A follow-up to Alan Wake is and has been a given, since before the first game was even completed. Developer Remedy has hinted that the psychological thriller was meant to be a (likely transmedia) franchise, and that they’d love to make a game sequel. Ultimately, though, those plans were up to the audience and the sales numbers. Alan Wake has been out for roughly two months now, and is doing fairly well according to the studio. Maybe not as extraordinary as we’d hoped for something in development for six years, but it’s pulling in steady figures.

Speaking with Eurogamer, franchise development director Oskari Häkkinen says that they’re “still monitoring the main game” and “working full steam ahead” on DLC, but “great ideas” are floating around for a sequel.

“Being in this launch phase at the moment, we haven’t had a chance to get out to Redmond, Microsoft Game Studios, and discuss anything further of how we move on,” he says.  “But I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t continue with Microsoft with a full-blown sequel for Alan Wake. We definitely want to do it. We have great ideas for it.”

“There’s certainly a want, and that want is I believe from both sides. Right now I can’t confirm anything.“

Dismissing any speculation that future entries might go multiplatform, Häkkinen adds “With Microsoft Game Studios it’s Xbox eclusive, or it’s Xbox and PC … [but] Please don’t put that Alan Wake 2 is going to come out on PC, because that might not be true! Either is a possibility.“

Alan Wake was originally presented as a Games for Windows and Xbox 360 title, with early renditions shown on PC hardware before the entire project was revamped, ditching the open-world aspect. Remedy and Microsoft managed to piss off a great section of the gaming community earlier this year by confirming that the game would not hit PC, as the “most compelling way to experience Alan Wake was on the Xbox 360 platform.”

“[A PC port is] not something you can do in a month or two months. It takes time to do it right,” it’s said, regarding a future port. “We want the Remedy brand to be a seal of quality. Doing a half-assed PC version wouldn’t be an option for us. Rather, if we do it, we’ll do it properly.”

“Microsoft put a lot of beef behind the title for it to be an exclusive for the 360. They feel it’s an important title for their portfolio. It fits into their portfolio among other games like Gears of War, Halo and Forza. They think of their first-party games as a package and a portfolio for the 360. My understanding is we have a great fit in that portfolio as well.“

Alan Wake continues later this year with The Writer, the second DLC add-on.


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