Alan Wake 2 release date, story, gameplay and more

Looking for details on the Alan Wake 2 release date, story and more? Remedy Entertainment have finally announced the long-anticipated sequel to the original Alan Wake game, and the new survival horror entry looks set to be one of the biggest in the genre this year.

Here, we’ll cover all the most pressing details of the Alan Wake release date, as well as where you can play the game, and what we can expect from the gameplay and story.

Alan Wake 2 release date

Alan Wake 2 is set to release on October 27, 2023.

Alan Wake 2 was originally set to release ten days earlier, but was moved back as announced by the game’s official Twitter account. “October is an amazing month for game launches, and we hope this date shift gives more space for everyone to enjoy their favourite games,” said the official statement.

The game’s next public showing, it’s confirmed, will be as part of the Gamescom Opening Night Live show, set to take place next week.

The planned demo prior to the full release is up in the air at the moment, with the studio having announced it plans to keep resources focused on the main project for the time being rather than diverting resources for a demo experience. This could be subject to change prior to the game’s full release, but at the moment, it’s unclear.

Alan Wake 2 platforms

The game will be available to play on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4 and Xbox One fans are out of luck here, unfortunately.

It currently looks like the news about an Alan Wake 2 physical version on release is up in the air. While THQ Nordic seemed positive about releasing the game on disk, current sources suggest that Alan Wake 2 will have a digital-only release instead. This will be the case for both the console versions and PC version of the game.

Alan Wake 2 gameplay

Like its predecessor, this game will be a third-person perspective, single player experience. Players will follow two separate character stories, that of the titular protagonist and that of an FBI agent. You’ll have free choice over which character to play through first, with both having their own trials to overcome as they face the nightmare brought on by the pages of a horror story come to life.

You’ll be able to fight off enemies with weapons you find on your journey across Bright Falls, the dilapidated town of Watery, and of course, the Dark Place. More so than the first game, Alan Wake 2 seems set to be more of a horror experience. Remedy Studios even apparently consider this their first true survival horror game, claiming the first entry was more of an action game with horror elements, so be prepared for some good scares.

Alan Wake 2 story

We know the basic premise so far. 13 years following the horror writer Alan Wake’s disappearance, FBI agent Saga Anderson is sent to the town of Bright Falls to investigate a string of ritualistic murders. Only upon arrival does she become tangled up in the shifting supernatural events of a story that the lost writer wrote to escape his captivity. All the while, Wake himself continues to stagger through the Dark Place, fighting to keep his sanity and beat the devil at his own game. Both these protagonists will journey through their parallel worlds, fighting against the horrors that seek to consume them. Beyond this though, the rest of the story is anyone’s guess, with the studio remaining tight-lipped about the details.

All they do promise is that this will be going to some deep and dark places. Quoting David Lynch, creative director Sam Lake remarked that “Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch big fish, you’ve got to go deeper,” and that “Alan Wake 2 is our big fish. We are diving deeper than ever, into an ocean of darkness.” Expect that whatever we get, it’s going to build upon the strong foundations of the original in some major ways.

We know there’s more coming too though, with a host of extra content that’ll be free to owners of the expansion pass that comes with the game’s Deluxe edition. Alongside plenty of cosmetics like the Crimson Windbreaker, Lantern Charm, Parliament Shotgun skin and Ornate Revolver skin, the Night Springs expansion and the Lake House expansion will likely build upon whatever the main story offers us.

Alan Wake 2 trailers

We’ve been lucky enough to have a few trailers for the game so far, giving players a good idea of what to expect come release.

The first of these is the game’s reveal trailer, seen at The Game Awards 2021. This one announced the project and offered our first glimpse into the sequel, setting up a darker atmosphere than its predecessor.

The second of these is the gameplay reveal trailer, first featured at the Sony PlayStation Showcase.. This can be found on both the official Xbox and PlayStation YouTube channels, showcasing a bit of gameplay, giving a bit more character introduction, and generally expanding on the horror atmosphere.

We’ve been fortunate to see a little more than this too though. In more of a departure from the other trailers, Remedy Games have released their own Behind the Scenes videos on their own channel. Our favourite to date is the “Introducing Saga Anderson”, which does a good job at setting up the second protagonist we’ll be following in the sequel.

That covers everything we know so far about the Alan Wake 2 release date, story and more tertiary details. There’s every probability that we’ll see some more gameplay and get some better ideas of the story before the full October release, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated as things progress.

Does Alan Wake 2 release this year?

Yes, Alan Wake 2 will release on October 27, 2023.

Will Alan Wake 2 be on Nintendo Switch?

There is currently no word on Alan Wake 2 coming to the Switch, and it seems unlikely to happen.

Is Alan Wake 2 a direct sequel?

Yes, Alan Wake 2 is a sequel following the titular protagonist, as well as a new heroine, on events following on from the first game.