish realm. The new gameplay clip reveals someone communicating with Alan and offering assistance in the Dark Abode, though the voice behind the mysterious phone booth remains unidentified.
Will Alan Wake 2 be a frightening experience?
New graphics and live actors
The visuals show Remedy’s signature polish. The interplay of light and shadow, lush environments, and neon-lit doorways creates a striking, immersive atmosphere. In the first game, the Darkness did not terrify seasoned players to a great extent. The sequel promises darker areas, shimmering figures, and blurred visions that heighten tension. In the Dark Abode, Alan will constantly engage with the Darkness, with graffiti, cryptic phrases, and signs carrying hidden meanings—each element contributing to the tension.
Live-action footage appears to play a larger role, and this approach benefits from modern graphical fidelity. The characters feel authentic, closely matching their in-game counterparts while taking on a slightly altered presence. The sensation deepens as Alan approaches a television, becoming wholly absorbed by the program he encounters.
Available mechanisms
Developers have repeatedly cited the remake of Resident Evil 2 as a key inspiration for the project. Expect camera angles that feel reminiscent of the classic titles, along with careful pacing and resource constraints. Both Alan and Saga encounter a limited number of enemies, but each foe is markedly more dangerous than those in the 2010 release.
There will be fewer combat encounters, but they are promised to be more intense and cinematic. The traditional flashlight and lanterns return, and weakening the light-possessed remains a core mechanic. Now, however, merely marking an enemy is not enough; players must aim and burn for maximum damage.
A novel investigative mechanic is introduced for Saga: she can analyze collected evidence, draw conclusions, and set new goals. Whether missteps can alter the story path remains unclear, but the potential for branching outcomes adds a fresh layer of intrigue.
That angel lamp appears again as a pivotal tool. Alan remains a writer with a few specialized abilities. In the Dark House, puzzles rely on the Angel Lamp, which absorbs light and can alter reality. In Saga’s mindscape, Alan can trigger bursts of inspiration to write and reshape his surroundings, potentially opening blocked paths or returning to previously explored areas to uncover hidden routes and secrets through creative thinking.
Cool music
The Alan Wake 2 soundtrack is shaping up to carry forward Remedy’s strong tradition of pairing visuals with evocative music. The team has a track record of selecting fitting artists for their projects, maintaining a high bar for audio design.
Fans hope to see the return of Poets of the Fall, whose songs gave the original game its distinctive flavor. In an interview, Sam Lake hinted that a comeback is possible. The latest gameplay footage suggests that the musicians may indeed appear again, with footage from a television broadcast within the Dark Abode hinting at their return.
Release date and availability
The title is slated for release on October 27, 2023 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For many players, subtitles in Russian will be welcome. Two downloadable content packs are planned, though details remain sparse at this time.
Despite the limited official information, a clearer picture is emerging: a tense, atmospheric adventure that leans into psychological strain and loneliness rather than raw monsters. Two protagonists, each with distinct abilities, will offer a unique and immersive experience. If Remedy delivers, Alan Wake 2 stands to carry forward the strongest elements of the Resident Evil 2 remake’s approach.