Content This article contains potential spoilers for Alan Wake 2 and some spoilers for Quantum Break.
I personally enjoyed Quantum Break, despite its mixed reception upon release. Our Website gave it a 6 out of 10 at the time. While flawed, Quantum Break aligns with what I appreciate about Remedy games. It showcases ambition by building on the transmedia concepts seen in Max Payne and Alan Wake games. Additionally, it places significant importance on its intricate and carefully crafted storyline.
As a writer who delves into time travel stories, I truly admire the level of research showcased in Quantum Break. The meticulous attention to detail, combined with a cleverly constructed sci-fi narrative and well-developed characters, captivates my interest. It is evident to me that Remedy, the creators of Quantum Break, share this same dedication.
However, it is important to note that Remedy does not have ownership of the intellectual property rights to Quantum Break; that lies with Microsoft. Consequently, despite the game's potential for a sequel, Quantum Break 2 has never materialized. Nonetheless, many of the innovative concepts and creative elements nurtured during the development of Quantum Break have found expression in Remedy's subsequent project, Control, which stands as a remarkable departure in the studio's game-making approach. Both Control and the anticipated Alan Wake 2 exhibit a greater indulgence in the strange, surreal, and stylized aspects compared to Remedy's earlier games. Moreover, these titles proudly embrace their Finnish origins, making them even more intriguing. As a result, it is evident that the studio has grown more self-assured in its identity and the types of games it seeks to create, leading to daring and exhilarating endeavors.
Remedy's most recent games have undoubtedly been their finest, overshadowing Quantum Break, which appears destined to be relegated to a minor role in the annals of this new era. As time passes, the game accumulates dust in the forgotten corners of the video game canon, trapped in a legal quagmire that prevents its revival. However, the arrival of Alan Wake 2 changes everything.
Control initiated the "Remedy Connected Universe," intertwining the narratives of Remedy's games into an expansive multiverse. However, it is with Alan Wake 2 that the full extent of this premise begins to unfold. Through various subplots and characters, the game uncovers the mysterious and chilling effects of the multiverse on individuals, transforming it into a concept of cosmic horror that evokes dread.
The inclusion of Quantum Break in Alan Wake 2's storyline indicates Remedy's continued interest in both games and the intriguing time travel themes they explore. Given Remedy's success in reclaiming the rights to Alan Wake, it raises speculation about the potential for future additions of Quantum Break in their projects. In Alan Wake 2, Remedy cleverly incorporates Quantum Break's existence to emphasize the vastness of its multiverse and the profound impact it has on its inhabitants. This is demonstrated through the character of Tim Breaker, portrayed by actor Shawn Ashmore, who initially serves as the sheriff in the game's primary setting of Bright Falls, Washington. Working alongside FBI Agent Saga Anderson, Breaker assists in investigating the chilling and ritualistic murders occurring in the town.
Then, mid-conversation, Tim Breaker vanishes into thin air.
Breaker is later discovered in the Dark Place, the malevolent alternate dimension featured in the Alan Wake games. In Alan Wake 2, Breaker is trapped in this realm while Alan, the game's second playable character, navigates through it. Breaker believes that his presence in the Dark Place is a result of Warlin Door, a character whom Alan encounters during a bizarre talk show that he continually experiences, but he remains uncertain of the reasons behind it. Additionally, Breaker discusses dreams and memories of past lives, which could potentially be recollections from Quantum Break.
Ashmore also portrays protagonist Jack Joyce in Quantum Break, leading fans to believe that Warlin Door is a modified rendition of Martin Hatch, a semi-antagonist from the aforementioned game. The name "Warlin Door" appears to be a playful alteration of "Martin Hatch" using a naming convention reminiscent of Wario. These characters' presence, along with suggestions that elements from their previous depictions are beginning to influence their current versions, serves as a testament to Remedy's recognition of the value of Quantum Break within its storytelling. While direct inclusion of Quantum Break in Alan Wake 2 and the broader Remedy Connected Universe may not be feasible, the studio is determined to ensure that it does not become forgotten or overlooked.
The nods to Quantum Break in Control and Alan Wake 2 may reveal more about the ongoing Remedy stories than initially evident. While Control and Alan Wake 2 are not as strange and paranormal as Quantum Break, they focus on a significant element that AW2 in particular suggests could be highly significant: time travel.
Quantum Break, a brief overview: Jack's closest friend, Paul Serene, invents a time machine that disrupts the flow of time. The story predominantly follows Jack and Paul's battles as they attempt to utilize time travel to fix this issue by altering or preventing future events. However, their efforts to succeed in these endeavors prove challenging. Quantum Break's portrayal of time travel is quite meticulous and even moderately scientifically accurate. It indicates that the past appears to be unchangeable, despite characters repeatedly attempting to alter events through time travel. Ultimately, their influence proves integral to the unfolding of events as they experience them. The question of whether altering the past is possible becomes an ideological one in which characters in the story persistently try, yet fail, to change their destinies. However, the game never definitively states that changing the past is impossible.
Alan Wake 2 delves into the complexities of time. The storyline revolves around time loops, as Alan embarks on a journey through the Dark Place. He encounters the same events multiple times, each from a different perspective. Intriguingly, certain moments reveal that actions in a later part of the story have consequences that manifest earlier on.
Time manipulation is not limited to just Alan Wake 2; Control also incorporates it. In the AWE expansion, which directly ties Control to Alan Wake 2, a future alarm goes off in the Federal Bureau of Control, alerting the characters to supernatural occurrences in Bright Falls.
These instances of disrupting time resemble the plot of Quantum Break, indicating that the developers are exploring the concept of time travel while advancing the RCU's narratives. While Alan Wake 2 has yet to delve into the deeper questions of physics and metaphysics such as altering the past to shape the future, time paradoxes, and the nature of determinism or destiny, the potential for such exploration is evident.
These aspects of Alan Wake 2's story make Quantum Break continue to feel relevant to what Remedy is building, even if it can't be a direct part of the story.
However, is it achievable?
Released in 2010, the original Alan Wake, similar to Quantum Break, was published by Microsoft. Remedy later developed a smaller version called Alan Wake's American Nightmare, leaving many to believe that a true sequel, Alan Wake 2, would never materialize. However, in 2019, Remedy reacquired the rights to Alan Wake. The character Alan made an appearance in Control, the original game received a remastered edition, and now we finally have Alan Wake 2.
The possibility of a similar story unfolding with Quantum Break is not too far-fetched. Remedy establishes certain foundations in Alan Wake 2 that could potentially lead to a future game in the Quantum Break series. Despite the initial lukewarm reception, Remedy's unique take on time travel in the original game offers intriguing elements worth revisiting. It is evident that these ideas are already influencing new plot points and characters in the ongoing RCU stories.
Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that the meta narrative works both ways. Quantum Break includes references to the Alan Wake story as well. One notable example is a detailed breakdown of the Alan Wake story on a blackboard within the game, which also mentions elements that would later appear in Alan Wake 2. The concept of "altered world events," central to Control, is also featured on the blackboard.
The live-action trailer for "Return" adds another layer of intrigue to the story. It follows two FBI agents as they delve into Alan's past before his mysterious escape from the Dark Place. While the trailer for Quantum Break's "Return" doesn't directly depict events from Alan Wake 2, it shares similar themes and plot points. Notably, one captivating scene from the trailer is faithfully recreated in Alan Wake 2.
These Remedy Easter eggs, though meant for fun, hint at the possibility of a larger interconnected story between their games during the creation of Quantum Break. This suggests that Remedy may have ideas about how Quantum Break can fit into its expanding narrative if given the opportunity.
Those who enjoy Quantum Break have reason to be excited, as Remedy shows no intention of disregarding its Xbox One game, even if it can't fully integrate it into its new narrative direction. The remarkable aspects of Quantum Break continue to exist in some way or another, serving as inspiration for even more intriguing and captivating twists in the future.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of Remedy Entertainment's games, I am thrilled about the recent announcement of Alan Wake 2 and its potential implications for the Quantum Break franchise. Remedy's commitment to creating a cohesive and interconnected universe, known as the Remedy Connected Universe, has been evident since the release of Control, and Alan Wake 2 seems to be taking this concept to the next level.
The inclusion of Quantum Break elements in Alan Wake 2, such as the character of Tim Breaker and references to the Dark Place, suggests that Remedy is not abandoning the Quantum Break universe despite the game's mixed reception. This gives me hope that we may see more Quantum Break-related content in the future, whether in the form of a sequel, a spin-off, or even just additional references and Easter eggs in future Remedy games.
Overall, I believe that Alan Wake 2's reaffirmation of Remedy's dedication to Quantum Break is a positive sign for fans of both franchises. It suggests that Remedy is committed to exploring the potential of the Quantum Break universe and expanding upon its intricate storyline and characters. I am excited to see what the future holds for both Alan Wake 2 and Quantum Break, and I can't wait to dive deeper into the Remedy Connected Universe when Alan Wake 2 releases in 2023.
