Alan Wake 2 is just one of many high-profile games heading our way later this year, but unlike most of the competition, it won't be hitting store shelves. As was confirmed a little while ago, Remedy Entertainment's latest will only be available digitally, forgoing a physical edition entirely. While an FAQ on the game's website gives us one reason for this approach, turns out there's more to it than that.
Speaking with Eurogamer, game director Kyle Rowley explains more rationale behind the decision. "As creatives obviously, by going digital-only it does allow us more time to polish the game," he says. "Like, a significant amount of weeks actually. Because otherwise, the game that goes on the disc, obviously it has to be playable without a patch."
So, part of why Alan Wake 2 won't be available on disc is because it affords the studio much more time for squashing bugs and preparing the game for launch. If it came to physical retail, Remedy would have less time to ensure the version that shipped on discs is of a certain standard, whereas launching digital-only means there's more time to iron things out.
"We didn't want to release something that we weren't proud of basically, and that we didn't want players to play," adds Rowley. "So hopefully this way we can give you a better version of the game."
It makes a lot of sense, especially when you consider that the number of digital purchases has long surpassed that of physical. Still, that doesn't mean nobody wants the game physically; even THQ Nordic has offered to help Remedy put the game out on discs. Whether anything comes of that remains to be seen.
Are you bothered about Alan Wake 2 releasing on digital platforms only? Stay in the light in the comments section below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 56
More p(atch)olished version? Can't wait to see what that actually means, as I am hype for this. Don't see the logic in this claim though. Less production costs = more money elsewhere maybe?
Oh good it's entirely for our benefit! There I was thinking it was to stifle the resale market and ensure we are all forced to pay full price for it. At least it will now release 100% bug free with no need whatsoever for any future patches...
Weak excuse, even if there's some logic to it. Just either delay the release in this case or put out a physical version a few weeks/months later
I'm done with physical games anyway at this point, but it would be good for more games to have a "final" release physically once the game has shifted all it's 10 post-launch patches etc
Maybe just delay a few weeks for when you know it’s ready?
If it’s not ready in time for a disc, you have no idea that it’ll be ready for launch 3 weeks out, you’re just hoping.
That already happens plenty, but now they’re just especially saying they’re taking that approach.
This is actually a bad look if you ask me
A few more weeks won't turn a game from "unplayable" to "playable"
So either it would be playable (enough) for a physically release or it will be a buggy mess when it releases
Digital releases are a complete joke anyway.
It was once the reason to sell games for a lower price (no printing discs and cases costs, no transport costs, no external sales costs)
But still digital releases are much more expensive than physical releases.
Excuses excuses
Just be honest. It's to cut down on manufacturing costs. That makes sense considering Alan Wake is a very niche series and so they probably don't expect it to sell very well anyway.
Dissapointed by this as I only usually buy physical editions of games as I like them to sit on my shelf with the rest of my collection
Bullcrap. That is complete bullcrap.
No physical version means I'm not buying it!the only reason is I believe there trying to wrangle us all into this all digital future where they have complete control over pricing and it sucks.There's nothing wrong with options and they shouldn't be taking them away from us just because they want to
The next step in gaming evolution is to purchase a game and not be able to download it, you can just stream it.
Stream-purchase, that's the future because you'll always have the most polished version of the game.
Oh, and you won't own it, which is always a huge plus in my book.
Sounds like a lame excuse, but whatever. And watch…it’ll get delayed anyway.
Absolute B****cks.
I don’t care if it’s physical or not, I preordered. I’ve got trust in Remedy to develop a top tier title as they did for the original, Quantum Break, and Control. If they skipped a physical disc while keeping the price at $60 instead of $70, fine by me. There’s worse things going on in the industry, regardless if this is sort of a fluff response to it. Alan Wake isn’t exactly a megahit series anyway, so if some concessions to distribution need to be made to get the game out there quickly with physical sales to be potentially figured out later, that’s actually pro-consumer.
Can’t wait to see how the sequel plays. I’m really looking forward to it. Let the end product be the decision whether you buy it or not rather than the distribution method.
What they actually say is the game is unfinished but do not believe it will sell well.
And we finish it only if it sells enough.
As much as I love physical media, I'm running out of space.
Additionally, while digital media also causes environmental issues (server farms), physical media produces far more waste. Until recently I was dead against digital only releases, but with the state of the world I guess every little change we can make helps.
So I wouldn't complain if I absolutely had to switch to digital, but I also want digital ownership resolved.
I remember Jim Ryan saying a few years ago that Sony were trying to resolve the problem of digital ownership for consumers.
I'd love to know if they're still looking in to that.
Obviously GoG is the gold standard - Let me download and save the installation file, making as many backups as I want.
I can't see console going that way, but the current setup on PS5 isn't bad - Just save everything to an external drive. It still requires your account in order to run the games obviously, but that's not exactly the end of the world either.
To the topic of this game, I can't wait for it.
I was thinking of saving it for Christmas but digital games can't go under the tree...
BS! Don’t use the user experience as an excuse. How stupid do they think we are. Of course it’s to maximise the company’s profit and stop resale value.
I wanted Alan Wake 2 since the OG came out on 360 and would’ve bought day 1 but I’m not supporting digital only from a AAA studio. You don’t own digital and network issues can cause games to be unavailable, not even always online games. CE of Ragnarok was a digital game and a handful of times I couldn’t load the game due to the console unable to verify the license.
I cannot stop laughin
That's nonsense. They can always delay it.
These comments are hilarious and SO negative. Nobody said that the game would be unplayable if they shipped on a disc. Game developers have deadlines, because it’s a business, remember? Completing the game digitally allows more polish time before the inevitable deadline. I say this as someone who wishes it was releasing physically.
@ear_wig so why not release it later?
@naruball Maybe they don’t have that luxury? I don’t work at Remedy, so I couldn’t tell you.
Stray, kena, the ascent and sifu all launched digital first with a physical version announced to be releasing a few months down the road nothing stopping remedy from doing the same here.
If Xbox/ps sell us a console with a disc drive (ps5 case being an extra £60+quid) then all premium games over £50 should have to have a physical release.
No physical ,no buy from me end of
Better change your mind Remedy or you won't see a penny.
@Wheatly If the publisher wants an incomplete game that will be critically panned and won't sell, they have that option, i suppose.
@ear_wig I know. I'm simply providing a counter-argument.
We all know that they do it just to stop game lending and the secondhand market. They’d be better off just staying quiet or admitting it rather than insulting us.
This isn’t even a good lie. Nothing to stop them releasing it physically weeks later after all.
And if the idea is to stop games requiring an internet connection to download a patch…well, anyone can see how illogical going digital only is in that case.
For me it’s simple. I have so many games to play I’ll just wait a year for it to hit a reasonable price. Or I’ll just have moved on mentally, or forgotten about it, or whatever, in that time. Why would I buy a game at these ridiculous digital prices? I’ll only change that opinion once digital ownsership allows for resale.
But this doesn't really explain why Remedy can't just release a physical version sometime after the digital release
@ear_wig You could release digital first and physical later but you believe them. 😂🤣
But this has one big reason money, money, money. No secondhand market, cutting out the middleman, less production costs and more profit.
Remedy continues to spew out ridiculous reasons why either them or their publishers hurt the consumer. First it was charging for the new gen version of Control and giving ridiculous reasons, now we are on ridiculous excuse #2 for why Alan Wake 2 will not be getting a physical copy.
Plenty of games ship with a day one patch needed. I do understand that the discs do get pressed weeks before release, but day one patches are so common nowadays that this excuse doesn't fly at all. I may not like that there is such a reliance on patches, but they exist and kill their new excuse.
@IndoorEnthusiast That's different. Those were indie games, and a lot of them release digital only. This is a AAA game from a long-time developer and a big enough publisher. There's easily enough money to release Alan Wake 2 physically, unlike some of those where a specialty distributor like Limited Run Games steps in and distributes a physical copy at a later date. Also, I would imagine Limited Run Games or somebody like them would jump at the chance to release a game like Alan Wake 2 physically, cutting out some of the costs too.
🐂💩. It allows them a larger profit margin. It’s pure greed plain and simple. There is absolutely no reason a physical version can’t be just as polished. Even if it means waiting an extra few months for the physical version. I refuse to buy digital games so I’ll be giving this a miss until it comes to PS Plus. Or I’ll just give it a miss altogether if it never does.
Does anybody smell Gas, cuz I have a light
feed us more piles of ***** pretty please, we will gobble it up just fine. MORE MORE!!!!
So what you then is delay the game a few weeks until it’s ready and you can release it physical.
It’s very simple developers.
They can release it on a USB drive. Do not care, it is being played.
It has has zero impact if a game is fun or not.
That said, I have it on my PC list. If only Digital, I always pick PC.
Wasn't bothered at all. I preordered this (admittedly cheap £13) but still, I have every faith in this dev. Always polished and very good games. For me personally anyway.
Digital Only is like you never made the game to me, you have nothing to sell me! Until you can figure out a way to let me burn one copy to a disc forget about it.
BS. Also, a digital PS5 game is pretty much always £65-70 whereas its physical counterpart can often be found for £45-50 on release day.
I buy digital games when they are massively discounted, but unlike physical, there is zero chance of me paying £30+ for one.
I can even understand digital only sometimes for niche/indie games, that may or may not sell well.
This game actually may fall into that category, I guess they aren't going to publicly announce that it's digital only cause it may not sell a lot, hence the amnesia that patches exist.
Edit : And I still think Nintendo and Sony are aware that physical is one of the few remaining advantages over pc, I can't see them giving up physical any time soon.
If they just released the game at a date when it was finished, that entire statement wouldn’t matter. Give me a physical version of the game that doesn’t need a day one patch. Don’t ship it until it’s ready. Seems easy enough.
I really liked the first Allan Wake, but I’ll be skipping this one. Releasing a AAA game that’s digital only doesn’t get my money.
The only reason not to do a physical release is because they would not sell enough physical copies for it to be considered a worthwhile expense. A large portion of gamers, especially casuals, have switched entirely to digital libraries. I would definitely be considered a "core gamer" based on amount of games purchased and time invested in the hobby, and I have not purchased a physical game since RDR2. There will be a vocal minority that decries Remedy's decision to go digital only, but especially as subscription services get pushed harder in the industry, there will be more and more digital only releases. Won't be long until you see major publishers switching entirely to digital only. Most people seem to value the convenience of digital over the property rights inherent in a physical purchase, and I think thats okay.
@lolwhatno I'm not sure it matters too much though. Honestly, the game will still probably meet its sales targets.
For me physical over digital is about game size and playing the original release. Smaller sizes up to about 20GB are ok digital, where AAA titles from 50GB to over 100GB I want the full game on a disk.
Playing original releases offer play before patches that can change stuff like glitches, exploits, nerfing weapons, and funny bugs. Some of those changes come with day one patches, other changes come later after discovered in game play.
Overall I can not go against a game company from attempting to maximize profits by selling digital only. The only big issues I have are games that require online connection and PSN connection to play games I loaded onto my hard drive, and games on a disk that are just a key to download a huge game file.
The difference in carbon footprint sizes between physical and digital I don't know. I do know that the used game market has already diminished from the gamers that at their preference have gone digital.
Absolutely cannot condone this.
Not a fan of digital versions. I've purchased a lot of games on sale & then deleted previous entries to make room. As opposed to physical where I delete, install and configure at my own leisure. " It's not a lake, it's a ocean, a herp a derp, derp.".
I think if game developers lived in a world where they had average consumer speed internet they would see that a physical disc is very important to some people. When people have time to think about the impact of a digital only ecosystem game company’s are selling consumers nothing tangible, and the consumer is now paying the cost for the delivery of the final product to their house.
How lame they're making the creatives scramble to justify their wrong decision. Get the game on disc, Remedy.
Putting on the digital store front sure, can do the same putting a game on a website. Doesn't change the flow of the game releasing if it's still buggy and work flow can be messy still even if it's digital only.
EA made it download required for Jedi Survivor. FF16 compressed to one disk then 2 disks and barely much on the update and it's very polished. Some devs just have a good way of work flow/management. Others desperate. Epic as the publisher is one thing but still. 505 (Control was on a disk, can't say for Crossfire X campaign by Remedy) and Epic aren't Microsoft big I think. Epic is big but they also have Fortnite a game with game codes and skins these days in retail stores with digital only physical games (or digital of Dauntless published and distributed by them too and others likely published and made by them) they don't need to push physical really with their games on console (whatever goes on with each platform's storefronts) and have the Epic Game Store on PC too so not surprised.
So do I believe much no. XD
Like Sega they want people to likely double dip if they do release a physical or want a digital future to save on disk production money/cloud future maybe too (Sonic Mania collector's editions with a code, then release it physical, and of course mess up Origins because why not). I know Alan Wake 2 could be niche in a way so it may not sell physical much but still hard to say and horror games have made a come back over the years now I think it will do fairly well.
I literally saw some code to 'bold' text code (which is not by design it isn't a computer reference in the game at all) in No Straight Roads an Indie game, never seen that happen before. So I bet it was digital first then physical later once it sold a lot. I don't know enough about the game's development. It was their first game though. So if by the disk copy/latest update I still find details that are off that says a lot. Just like any typo or other detail except players aren't supposed to see game code.
I know code when I see it, because I do it with web code or wiki editor code enough times I can't miss it. XD
Sure I'm playing the physical copy and the game is likely over for updates and I'm on the latest update but doesn't change anything if they still missed a detail and no one picked up on it on one of the upgrades you assign to your characters or the skill tree passive upgrades, one of the two, but me yesterday having played for the first time seeing it you bet I photographed it. Not posted it to the devs, they may have moved on to their next game or other things by now.
Just because it doesn't have disks shipping to physical stores which yes is a lot of effort/money but still doesn't change work flow in other ways even if less to have as a deadline of disks.
Yes of course this digital only is ***** bothering me like come on wtf if the game isnt polished if it comes out on disc then delay the game and release it when the game is fully polished ready to play physically and digitally
or let thq nordic help you like come on remedy
A bit silly. So you’re saying there’ll never be a patch for the game? If there is, then that breaks your reason for digital only. Say the real reason, you’re expecting mid to low sales and you’re saving on costs of producing physical.
That's some bull. If you just take your time to polish the game, you can release it on physical. They just want to skip the physical part to save on money so they can maximize their profits
Ok I'm out then.
Yeah, this stands up to scrutiny
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