Alan Wake 2: The Lake House Star Explains Why Remedy Is Special

As a dedicated fan who has been enamored with Remedy Entertainment for over a decade, I can wholeheartedly say that The Lake House expansion of Alan Wake 2 is a testament to the studio’s unparalleled storytelling and world-building prowess. Having witnessed the evolution of Remedy’s universe through their various titles, it feels like coming home when immersed in the high strangeness of Control intertwined with the horror of Alan Wake.

The final expansion of Alan Wake 2, The Lake House, is out now, closing a chapter for Remedy that was 13 years in the making. In The Lake House, players assume the role of Agent Kiran Estevez as she investigates the titular Federal Bureau of Control satellite station following a disturbance. The high strangeness of Remedy’s Control mixes with the horror of Alan Wake 2, giving the expansion the feeling of both an epilogue and a prologue, as the studio continues to build out its connected universe, the RCU.

I had a chat with the leading lady of DLC, Janina Gavankar, who might be familiar to you from roles such as Star Wars Battlefront 2 and True Blood. Gavankar shared insights on why she adores collaborating with Remedy, her aspirations for future projects, and potential appearances in Control’s upcoming installment.

For eight years, Gavankar has been deeply engaged with the work of Remedy Entertainment and writer Sam Lake. Her initial encounter with Remedy was through Quantum Break, which quickly became one of her favorites. She discovered all three acts of the in-universe movie script titled Time Knife, hosted a live reading of it, inviting some of the cast members over and even creating a soundboard to play effects. This experience, she believes, made an impression on Sam Lake and other Remedy team members, as they recognized her shared passion for their creative work by saying, “She’s just like us.

It appears that many collaborators end up being longtime friends of Remedy Entertainment, with Shawn Ashmore from Quantum Break being one who frequently supports the studio online. One might wonder why Remedy manages to form such strong connections with so many individuals they work with. “Everyone who works with Remedy leaves feeling more committed than when they began,” she shared with me. “This is something you see repeatedly.” I am fortunate to consider Sam a close friend now, and he’s as remarkable as he is peculiar… At this stage, I have been involved in major game releases for quite some time, and I’ve consulted at both independent and triple-A studios for over half a decade.

Gavankar emphasized, “Every organism is unique, and as a reporter, you’ve experienced this firsthand. You’ve interacted with them all, and I’ve worked alongside them. Consequently, when you encounter a company like Remedy, you sense the difference. Fortunately, in this instance, the ‘maestro’ is admirable, remaining passionate and energetic about collaborating with artists. He isn’t merely seeking fame, often referred to as a ‘star-f***er.’ I’ve seen those individuals too, they possess talent, but there’s a clear distinction between someone who’s pursuing Hollywood and someone who truly embodies the role of an artist in the medium that truly matters – games.

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House Star Explains Why Remedy Is Special

Agent Estevez being an FBC agent makes her a strong candidate for the upcoming Control sequel, considering that Remedy Entertainment often collaborates with familiar faces. Notably, actors like Matthew Poretta, Shawn Ashmore, Courtney Hope, and the late James McCaffrey have worked on multiple Remedy projects over the years. While Gavankar didn’t confirm my theory, she did express enthusiasm about the possibility of seeing Estevez again in a future project.

She playfully suggested, “Pass on what you just said to Sam. Have you spoken with him already? Go ahead and share all of it with him.” She added, “Express how effortlessly she blends into everything. I concur.

In the complex plot of RCU, I wondered if Gavankar tries to understand it fully or just concentrates on Estevez’s character and lets others delve into the theories. She explained to me that she finds it all clear, but since she writes unusual events too, she connects well with Remedy. She added that nothing surprises her in this regard, mirroring a quote by Stephen King about the “mysterious unknown” from Alan Wake’s opening in 2010.

“As an artist, you don’t want to explain everything away–like those Ending Explained videos, I hate them because [they take] away any agency from the audience members. It’s okay to believe that your audience is smart enough to figure it out for themselves. Also, it might fit somewhere in their human experience in a way that you didn’t intend, and that is so much more important than explaining what your point was.”

The release of Alan Wake 2’s Lake House expansion signals the conclusion of the game’s narrative updates. Previously released expansion, Night Springs, is also part of this package. At long last, the Deluxe Edition, comprising these expansions, has been made available as a physical copy.

While a follow-up to Control is being produced, the upcoming title from Remedy Entertainment is actually titled FBC: Firebreak, an action-packed cooperative multiplayer game for three players that takes place within the Remedy Connected Universe and not Control’s continuity.

2024-10-29 19:09

Alan Wake 2: The Lake House Star Explains Why Remedy Is Special

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