Alan Wake 2 received a new gameplay trailer during the PlayStation Showcase event that confirmed a new playable character for the game who isn't the titular Alan Wake. Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake 2 has been hotly anticipated for years now, but the PlayStation Showcase was the first time that fans got a good look at gameplay.
The initial Alan Wake 2 reveal trailer from 2021 didn't reveal a lot about the game. It confirmed that Alan Wake would be returning, PC and next-gen consoles were the targeted platforms, and that 2023 was the targeted release year, but not much else. The new trailer for Alan Wake 2 confirms many more details about the upcoming survival-horror game, including its firm release date.
The Alan Wake 2 release date is October 17, at which point it will launch for PC through the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X with pre-orders available now. The trailer introduces new playable character Saga Anderson, portrayed by Melanie Liburd, who will serve as a new playable character in Alan Wake 2. Anderson is an FBI agent who is investigating mysterious murders at Bright Falls, with her investigation intersecting with Alan Wake's story. Anderson is joined by a character who is seemingly portrayed by Alan Wake 2 Lead Writer and Creative Director Sam Lake.
The gameplay footage in the trailer shows Anderson exploring an abandoned general store with an over-the-shoulder viewpoint that looks very similar to the Resident Evil 2 remake and other recent RE games. Someone or something then bursts through the wall in what is a rather effective jump scare moment, underlining Remedy's claim that Alan Wake 2 would be more of a pure horror experience.
It should be noted that while Anderson was the primary focus of this new Alan Wake 2 trailer, she won't be the game's only playable character. Alan Wake 2 will have two playable protagonists. Players will sometimes play as Anderson as she explores Bright Falls, but other times they will be playing as Alan Wake, trapped in the Dark Place, "a nightmare version of New York City." This should provide plenty of variety, and it will be interesting to see if Remedy is able to pull it off.
Remedy's impressive track record means chances are good Alan Wake 2 will live up to the hype and should be yet another great horror game in a year that's already been filled with some of the genre's best releases. Horror game fans will find out this October.
Alan Wake 2 launches on October 17 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.