The Finnish Studio Remedy Entertainment has set itself apart with its eccentric and often mind-bending games that experiment with meta-narratives. It has a few IPs under its umbrella, and while they all embrace varied gameplay, the titles are connected. The studio has confirmed that there is a shared Remedy Connected Universe, and that future titles will continue to strengthen the connection between the different games.

The links between Control and Alan Wake are abstract but possible to follow. Upcoming games will make these links clearer, though they will likely also introduce plenty more questions. Gamers may also see other Remedy IPs more prominently featured in the shared universe, including Max Payne. With several more Control games lined up, it appears the RCU is in the early stages of being fleshed out.

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Jesse Faden and Control

Jesse Faden from Control standing in Zachariah Trench's office and holding the Service Weapon in its Shatter form

Released in 2019, Control is set in the Oldest House where the Federal Bureau of Control has set up operations. The FBC tasks itself with detecting, studying and neutralizing Objects of Power (OoPs) and Altered World Events (AWEs). Although the FBC deals with some of the strangest phenomena in the universe, it attempts to do so in secrecy. Control takes a lot of inspiration from the SCP Foundation, a website that tracks the adventures of a fictional organization that protects humankind from anomalies.

Jesse Faden finds herself wrapped up with the FBC after she visits the Oldest House while seeking answers about her missing brother, Dylan. As she explores the Oldest House more, she discovers the malicious Hiss and uncovers secrets that test her powers of reason. By the end of the game, she finds her brother and cleanse him of the Hiss, and she takes up the role of the FBC's Director, which comes with huge responsibilities.

Alan Wake

Alan Wake walking by an individual and a cutout of himself

Alan Wake, released in 2010, is the first game in the Remedy Connected Universe. The game stars the titular Alan Wake, a superstar novelist who is heavily based on Stephen King. Many of the elements that are built upon in Control are first introduced here. In the game, the first mention of the town Ordinary is made. This town, located in Maine, is where Jesse and Dylan grow up, and the FBC later creates a replica of it in the Oldest House.

Wake travels to Bright Falls, and although things seem normal at first, he soon realizes that not all is well in this sleepy town. In much the same way that the Oldest House is plagued by the Hiss, Bright Falls is struck by the Dark Presence which turns the townspeople into murderous maniacs. To defend himself, Alan Wake utilizes a flashlight that extinguishes the darkness. At first, not much explanation is given regarding the Dark Presence. However, in Control, players learn that Cauldron Lake in Bright Falls is a Place of Power, and the Dark Presence manifests people's imagination as reality. Wake prevents the Dark Presence from escaping, though he becomes its prisoner in the process.

The Connection Between Alan Wake and Control

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Throughout the psychedelic, mind-bending wackiness of Control, gamers notice minor hints at Remedy Entertainment's other games. They are easy to miss, though they help lay the basis for the Remedy Connected Universe. In Control's AWE expansion, Wake makes an appearance, and it makes it easier to make connections between Faden and Wake's world. He is seen pecking away at a typewriter, using his talents to attempt to escape the "Dark Place."

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It seems that the similarities between the Dark Presence and the Hiss are no coincidence. Wake mentions needing a hero for his manuscript, and of course every hero needs a villain to go up against. Hence, it is implied that not only was the Hiss written into existence by Wake, but the entire FBC may be a product of his imagination. Although this may shed some light on a few of the strange events of Control, it does raise the question of Jesse's origins and whether she was also created by Wake.

The Future of the Remedy Connected Universe

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Future releases from Remedy will expand the RCU and explain a little more about how Wake and Faden are connected. Gamers can look forward to Alan Wake 2, which is set to release in 2023. It may uncover a little more about Wake's typewriter, which has been revealed to be an OoP. The game may also explain Wake's plans for the FBC, and how he ultimately plans to escape from the Dark Presence. There are also a few Control games scheduled, including a sequel and a multiplayer game. These titles could further explain Faden's origins and the mysteries behind Ordinary.

There is also a mysterious character that could show up in future Control and Alan Wake games - Thomas Zane. The writer is first mentioned in Alan Wake, and he appears as a beacon of light who helps Wake out of some tricky situations. Faden is aware of Zane, and she is fond of his poetry. Though he features in both games, Zane remains a mysterious figure, and he may be the key to understanding more of the RCU. With Max Payne receiving a remake from Remedy and Rockstar, the Max Payne universe may also find itself more concretely woven into the RCU.

Thanks to the weirdness of Remedy's games, it is impossible to predict what the studio will do with its upcoming games. Nevertheless, it has been revealed that the Alan Wake sequel will be a survival horror game, and Control's multiplayer game, codenamed Condor, is a four-player co-op. The studio has stated that gamers will not need to play prior games to jump into Alan Wake 2. However, there will surely be plenty of Easter eggs to help Remedy fans continue piecing together the RCU.

Control is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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