Summary
- Alan Wake 2's Night Springs DLC will presumably spotlight the titular TV show, which has connections to the FBC from Control.
- The Night Springs TV show could play a significant role in connecting the characters and lore of Control and Alan Wake.
- Tim Breaker, a potential playable character in the DLC, may also hint at ties to Quantum Break.
Remedy has shown itself to be an eclectic studio capable of building fictional worlds that blend into each other. This is the case with the Alan Wake franchise and Control, which have seen Jesse Faden and Alan the writer cross paths. The story is far from over, and Alan Wake 2 has two DLCs scheduled for this year.
One is labeled Night Springs and the other is called The Lake House. Fans of the Remedy Connected Universe should keep an eye on Alan Wake 2's Night Springs, as the title alone already suggests that players will be seeing more intermingling between franchises.
Mild spoilers for Alan Wake 2 are ahead.
Why is Night Springs Important to Control and Alan Wake 2?
In the first Alan Wake game, some televisions occasionally play scenes from a supernatural horror show called Night Springs. Each episode has the protagonist facing supernatural elements, and it appears that the show stopped production years ago.
Fans of Remedy will know that the show also makes an appearance in Quantum Break, though not as prominently. It is a nice Easter egg, even though the game isn't officially part of the Remedy Connected Universe.
In Control, there is a collectible document titled "Television Proposal" which discusses how the medium could potentially be used to test paranatural phenomena on the public, as well as to divert their attention away from any supernatural concepts by presenting them as fictional entertainment. Instead of starting a new show, the document suggests the organization simply reboots Night Springs. With the show in the possession of the FBC from Control, the upcoming DLC may reveal what has been done with the series, which is an interesting prospect now that Faden serves as the organization's director.
What to Expect From the Upcoming Night Springs DLC
As one might expect, Remedy hasn't spilled the beans yet regarding the DLC's plot. From the little that has been revealed, it's obvious the studio won't be going the conventional route. As Remedy has explained, players will get to:
Play as several familiar characters from the world of Alan Wake and experience the unexplainable in multiple self-contained episodes of Night Springs
Much like the main game, Alan Wake 2's DLC will have fiction bleeding into reality. With Wake's writing frequently influencing reality, and Night Springs in the ownership of the FBC, it seems inevitable that the two groups will collide in significant ways. Though the intersection of the two could happen through Wake, there's another strong contender for who could be one of the playable characters - Tim Breaker.
Will Night Springs Also Borrow From the World of Quantum Break?
The sheriff is frequently heard humming the Night Springs theme song whenever players are near him, perhaps hinting at his connection to the upcoming DLC. Alan Wake 2 ends with the sheriff still in the Dark Place, which leaves his story feeling somewhat unfinished.
If he does play a role in Night Springs, it would be a nice nod to Quantum Break fans, as the sheriff is played by Shawn Ashmore, who is also the face behind Jack Joyce. The name "Tim Breaker" also suspiciously sounds like "time breaker", which could be another Quantum Break reference.
As usual when it comes to Remedy, it is hard to predict what will come next, as the studio has proven itself to be a master when it comes to mind-twisting narratives. However, it has left enough breadcrumbs to suggest that the connection between Alan Wake and Control will only grow strong in the upcoming Alan Wake 2 DLC.
Alan Wake 2
- Released
- October 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
A string of ritualistic murders threatens Bright Falls, a small-town community surrounded by Pacific Northwest wilderness. Saga Anderson, an accomplished FBI agent with a reputation for solving impossible cases arrives to investigate the murders. Anderson’s case spirals into a nightmare when she discovers pages of a horror story that starts to come true around her.
Alan Wake, a lost writer trapped in a nightmare beyond our world, writes a dark story in an attempt to shape the reality around him and escape his prison. With a dark horror hunting him, Wake is trying to retain his sanity and beat the devil at his own game.
Anderson and Wake are two heroes on two desperate journeys in two separate realities, connected at heart in ways neither of them can understand: reflecting each other, echoing each other, and affecting the worlds around them.
Fueled by the horror story, supernatural darkness invades Bright Falls, corrupting the locals and threatening the loved ones of both Anderson and Wake. Light is their weapon—and their safe haven — against the darkness they face. Trapped in a sinister horror story where there are only victims and monsters, can they break out to be the heroes they need to be?
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Epic Games
- Franchise
- Alan Wake
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 17 Hours
- Metascore
- 90
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
