“No Alan Wake 2 Without Epic Games”: Remedy Defends Their “Very Fair” Partnership Deal

Alan Wake 2’s Mixed Reception Post-Launch

Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake 2 was warmly received upon its release in late October 2023, yet its sales trajectory took a swift downturn shortly thereafter. By late November 2024, the studio disclosed to investors that both development and marketing costs had not been recouped. This situation only changed in February 2025, when the game surpassed the 2 million-unit milestone, subsequently generating royalties for Remedy.

Factors Influencing Sales Performance

Despite being a title lauded for its quality by genre enthusiasts, Alan Wake 2 has faced extensive scrutiny regarding its financial performance. Analysts and fans have pointed to two major contributing factors: the absence of a physical release at launch—something that was remedied a year later—and, critically, the game’s exclusivity on the Epic Games Store. This exclusivity has proven polarizing, as many gamers prefer Valve’s Steam, the leading digital distribution platform. This preference has led some players to refuse installing the Epic Games Launcher, thus limiting their access to the game.

Industry Commentary Sparks New Debate

The topic gained fresh traction recently following remarks from Michael Douse, Director of Publishing at Larian Studios. His comments were ignited by a statement from Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood Interactive, who highlighted that offering games for free on the Epic Games Store can lead to increased sales on Steam.

Responses from Epic’s Leadership

In response, Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games, argued that developers and gamers benefit from having diverse options and enhanced deals. He noted that the Epic Games Store accounts for approximately 55-60% of Steam’s user base, emphasizing that Epic is reinvesting a portion of its revenue back into programs that support both developers and users. Sweeney concluded with a pointed reference to Valve’s Gabe Newell, suggesting that Epic is committed to serving the gaming community better.

Following these statements, Douse voiced concerns about Remedy’s financial woes, insinuating that the company’s ‘financial crisis’ stemmed from the limited audience that resulted from launching on the Epic Games Store alone. He suggested that Remedy could have lost “potentially hundreds of millions”by not being on Steam.

Defending the Publishing Deal

In an unexpected twist, Remedy stepped up to address Douse’s comments directly, affirming their position that the game would not have been possible without the backing of Epic. They highlighted that their publishing arrangement was notably fair, allowing for swift negotiations that concluded in a matter of months.“There would be no Alan Wake 2 without Epic Publishing, ” they stated.

Evaluating Sales Potential

While it’s clear a Steam launch could have garnered more sales, market trends suggest the impact may not have been as significant as anticipated. The original Alan Wake sold comparable figures without facing similar distribution issues. Additionally, Remedy has a history of creating critically acclaimed games that often fall short of commercial success, with Control being a notable exception, likely due to its alignment with more popular gaming genres.

Looking Ahead

In the grand scheme of things, the release of Alan Wake 2 was significant for Remedy and its fanbase. The sequel’s existence was not guaranteed and, crucially, it has emerged as an exceptional addition to the survival horror genre. As part of the Remedy Connected Universe, excitement is already building for this year’s upcoming release: CONTROL Resonant. This entry, an action RPG developed on a more modest budget, promises a quicker pathway to profitability.

In summary, while Alan Wake 2 has encountered its share of challenges, including distribution exclusivity, the future holds potential for Remedy as they continue to innovate and pursue creative projects.

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