Alan Wake 2 finally finds its audience
Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake 2 earned widespread critical praise after launching in 2023. Its unusual storytelling and carefully built atmosphere made it a standout, but commercial success arrived much more slowly than expected.
The game initially sold 1 million copies against a reported €70 million budget, including marketing costs. Continued positive word-of-mouth has since helped change its financial outlook.
Sales have tripled since the last update
Remedy’s half-year financial report covering January to June 2026 confirmed that Alan Wake 2 has sold more than 3 million copies. The previous milestone was 2 million sales, reported in February 2025. By that point, the game had finally become profitable.
Growth may have been limited by the game’s ongoing Windows PC exclusivity on the Epic Games Store. Epic published and helped fund the project, which explains the platform arrangement.
Why the result matters for Remedy
The performance of Alan Wake 2 gives Remedy valuable momentum, but the studio’s wider position remains closely tied to its upcoming projects. Its earlier title, Control, had reached 5 million sales by the time of the report.
Remedy identified Control Resonant as particularly important ahead of its planned launch on September 24, 2026. The game has already attracted more than 1.5 million wishlists across all platforms.
Pressure after FBC: Firebreak
Remedy has also faced a difficult period following the underwhelming launch of FBC: Firebreak, its live-service title connected to the Control universe. Weak sales led the company to issue a profit warning after the game missed its internal sales expectations.
Revenue fell by 23.1% over the six months covered by the report. On March 1, 2026, Jean-Charles Gaudechon became Remedy’s new chief executive. His previous work at EA and at a sports-betting company prompted concern that the studio’s creative approach could be restricted.
Those concerns were not eased by Gaudechon’s comments that Alan Wake and Control “should have sold more”. Even so, Remedy has not carried out a major layoff since 2020, suggesting the company remains in a comparatively stable position.
Control Resonant carries significant expectations
Remedy’s continued health is likely to depend heavily on Control Resonant. Early impressions have been strong among people who have played it, providing a reason for cautious optimism as the studio prepares its next major release.
For readers who enjoy the physical side of gaming, Remedy’s atmospheric design also makes a useful reminder of how presentation shapes a play experience. RETROCADE’s arcade news and editorial coverage explores that wider industry context, while the arcade machine buying guide can help when planning a dedicated gaming setup.
A larger room may suit a full selection of arcade machines, while a compact bartop arcade offers a smaller alternative. Owners upgrading an existing cabinet can also browse arcade parts.
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