This article has a talk page!This page details pre-release information and/or media for Alan Wake 2 (Windows).
Pitch Prototype#
In 2015, Remedy and Polygon released a 13-minute recording of an Alan Wake 2 pitch demo. The demo was created shortly after the first game's release in 2010, and was pitched to Microsoft. Sadly, the pitch was rejected, and Remedy partnered up with Microsoft to work on Quantum Break instead. Most of the gameplay mechanics and assets presented in the prototype were carried over into the downloadable kinda-sorta sequel, Alan Wake's American Nightmare.
The only thing the prototype and released title have in common is the name of the game. The setting, gameplay style and storyline have all been changed in the final product.
While some ideas, such as reality tears, survived to the final game, the form they take is quite different. At this point Alan was intended to explore a vast Dark Place taking various different forms, such as the Arizona desert town Night Springs, and flooded streets of a northwestern small town. The Arizona desert setting managed to make its way into Alan Wake's American Nightmare.
Some Taken concepts also ended up unused. The birdman was again seen in American Nightmare, while the bear boss was left entirely on the cutting room floor. The birdman was considered to return in Alan Wake 2 based on a piece of concept art, but ended up being scrapped.
"Return" teaser in Quantum Break#
In 2016, Remedy managed to sneak in a teaser of Alan Wake 2 as a trailer seen on one of the in-game TVs. The trailer is entirely live-action, as no version of the game was in development at the time, but it shows many of the story ideas of the final game set in stone! The FBI agents Alex Casey and Saga Anderson (who remains unnamed in the teaser) are in place, and so are Alan's and Scratch's outfits.
Proof of Concept#
As a lead up to Alan Wake II's release in September 2023, Remedy released a screenshot of the game's proof of concept demo from around 2020. The screencap shows an early version of Alan's Dark Place, the streets of New York. At this point the level is still an entirely unlit graybox stage. Alan is wearing his outfit from the first game.
(Source: Remedy Entertainment on X)
After the release of the game, this proof of concept demo was shown once more during a demonstration Remedy held at GDC Festival of Gaming 2024 showcasing the process of creating the Dark Place. Several screenshots as well as several video clips gave a deeper look at several areas and mechanics tested in the level.
Internal Development#
After the initial proof of concept demo, the game began full production. A lot of footage from the development sycle was shown in the Love Letter Development Diary published by Remedy in 2024.
In earlier stages of development there is a lot of footage showing a different randition of the Nursing Home level, which seems to have gone through a lot of changes leading to the final game, especially based on leftovers and unused files.
Announcement trailer#
In The Game Awards 2021, Alan Wake 2 was officially announced and set to be released during 2023. Shotrly afterwards, Sam Lake was interviewed by Geoff Keighley, stating the importence of this game to Remedy and the long wait for a sequel.