Unlock Alan Wake's Endless Possibilities: Why Remedy Needs to Spin More Novels

Highlights

Remedy Entertainment has an opportunity to capitalize on the return of Alan Wake by producing tie-in novels, which would expand on the franchise's lore and world-building.

Given the main character's identity as an author, creating more novels would be apt and in line with Remedy's vision of a "Remedy Connected Universe." Remedy has already ventured into multimedia territory with Alan Wake, having published a related tie-in novel and a live-action prequel series. The possibility exists to develop fresh novels, either from Alan's perspective or as real-world adaptations of his thrilling detective stories within the fictional universe.

As anticipation grows for Alan Wake 2's release, Remedy Entertainment has an opportunity to capitalize on the franchise's resurgence in the gaming world. By creating more novels based on the character and series, Remedy can further build upon the rich lore and world-building of the Alan Wake universe. This would not only maintain the current momentum for the series but also align with Remedy's vision of a "Remedy Connected Universe," where all their properties are interconnected. With a 13-year wait finally coming to an end, a series of tie-in novels centered around Alan Wake 2 and the overall IP would be the perfect way to satisfy fans and expand on future Alan Wake projects.

Alan Wake Should Have His Own Novel Series

Remedy has already produced multimedia content for Alan Wake, including a tie-in novel published in 2010. However, this novel is considered unofficial and differs in minor ways from the original game. In addition, there was a prequel live action miniseries called Bright Falls, released around the same time, which expanded the game's world and introduced interesting elements. Although Remedy discussed an Alan Wake TV adaptation in 2018, there have been no recent updates on its progress since mid-2022.

Given the abundance of source material available, Remedy has numerous potential directions to explore if they choose to create new Alan Wake novels. One intriguing approach would be narrating the novels from Alan's perspective, capturing his unique "style." Another possibility is to produce real-world versions of Alan's fictional "Alex Casey" series, the hard-boiled noir detective thrillers that he writes within the game's universe. Both options would effectively enrich the Alan Wake world.

Latter Remedy titles incorporated multimedia features, such as the inclusion of live-action sequences in games like Quantum Break and Control. Quantum Break, in particular, offered players 22-minute "interactive" episodes where they could select different narrative paths, resulting in varying consequences and outcomes. These choices had a ripple effect on later scenarios, influencing alternate versions of scenes and the fate of certain characters. Furthermore, player actions and decisions during gameplay also influenced minor details and interactions within these segments. Alan Wake 2 has also hinted at incorporating similar live-action elements, although the extent of player agency in these elements remains uncertain.

As Remedy prepares for future content, it faces the challenge of effectively managing all these elements. While the concept of the Remedy Connected Universe is promising, ensuring consistency across a wide range of properties and media poses potential challenges. Remedy must prioritize maintaining coherence, particularly considering the unique setting of Alan Wake.

Fans will need to patiently anticipate the outcome of the characters and overall storyline in Alan Wake 2. The course of the plot, coupled with the reactions from both critics and the audience, will undoubtedly have an impact on Remedy's decision of whether to pursue additional novels for the series, and if so, the path they will embark upon. Alan Wake 2 is slated to launch on October 27, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.