The Absence of Alan Wake 2 on Steam: Explained

Epic paid for it

The highly anticipated game of 2023, Alan Wake II, is set to release on October 27th for both console and PC. However, PC players will only be able to get it exclusively on the Epic Games Store, as it will not be available on Steam, at least not initially. The reason for this decision is quite straightforward.

Epic paid for it

The development of Alan Wake II was funded by Epic Games, and it is likely that part of their agreement with Remedy, the game's developer, included an exclusivity deal for the Epic Games Store, at least for a limited time. In addition, Epic Games also financed the development costs for the recently released Alan Wake remaster in 2021. Being the publisher of Alan Wake II, Epic Games holds the authority to determine the game's selling platform.

To boost the Epic Games Store's popularity in comparison to Steam, Epic is recognized for compensating developers or extending other incentives to encourage them to release their games exclusively on the Epic Games Store instead of competitors' platforms.

According to Tim Sweeney, the founder and CEO of Epic Games, "A few significant exclusives made a substantial impact...and for the lesser-known games, particularly those with a smaller Steam user base, we discovered that many of those players were reluctant to switch platforms."

Alan Wake 2 could eventually come to Steam... or will it?

Prior to this announcement, Remedy's Control was initially released exclusively on the Epic Games Store in 2019, with its availability on Steam coming exactly one year later. This implies the presence of a one-year exclusivity agreement, although it is important to note that Control was published by 505 Games. It should be noted that Alan Wake II is being published by Epic.

Alan Wake Remastered, which is also published by Epic, made its debut on the Epic Games Store in October 2021 and has not yet made its way to Steam. Given that Epic is the publisher of Alan Wake II, any inquiries regarding the game's availability for purchase are likely to be determined by them, and it is possible that releasing it on a competing store may not align with their plans.

According to Steve Allison, General Manager of the Epic Games Store, Alan Wake II will remain exclusive to the Epic Games Store for an extended period of time, although he has not specified a definitive timeframe for this exclusivity. However, he did not mention that it would be exclusive indefinitely.

Currently, the sole method to play Alan Wake II on PC upon its release is by purchasing it from the Epic Games Store. The official launch is scheduled for October 27, commencing at midnight Eastern time.

Our review of Alan Wake 2 is now accessible and awards the game an exceptional 10/10 rating. For further information, please visit Our Website's comprehensive analysis, which delves into the crucial aspects of Alan Wake 2.

You can also check out the Alan Wake 2 launch trailer, which debuted at the Xbox Partner Preview.