Alan Wake 2 release date announced – but surprising reveal has disappointed gamers

A RELEASE date for the highly-anticipated sequel to Alan Wake was finally announced on Wednesday.

Revealed at the PlayStation Showcase, Alan Wake 2 will launch later this year.

Remedy

Alan Wake 2 has a spooky atmosphere.[/caption]

The game will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

While fans were generally impressed by the trailer, there were two things that left players with concerns.

The first is that the price is different for players on console compared to those on PC.

PC players will have to pay just £39.99 ($49.99), but it will cost £10 ($10) more on PlayStation and Xbox.

No reason was given for this and it seems that there will be no difference between the three versions.

The second announcement is that Alan Wake 2 will be digital only, and there will be no boxed release.

The Alan Wake 2 FAQ reads: “There are many reasons for this. For one, a large number of [gamers] have shifted to digital only. 

“You can buy a Sony PlayStation 5 without a disc drive and Microsoft’s Xbox Series S is a digital only console.

“It is not uncommon to release modern games as digital-only. Secondly, not releasing a disc helps keep the price of the game [lower].

“Finally, we did not want to ship a disc product and have it require a download for the game — we do not think this would make for a great experience either.

“There are currently no plans to release Alan Wake 2 on disc.”

While it’s true that the majority of gamers have made the switch to digital only, there are concerns about digital ownership.

Games can be removed from online stores without warning, and at other times online stores can be taken down entirely.

Not having a physical release of a game can also harm video game preservation, and being able to enjoy a game for years to come.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.