Unforeseen Tactics Utilized by Alan Wake Developers to Maintain Coherent Details

Article Key Points

The developers of Alan Wake 2 used fan wikis to ensure they remembered the smallest details of the story, reflecting their trust in the passionate fan community.

The writing team put in significant effort to ensure the story remained coherent, considering the complex narrative and connections to the previous game and Control.

To further enrich the lore and universe of Alan Wake 2, there are plans for free DLC drops and two full-sized expansions in 2024.

The developers of Alan Wake 2 utilized fan wikis as a tool to maintain accuracy in the story's details during the writing process. This may be surprising to some gamers, but due to the complexity of Alan Wake 2's storyline and the fact that many fans had played the original game, it was crucial to ensure the preservation of even the smallest facts in order to avoid disappointing the franchise's most devoted fans.

Released last month, Alan Wake 2 received positive reviews from the majority of gaming outlets, with particular acclaim directed towards its story and atmosphere. As the narrative of Alan Wake 2 is situated within the same universe as Control and the first game, the writers faced the challenge of meticulously remembering numerous minute details.

Now, during an interview with the Friends Per Second Podcast, Sam Lake and Kyle Rowley, co-directors of Alan Wake 2, shared more about how they recalled details from the story of Alan Wake 1. Around 1:47:10 in the video, the show’s host asked the duo how they managed to keep track of all the references and callbacks. Sam Lake expressed his gratitude towards the community and admitted that there were certain obscure details even the writers couldn't recall. To refresh their memories, the team relied on fan wikis. Lake confessed, “I confess, I trust these people (the fans). I’ll be thinking, 'We said something about this in the original Alan Wake, but I can’t for the life of me remember the details.”

What's Next For Alan Wake 2?

Despite that, the Remedy team made a concerted effort to maintain narrative coherence. According to Lake and Rowley, the game's development involved both a dedicated writing team and a narrative team. They diligently documented every aspect of the story internally, aiming to keep track of all its intricacies. Nevertheless, the intricate and ever-changing narrative of Alan Wake 2 posed challenges in terms of memorization and recall.

While many fans who purchased Alan Wake 2 during its initial release may have already completed the story, there is still more excitement on the horizon. Last month, Remedy Entertainment announced that the game will receive free DLC drops that promise to be "quite significant," expanding the narrative even further. Additionally, players can look forward to two full-sized expansions scheduled for 2024: Nights Springs and Lake House. Although details about these expansions are scarce at the moment, it is hoped that they will delve deeper into the game's lore and universe.

Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the original game, is set to release in 2023, 13 years after its predecessor's debut. The first Alan Wake game captivated audiences with its psychologically thrilling narrative, inspired by the works of Stephen King. According to Sam Lake, from Remedy Entertainment, the sequel will take a different approach, leaning more towards survival horror compared to the first game, which was described as an action game with horror elements.

The franchise, Alan Wake, will be available on multiple platforms including PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. The game is being developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Epic Games. It falls under the genre of survival horror.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the upcoming release of Alan Wake 2 and appreciate the developers' attention to detail. Utilizing fan wikis to ensure story accuracy is a testament to their dedication to the game and its passionate fan base. It's clear that the team at Remedy Entertainment is committed to delivering a compelling and immersive experience for players.

The promise of free DLC drops and two full-sized expansions in 2024 further demonstrates their commitment to expanding the game's narrative and universe. I am particularly intrigued by the potential for these expansions to delve deeper into the lore and universe of Alan Wake 2. Overall, I am optimistic about the future of the Alan Wake franchise and eager to see what the developers have in store for us.