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 betweenControlandAlan Wakeare 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, includingMax Payne. With several moreControlgames lined up, it appears the RCU is in the early stages of being fleshed out.
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Jesse Faden and Control
Released in 2019,Controlis 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.Controltakes a lot of inspiration from theSCP Foundation, a website that tracks the adventures of a fictional organization that protects humankind from anomalies.
Jesse Faden finds herself wrapped up with theFBC after she visits the Oldest Housewhile 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, 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 inControlare 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 flashlightthat extinguishes the darkness. At first, not much explanation is given regarding the Dark Presence. However, inControl, 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
Throughout the psychedelic, mind-bending wackiness ofControl, gamers notice minor hints atRemedy Entertainment’s other games. They are easy to miss, though they help lay the basis for the Remedy Connected Universe. InControl’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 theHiss 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 ofControl, it does raise the question of Jesse’s origins and whether she was also created by Wake.
The Future of the Remedy Connected Universe
Future releases fromRemedywill expand the RCU and explain a little more about how Wake and Faden are connected. Gamers can look forward toAlan 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 fewControlgames 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 infutureControlandAlan Wakegames- 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. WithMax Paynereceiving a remake from Remedy and Rockstar, theMax Payneuniverse 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 theAlan Wakesequel will be a survival horror game, andControl’s multiplayer game, codenamedCondor, is a four-player co-op. The studio has stated that gamers will not need to play prior games to jump intoAlan Wake 2. However, there will surely be plenty of Easter eggs to help Remedy fans continue piecing together the RCU.
Controlis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
