Summary
Since the firstAlan Wakereleased in 2010, Remedy has been hard at work on other projects that have continued to grow the studio’s reputation and singular style.Alan Wake 2will be carrying over the DNA of these more recent Remedy games, specifically 2019’sControl. The most recentAlan Wake 2trailer showcases creepy visualsand an eerie atmosphere, strengthening that connection toControl.
Though Remedy first made waves with the originalMax Paynegames in the early 2000s, the studio would eventually wander away from the gritty, hyper-violent world of New York’s underbelly and release games with more experimental, supernatural, almost Lynchian premises and tones. This trend of off-beat, interpretable storytelling would be repeated withControl, which isset in the same universe asAlan Wake. Given this clear connection, many fans expectedAlan Wake 2to share similarities withControl, but the most recent Gamescom trailer for the game really drives this connection home.
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Alan Wake 2 Looks Full of Control Energy
Controlfollows the story of Jesse Faden as she assumes the role of Director of the Federal Bureau of Control, a government agency that is charged with investigating paranormal phenomena. Nearly all ofControltakes place in the FBC headquarters, and the stuffy, anachronistic, warped office environment allows for a number of eerie happenings and tricks. Additionally, the out-of-time nature of the building allows for a unique aesthetic via analog devices and generally outdated technology.Alan Wake 2’s new trailerseems to adopt some of these distinct facets.
Besides explicit references and characters that concretely tie it toControl, the most recentAlan Wake 2trailer takes on an erratic, dream-like tone, so there is a lot that can be dissected and potentially tied back toControlfrom a thematic standpoint. On a surface level, the trailer is full of the same outdated tech asControl; Wake is seen using a typewriter, watching a show on an old TV, and observing a traditional film projector. These may not seem like significant choices at first, but the removal of familiar devices adds to the unsettling and alien tone of both theAlan Wake 2trailer andControl.
Something else that adds to thecompelling tone and mystery ofAlan Wake 2is the inclusion of live-action segments in the trailer, switching between in-game footage and real actors—a move thatControlpulled off several times as well. The inclusion of outdated technology creates an unsettling atmosphere and with how realistic the in-game footage can sometimes appear, it’s not always immediately clear what is “real” and what isn’t, something that is very thematically resonant in the case of bothControlandAlan Wake 2.
The various environments ofAlan Wake 2, based on this trailer, also seem to share some similar qualities with those ofControl.Controlis set in a location many people are familiar with: an office building.Alan Wake 2’s trailer centers on other familiar spaces, like hotel hallways, subways, and movie theaters. This adds to thehorror ofAlan Wake 2andControlas the games recontextualize mundane places that most players will have some experience with, making them feel altered and unsafe.
WithControland theAlan Wakefranchise, it’s clear that Remedy has developed a unique brand of video game horror. They may wear their video game, film, and literary references on their sleeves, but that doesn’t make them any less distinct or special. As this brand of horror becomes more recognizable, it’s likely that players will catch even more similarities betweenAlan Wake 2,Control, and future Remedy releases.
Alan Wake2releases June 21, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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