Alan Wake 2 Takes Cues from Resident Evil in How to “Make Players Feel More Vulnerable” – Director

With Alan Wake 2, Remedy Entertainment is developing its first ever full-fledged survival horror game, and in an era where the genre and the studio both are flourishing perhaps more than they ever had, that’s an exciting prospect. Of course, given the massive critical and commercial success that the Resident Evil series has enjoyed, and how much Capcom’s franchise has been responsible for the genre’s revival, comparisons are inevitable for any new survival horror title- and that stands true for Alan Wake 2 as well.

In fact, game director Kyle Rowley himself has said that Alan Wake 2 does take some inspiration from the recent Resident Evil games. Speaking recently with EDGE magazine (via Gamesradar), Rowley said that Alan Wake 2 takes cues from the Capcom series with its over-the-shoulder perspective, and more specifically, in how it uses that perspective to heighten tension and claustrophobia, and to “make the player feel more vulnerable.”

“Camera perspective and things like that, yes, there are good references from the recent Resident Evil games that we did look at,” Rowley said when asked about whether the Resident Evil games served as an influence for Alan Wake 2. “But not just because, oh, you know, it worked for them. It’s more like, how does that help us build the kind of experience we want? More claustrophobic; making the player feel more vulnerable; making the enemies feel more physical and dangerous.”

This isn’t the first time Remedy has spoken about how it’ll be looking to heighten the scares in Alan Wake 2, from the game’s focus on “atmosphere and dread” to it not “shying away from body horror”– though with the latter, don’t expect any dismemberment a la Resident Evil 2.

Alan Wake 2 launches on October 17 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. A new trailer of the game will premiere at Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 22.