Alan Wake 2 is digital only, Remedy says

The recent Alan Wake 2 trailer and release date set Remedy Entertainment fans ablaze. Much was previewed in the trailer, and Remedy clarified other details later that day. One bombshell that was revealed was that Alan Wake 2 is purely a digital game; there will be no physical release at launch.

While the game is launching for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on October 17, you won’t be able to pick it up in disc form. The news might upset lovers of physical media, but in fairness, it’s not an unsurprising move.

Remedy doesn’t plan to physically release Alan Wake 2 any time after launch, either. It looks like this will be an entirely digital launch. And it might just be a beacon for the future of the industry.

Why is Alan Wake 2 digital only?

The digital release might confuse some fans, but for this second Alan Wake game, there’s a solid reason. According to Remedy, this is a way to bring costs down and avoid selling the game for $70 USD on consoles. Given the rising costs of physical distribution for games, this is an entirely understandable move.

And to their credit, Remedy understands the current gaming landscape. We are moving toward an incredibly digital industry, as the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S have shown. Remedy’s just rowing with the tide, and it’s not like the regular PS5 and Series X consoles can’t play digital games.

I’m a lover of physical media myself, and always go for physical versions whenever possible. However, I’m increasingly realizing that discs and boxes are more or less a luxury in the modern age. Games can’t be stored on Blu-Ray discs anymore, which is why every game has to download a large patch when you put in the disc. Remedy realized this and brought the figurative middleman (i.e. the disc) out of the equation.

What else did Remedy reveal?

Remedy’s FAQ gave us some other critical details about Alan Wake 2 to chew on. Here’s some of the key details:

• There will be a standard edition of the game and a deluxe version as well. The deluxe version includes an expansion pass that features the Night Springs and Lake House story expansions. you also get the Nordic Shotgun Skin, Crimson Windbreaker, and Lantern for Saga, and the Parliament Shotgun Skin and Celebrity Suit for Alan.
• If you pre-order the game, you’ll gain access to the Ornate Revolver Skin for Alan and Survival Resources Pack for Saga.
• The standard edition will cost $49.99 USD on PC, and $59.99 USD on consoles. The deluxe edition costs $69.99 USD on PC and $79.99 on consoles. The lower PC price is likely due to Epic Games publishing the game.
• You do not need to play Alan Wake or Control to understand the story of Alan Wake 2. But it definitely helps! (And you should play them anyway, as they’re both incredible.)

You can view the whole FAQ here, courtesy of Remedy Entertainment.

Get Alan Wake 2 digitally on Oct. 17

Alan Wake 2 is developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Epic Games Publishing. It will launch for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Epic Games Store on Oct. 17, 2023.

What are your thoughts on Alan Wake 2 going fully digital? What are you most excited about in the game? Let us know!