Alan Wake 2 Update Brings Surprising Change to PC Version

In a surprising move, Remedy Entertainment has reduced the minimum PC system requirements for Alan Wake 2. This unexpected update was included in the game's most recent patch, which became available for download on March 6.

Initially, players were required to have at least a GeForce RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 6600 to run Alan Wake 2. It was uncommon for a game to exclude Nvidia's GTX 1000 and AMD's Radeon RX 5000 series, as seen in Nacon's ARPG Steelrising a year prior. Seeing GPUs from 2019 like the GeForce RTX 2060 as minimum requirements for new PC games is still not a common occurrence.

Alan Wake 2 Can Now Run on 8-Year-Old GPUs

Remedy has made a surprising move by lowering the hardware requirements for Alan Wake 2 post-release. The game can now run on GPUs that are up to eight years old. The minimum system requirements now include the GeForce GTX 1070 and Radeon RX 5600 XT, which are a generation older than the previously required graphics cards. This change was made possible by recent PC optimization efforts by the developer, which were included in a new update for Alan Wake 2 available for download.

Twitter article posted by Alan Wake 2

Lowering the game's minimum system requirements may catch your attention, but this change was actually part of a minor patch release. The newest PC build of the game is labeled as version 1.0.16.1, indicating that it mainly consists of small adjustments compared to the Alan Wake 2 update 1.0.16 released in February.

Alan Wake 2 surprised-looking protagonist close-up crop blue tinted background

Alan Wake 2 Lowered PC Requirements With Mesh Shaders Alternatives

Remedy made significant optimizations to reduce the hardware requirements of the game Alan Wake 2. The main focus was on finding alternative methods to render the game without relying heavily on mesh shaders. These shaders are versatile and can handle various tasks like graphics rendering and physics simulations. The exact extent of the game's dependence on mesh shaders before the optimization is not clear.

The lowered minimum system requirements are just one of the updates planned for Remedy's survival horror game set to release in 2024. The Finnish developer has revealed two major expansions to the game scheduled for this year. Additionally, a photo mode will be added to Alan Wake 2 in the upcoming spring.

Alan Wake 2 Update 1.0.16.1 Patch Notes

PC only.

Optimized rendering for GPU’s that don’t support mesh shaders. As a result, lowered minimum GPU requirements to GeForce GTX 1070 / Radeon RX 5600 XT.

Editor's P/S:

I'm thrilled to hear that Remedy Entertainment has lowered the minimum PC system requirements for Alan Wake 2. This move makes the game more accessible to a wider range of players, including those with older GPUs. It's refreshing to see a developer prioritize inclusivity by optimizing their game for lower-end hardware.

I'm also impressed by Remedy's commitment to post-release support for Alan Wake 2. The recent patch not only reduced the system requirements but also included a number of other improvements. This level of dedication is commendable and bodes well for the future of the game. I'm excited to see what other updates and expansions Remedy has in store for Alan Wake 2 in the coming months.