After 13 long years of anticipation, Alan Wake 2 has arrived, allowing fans to finally delve deeper into the narrative of the tormented writer. While the sequel undoubtedly advances Remedy Entertainment's thought-provoking horror tale, it also incorporates clues about the future of the franchise and the Remedy Connected Universe. In addition to the main game, Alan Wake 2 is gearing up to introduce a New Game Plus mode and two DLC expansions, The Lake House and Night Springs. Here's all the information we have about these upcoming DLC expansions.
Upcoming New Game Plus Mode for Alan Wake 2: What to Expect
As of now, Alan Wake 2 does not offer a New Game Plus feature, but Remedy Entertainment has confirmed that this feature will be added post-launch, with the release date to be determined. What we do know, however, is that New Game Plus will introduce intriguing modifications to Alan Wake 2.
The most prominent addition in New Game Plus is an "alternative narrative" that introduces new Manuscript pages and video content. The extent to which this will alter the overall plot remains unclear, but given Remedy's storytelling expertise, it's possible that significant changes could be in store.
Additionally, New Game Plus will enable players to retain all unlocked weapons and upgrades, and it will introduce a new Nightmare difficulty level.
Alan Wake 2 DLC Release Date: When Can You Expect It?
Remedy has confirmed that Alan Wake 2 will receive two distinct DLC expansions, named Night Springs and The Lake House. Although the release dates for these expansions have not been disclosed, they are expected to become available sometime in 2024. It's worth noting that the New Game Plus update is anticipated to be released well ahead of either DLC.To provide a comparison, Remedy's previous game, Control, also featured two DLC expansions. Control was released in August 2019, with its first expansion, The Foundation, arriving approximately seven months later in March 2020. The second expansion, AWE, was released in August 2020. It's likely that a similar timeline will apply to the release of the DLC for Alan Wake 2.
What to Expect from Alan Wake 2's DLC Storyline?
Both DLC packs for Alan Wake 2 offer intriguing insights into their content and potential ramifications for the game's universe. The first expansion, Night Springs, centers around the fictional TV show inspired by The Twilight Zone within the game's universe.
In Night Springs, players will assume the roles of several familiar characters from the Alan Wake world and experience inexplicable events in self-contained episodes of the TV show. This suggests that characters like Barry Wheeler or Sheriff Sarah Breaker might be playable. Furthermore, since Night Springs is the setting, it appears that the character Mr. Door, a prominent figure in Alan Wake 2, will play a crucial role in connecting the Remedy Universe. Video collectibles in the game also feature Night Springs commercials with Mr. Door.
On the other hand, The Lake House appears to establish a closer connection between Alan Wake 2 and Control, as well as Control's upcoming sequel, which is currently in the early stages of development. In Alan Wake 2, players learn about the Federal Bureau of Control's research station at The Lake House, where contact with the personnel has been lost. This plot thread remains undeveloped in the main game. The Lake House is described as a mysterious facility on the shores of Cauldron Lake, established by an independent federal organization for secret research until something goes awry. Players will explore The Lake House and embark on two distinct adventures, which will bring together the realities of Saga Anderson and Alan Wake once more.
Considering that Control's AWE expansion directly set up the events of Alan Wake 2, it's not far-fetched to think that The Lake House could serve as an introduction to the storyline of Control 2.
Alan Wake 2 is available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
