For those who’ve had the pleasure of delving into Alan Wake and Control, the parallels between these two franchises – both masterminded by Remedy Entertainment – may not have gone unnoticed. We’ve had firsthand confirmation that these two creations are interlinked on a metatextual plane. However, the precise nature of how Alan Wake 2 connected to Control still calls for further exploration.
Both narratives intersect at a juncture where each story’s hero intersects with the other amidst their unique, enigmatic lives. One protagonist grapple with dark forces, whilst the other channels her supernatural abilities for the benefit of the government.
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Alan Wake 2 and Control Are in the Same Universe
For those wondering how Alan Wake 2 connected to Control, this is the short answer: Two games take place in the same universe. More precisely, the events written by the main character Alan Wake form the story of Control. Everything we play as Jesse Faden comes from Alan’s pen — he wrote these events because he was trying to escape the Dark Place.
But it is impossible to explain everything so simply when it comes to Remedy Entertainment. We have to dig a little deeper to understand exactly how the connection between the two games happened.
As you can imagine, the rest of the article will contain spoilers for Alan Wake, Alan Wake 2, and Control.
Related: Alan Wake 2 Coming October 17
Control’s AWE Expansion Is the Bridge
Although there are some clues in Control, the main events connecting Alan Wake 2 to Control are in the AWE DLC released in 2020. In this expansion, The Federal Bureau of Control agents travel to Bright Falls to investigate the strange events. As you can imagine, these events are those of Alan Wake.
The Bureau’s agents encounter Dr. Emil Hartman, one of the main supporting characters of the first Alan Wake. Throughout the DLC, we learn that Hartman has been researching the events of Alan Wake, Dark Presence, and Cauldron Lake. At the end of the story, Hartman realises that his research has not come to completion and becomes helpless with Cauldron Lake.
In the finale of AWE, we neutralise Hartman and lock him in the Oldest House we know from Control. Although this prison life is the solution for a while, Hartman manages to escape. The main game’s story begins exactly here, coinciding with our story of Jesse destroying Hiss.
Alan Uses the Similarity of Dark Presence and Hiss
Recall that Alan Wake was imprisoned in Dark Presence’s Dark Place at the time of the above events. Trying many ways to get out all this time, Alan finds the solution in his pen again. He tries to escape from the Dark Place with dozens of different stories but cannot succeed. Then he decides to create another hero who can fight Dark Presence instead.
When he starts writing about Hiss, he has in mind to use his similarity with Dark Presence. He writes about the battle between The Federal Bureau of Control and Hiss, trying to ensure the agents are prepared for the worst. We know what’s next from what happened in Control. In order for Jesse Faden to be fully prepared to fight Hiss, he writes him the influential story about his brother.
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You can see the dozens of details we skipped by playing the games. But here’s the last thing we know: Jesse Faden, director of The Federal Bureau of Control, gets a new lead. This lead is about Bright Falls. But the exciting thing is that it’s a negativity that will happen in the future. As it stands, Control agents will likely be prepared for the events of Alan Wake 2.
We don’t know precisely how the Alan Wake 2 story will be told. But FBI agent Saga Anderson will undoubtedly be the story’s centre. Will Jesse be directly involved in Alan and Saga’s story? That’s the million-dollar question.
That’s all we have to say about how Alan Wake 2 connected to Control. We will continue to share new information about AW2 in the coming weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Control a Spin Off of Alan Wake?
No — Control and Alan Wake tells different stories in same universe. Remedy Entertainment designed Control within the same universe as the Alan Wake saga. Control was admitted to the universe as part of the greater Remedy Connected Universe.
Is Alan Wake in Alan Wake 2?
Yes — as a sequel to the first game, Alan Wake 2 will be centred around Alan Wake as the protagonist of the story. The game will also present other supporting characters’ stories alongside Alan Wake’s.
Do You Need to Play Alan Wake Before Alan Wake 2?
Kind of — although it is recommended to play the original game to have better comprehension towards the Remedy Connected Universe, Alan Wake 2 is coming with a promise that it is a stand-alone experience, although signifying the tones of a sequel as well.
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