Fans of Remedy Entertainment's worldbuilding techniques had long anticipated a sequel to the iconic Alan Wake. Fortunately, an announcement made during The Game Awards 2021 brought an end to the tantalizing wait, as it revealed the development status of the upcoming game. Rather than reinforcing the predecessor's thriller-like aspects, Alan Wake 2 is said to be a horror title, and the latest concept art attests to its newfound direction.

Despite not offering a definitive conclusion to the fictional bestselling author's treacherous vacation in the Pacific Northwest, Remedy successfully incorporated the game's lore into the extended universe of titles that followed. Both Quantum Break and Control featured a plethora of Alan Wake Easter eggs, but they could hardly tie any loose ends, let alone provide a glimpse into the future of the series. With the Finnish developer's recent announcement that it won't release an in-depth trailer or a playable demo this summer, a closer look at the available concept art can reveal several details surrounding Alan Wake 2's general setting.

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Out of the five images displayed during Remedy Entertainment's Anniversary Update with Alan Wake's Creative Director, Sam Lake, four provided an insight into the game's atmosphere. In one, Alan seems to be standing in the middle of a dimly lit street on a rainy night, with ominous black birds in the foreground. The second image showcases two illuminated phone booths in an otherwise dark urban area, while the third has Alan exploring the rooftop of an unknown building.

Aside from an underlying depiction of supernatural forces at play in a seemingly desolate city and the prevalence of sinister overtones bolstered by rainy weather, the fourth comes across as a throwback to the original game. Silently capturing the foreboding nature of a dark forest, the image also reveals that the sequel will not stray too far from its roots. Coupled with the grim appearance of birds and careful placement of highlighted areas in strips of nighttime darkness, Alan Wake 2's framework elicits a sense of familiarity, despite shifting gears to establish itself as full-fledged survival horror.

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The fifth image veers off the atmospheric course and presents the fans with a mysterious elderly lady unaffected by the perforated pipeline. She appears to have fully mastered the art of weaving, as direct exposure to flashlight glare and incessantly pouring water in a confined space does little to disturb her -- but there is more than meets the eye. Judging by the color of the fabric and the tendrils at its bottom that seem to dissolve into a body of red liquid, the lady's area of expertise could very well involve disturbing body modifications, and certainly not ones for the faint of heart.

Although the fans will have to wait a while longer for more pertinent information on the much-anticipated sequel, Remedy Entertainment is determined to create the best possible player experience when it releases Alan Wake 2 next year. Those feeling particularly nostalgic about the original can revisit its setting in last year's remaster, which is also set to release for Nintendo Switch at a later date. While the upcoming television adaptation will undoubtedly bring the franchise's premise to greater heights of psychological nuances tinged with horror elements, how the currently known pieces of the puzzle and the revealed concept art play into Alan Wake 2's new genre remains to be seen.