Summary
Alan Wake 2is the latest title from Remedy Entertainment, and as the first release following the studio’s previously announced plans for a connected universe between all their titles, it goes all-in on its efforts to tie its games together.Alan Wake 2has multiple references large and small to all of Remedy’s other games. The most obvious and prominent is fromControl, since the two bridge the gap between the pre-official RCU and the current phase.Control’sAWEDLC set this up quite clearly, and fans naturally expected it to feature heavily inAlan Wake 2.
In an interesting case,issues over the rights and licensing to theQuantum BreakIPmade it more difficult for Remedy to directly include elements from it inAlan Wake 2without causing legal headaches for itself.
Nevertheless,Alan Wake 2manages to fit in pieces ofQuantum Breaklore, albeit in a more creatively roundabout fashion thanControl’s. WhileControlis certainly the biggest crossover component inAlan Wake 2, Remedy’s 2016 time-traveling adventureQuantum Breakalso makes an appearance, in a manner.
Alan Wake 2’s Quantum Break Connections
Quantum Break’s Status In The Remedy Connected Universe
Due to the above complications,Quantum Breakis an outlier inRemedy’s catalog, especially regarding its place within the RCU. With the thorny legal issues involved, incorporating it into the RCU presents problems. Fittingly,Quantum Breaksits somewhat out of sync with the rest of Remedy’s releases and the RCU overall. Still, Remedy expressed its intent to consider all previous titles fair game, regardless of real-world roadblocks. Thus, the studio will endeavor to insertQuantum Breakinto its titles when it can to assure fans that, indeed, it still counts.
Quantum Breakcontained anAlan WakeEaster egg, and in true Remedy fashion,Alan Wake 2continues the cycle by including some more than passing references toQuantum Break. Specifically, these show up in the form of two characters who share the most glaring association with it. Though not technically the same as their original incarnations, they are easily recognizable equivalents, and Remedy’s solution for keepingQuantum Breakin the RCU.
Sheriff Tim Breaker and Mr. Door in Alan Wake 2
The clearest connectionsAlan Wake 2has toQuantum Breakare Sheriff Tim Breaker and Mr. Door. In one of their signature meta moves,Remedy cast Shawn Ashmore, who starred as Jack Joyce inQuantum Break,asAlan Wake 2’s Tim Breaker. Alan encounters Tim throughout the Dark Place, where he appears to be working on his own conspiracy board in an effort to untangle events. It strongly resembles the chalkboard fromQuantum Break, and Tim comments on how he feels “adrift in time,” which is exactly what Jack Joyce experienced. It’s almost like he’s a fractured version of Jack, which, of course, would be precisely on point.
Similarly,Alan Wake 2’s mysterious Mr. Door is the mirrored version ofQuantum Break’sMr. Hatch.Hatch was portrayed by thelegendary Lance Reddick, who unfortunately passed awayearlier this year. Remedy had allegedly planned to cast Reddick in the role of Door, which would only have strengthened the connection.
Either way, the characters resemble each other in many ways; from their namesakes and mannerisms to their ability to seemingly traverse space-time realities at will. Both also appear to be driven by an ulterior motive, sometimes assisting Jack and Alan, while at others obscuring information.
With these, Remedy was able to find a clever workaround for the sticky situation involvingQuantum Break, allowing it to keep its connective tissue intact inAlan Wake 2without stepping on any legal landmines. Remedy is set to accelerate its plans withAlan Wake 2DLCalready confirmed, and the eventualControl 2poised to continue building the RCU.
It’s all but certain Remedy will find more resourceful and subtle ways to weaveQuantum Breakinto its interconnected world in the future.
