

If the sequel is falling in line with aspects of the original, then Alan's mental state will be an important narrative point, and this time Remedy can actually dig into some of his less enviable traits with real depth and nuance. A more mature game could make that a prominent part of its story without needing to worry about content restrictions. It's referenced during flashbacks that Alan has a "partying problem" but doesn't ever really go into what means in detail, whether that's issues with drugs and alcohol or other problems. Hopefully, an M-rating will also allow Alan Wake 2 to dive into the darker parts of Alan Wake as a character instead of having to tip-toe around some of the issues presented in the original. By giving the game an M-rating, Remedy won't need to pull any punches when it comes to how far can take certain elements of its content, allowing the studio to get as scary as it wants to without needing to worry about crossing the line. The monsters seen in Control's AWE DLC seem like they might be making appearances in Alan Wake 2, and if they are, then a lot of their impact might be lost if players who are caught by them face a mild, bloodless death. If Alan Wake 2 is leaning more into the horror aspect of things, then it will absolutely benefit from a more mature rating. Sure, allowing Alan and company to use much stronger language might have made the game feel a little bit more realistic, but its PG-13 tone fit with the made-for-TV-series vibe that the entire game was going for. Because the title wasn't going for outright horror, instead leaning into the psychological thriller elements of Alan and Bright Falls, making things darker, more violent, and overall more mature likely wouldn't have benefitted the game in any major way.

The original Alan Wake's T-rating makes sense for the story and game that Remedy made back in 2010.


RELATED: Alan Wake Remaster: Everything Different From The Original An Unrestricted Remedy Entertainment While there's absolutely a place for T-rated horror, if Alan Wake 2 wants to truly lean into the themes set up for it in both the ending of the original Alan Wake and the Control AWE DLC, then the game will likely be benefiting from its newfound M-rating. This news comes as a very welcome surprise for the upcoming game, especially since before the IGN interview, Lake had confirmed that Alan Wake 2 would be Remedy's first survival-horror game. Director Sam Lake said that there won't be much information on the title for quite some time as Remedy Entertainment continues working on it, but he did mention in an interview with IGN that Alan Wake 2will be dropping the T-rating from the original and leaning into an M one.
#COULD HAVE MADE ALAN WAKE 2 FULL#
Now that a sequel to the 2010 psychological thriller has been confirmed, however, speculation among fans has been in full swing.
#COULD HAVE MADE ALAN WAKE 2 SERIES#
The announcement of Alan Wake 2 at last week's Game Awards has fans of the titular writer and the horror game surrounding him excited, as the future of the Alan Wake series has been up in the air ever since the release of Control's 2020 crossover DLC, AWE.
