Alan Wake Remastered saw the return of a cult classic thought locked to the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. While a version of Alan Wake Remastered wasn't announced for the Nintendo Switch, a new ESRB rating may confirm otherwise.
Those who played the original Alan Wake will attest to the game's quality, it exuding with atmosphere and tension in nearly every aspect of its design. At last month's PlayStation Showcase 2021, Alan Wake Remastered made its official debut, after many rumors suggested its imminent announcement. Remedy Entertainment launched the game for the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on October 5, giving fans of the original a chance to dive back in, and for those who missed out back in the day to try it out now. While Remedy Entertainment did not announce a Switch version, Alan Wake Remastered for Switch was found on a ratings board, hinting that a port could be on the way.
Alan Wake Remastered's official ESRB rating page has been updated to include the Nintendo Switch as one of its platforms. The page does not offer much other useful information, listing the other titles that have already launched, and the ESRB "T" rating itself. Interestingly, a "Rating Summary" has not been provided for the game yet either, though it will likely be very similar to the description for the original game. It is unknown how these blurbs are developed, considering Metroid Dread, which released on the Switch a couple days after Alan Wake Remastered, does already have a "Rating Summary."
Unfortunately, this page does not speak at all to the potential format that the game would have on the Switch, whether its fully downloadable or must be Cloud streamed. This has recently become a hot topic in the gaming community as more and more Nintendo Switch games are coming to the platform as Cloud exclusive titles. For example, practically the entire Kingdom Hearts saga is coming to the Switch, much to the excitement of fans, but are only playable through streaming. While being able to stream the games is definitely better than them not being playable at all, Cloud-based games cannot be played on-the-go because of the high-speed internet connection required.
With the way things are looking, it would not be a surpise for Alan Wake Remastered to be a Cloud version if it indeed comes to the Switch. Although the original Alan Wake is over a decade old, the game's realistic graphics and intense light mechanics may just be too much for the current Switch to adequately handle. If the HD versions of the Kingdom Hearts games can't be played natively on the Switch, it's unlikely that Alan Wake Remastered will be able to either.
Alan Wake Remastered is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.