In our latest Community Spotlight, we look at Yasmin's incredible in-depth work exploring one of Alan Wake 2's most mysterious characters, Freya Anderson. .
Before we settle into 2025, let's take a quick look back into the past twelve months, revisiting the milestones and events that took place at the studio and in the community.
We recently spoke Tiia Öhman about working as a photographer on the Alan Wake 2 set. Her stunning work can be seen in-game, in marketing, and on merchandise.
To celebrate the game's 10th anniversary, we sat down with Matthew Porretta, the incredible voice actor behind Alan Wake, to talk about his experiences and memories.
Earlier this month, Remedy's sci-fi action thriller, Quantum Break, turned ten! To celebrate, there was a fresh wave of love for the title online. We saw posts from all over, from people who worked on the project and from the community. Below is a collection of some that were posted on the anniversary.
On the developers' side, Mikko Rautalahti (Story Team Manager on Quantum Break) reflected on the game's journey both for the studio and personally. We also heard from Amelia Rose Blaire Dechart, who played Amy Ferrero, about how it felt to travel farther from home than she had ever been. And finally, there was Shawn Ashmore, who played Jack Joyce, on the title's enduring legacy.
Quantum Break has just now turned 10. Somehow, a decade has slipped past. Wild.
A couple of thoughts about the game...
— Remedy Entertainment 🔻Wishlist CONTROL Resonant! (@remedygames) April 5, 2026
From the community, there were call-outs to name their favourite moment from the game, gorgeous fan art by talented artists, including BluFrame, mangust, and poly, and virtual photography by Tammy. We also saw fan collections of Quantum Break merch, alongside other Remedy goodies. Check out the posts below...
There are only twenty-four hours left in our Quantum Break giveaway!
To celebrate the game's 10th anniversary, we are giving away a rare Countermeasure keyring. These were never made available for purchase and appeared only at one or two promotional (and likely press) events in Europe.
These keyrings are definitely sneaky! We followed Quantum Break through from announcement to post-launch news, wrapping up each promotional event stop. We knew about the stickers, lanyards, t-shirts, waterbottles, and trading cards that were given away... but we didn't know about this until years after the game launched. Later, we learned that they were only accessible through an internal official Microsoft store page for marketers.
So, what about the keyring itself? It's hefty, made of metal, and recreated to resemble the CFR (aka the Countermeasure) shown in the game. It's not a direct replica; I noticed it has a repeating pattern on the sides, whereas the in-game model shows some variation in elements like the display and lights. It's not the kind of thing that you notice unless you're really examining it, and it does look very good! As it's metal, it also has some heft, perfect as a paperweight if you don't want to risk putting it on a bag. As it's a promotional piece, it also has the Quantum Break logo engraved on the side.
For the giveaway, we want to hear your standout moment from the game. It could be a quote, a scene, or a character.
Submissions can be sent in to: Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, or Twitter. You can also email in your entry to alanwake.thesuddenstop(at)gmail.com.
For full terms and conditions, please visit the original giveaway page, HERE!
This morning, Poets of the Fall, the real-life band behind Old Gods of Asgard, released their latest single, Black Waters! Originally intended as a potential track for their 2006 album, Carnival of Rust, the band revisited and developed it to mark the album's 20th anniversary.
The single is paired with a new music video, thematically reminiscent of Cradle in Love and Moonlight Kissed, and featuring the full band. Once again, Miika Hakala returned to the helm as director, in a collaboration which has spanned almost a decade. For the beautiful internal shots, the team travelled a little further out, recording at the stunning Tervakoski Manor in Janakkala.
The track will be a part of a special Carnival of Rust 20th anniversary vinyl, sold at the Backstage Rockshop, and set to be released on May 8th 2026. The album consists of thirteen songs across two vinyls, housed in a gatefold sleeve. On the addition of the new track, the listing reads, "The anniversary pressing features a previously unreleased single, 'Black Waters', presented as a final added chapter to the album’s story. Unearthed from the original recording sessions and completed in the present day, the track feels less like an outtake and more like a voice that finally found its moment."
Alan Wake and Control fans will likely also know Poets of the Fall by their fictional alter-ego, Old Gods of Asgard. The group was founded in 2003, debuting with Late Goodbye, as heard in Max Payne 2. With over two decades of wonderful music, Carnival of Rust remains a standout in their collection and a fan favourite. It was the album and song that proved that the band had a future and an eager audience, standing on its own. With Carnival of Rust, Poets of the Fall reached high in the domestic charts, where it remained for several months, received awards for both the album and the single, and built on their successes from Signs of Life.
Black Water Lyrics
Sunlight, the peace is broken, I'm awakened, by its spear
Dark sight, sees only sorrows, and corrodes, till nothing's clear
Hold on let me think this through, I still remember you as you were
Black waters, flow in this river, is it the end it holds beneath, or my deliverance
Black waters, carry me over, where every tear is a kiss of forgiveness
Black waters, hungry fathoms, we make strange lovers
Morning, has won the duel, of renewal we're made to chase
Bewitching as by rule us to don our unblemished grace
And all the things we left unsaid, like fallen leaves lay dead, cos you're not there
Hold on let me think this through, I still remember you and the way we were
Black waters, flow in this river, is it the end it holds beneath, or my deliverance
Black waters, carry me over, where every tear is a kiss of forgiveness
Twilight, just a token, a softly spoken, symbol of peace
Go on, let nothing hold you down, no regrets, unbound, walk on air
Black waters, flow in this river, is it the end it holds beneath, or my deliverance
Black waters, carry me over, where every tear is a kiss of forgiveness
Black waters, hungry fathoms, we make strange lovers
Tonight, Remedy Entertainment and Kinetic Games have announced a new collaboration, which sees Alan Wake 2 colliding with the spooky world of Phasmophobia for a limited-time event coming May 12th.
In a surprise reveal at the Galaxies Spring '26 livestream, the minute-long trailer hinted at some of the cursed locations the investigators will be tasked with exploring, paired with narration by Alan Wake actor Matthew Porretta. (Matthew Porretta. Making terrifying games more reassuring since 2010. Will he be singing? We can only hope.)
Over shots of abandoned dining room, a forgotten campground, we hear the familiar voice, "Everywhere the investigator looked, there were signs of two worlds colliding. Glimpses into a mystery. Clues that teased. Out-of-place objects and signs, yet nothing that revealed it fully. This was a story told somewhere else. Where the pages of the manuscript had been written. From where the writer of the story was desperately reaching for the light. And with that act, he was threatening to spill out the darkness of his prison. A writer by the name of Alan Wake."
In a press release following the broadcast, Sam Lake, Creative Director at Remedy, wrote, “There are many fans of Phasmophobia at Remedy, so it was a thrilling opportunity to bring these two horror worlds together. It was a joy to write for this collaboration. As Alan Wake writes a new manuscript in the depths of the Dark Place, the paranormal investigators of Phasmophobia find themselves trapped in a horror story. Our two twisted worlds amplify each other perfectly.”
Created by Kinetic Games, Phasmophobia is an early access game that tasks teams (up to four players) with stepping into the boots of paranormal investigators. (Though single player is always an option for the brave). These intrepid investigators are armed with ghost-hunting equipment, including sound recorders and video cameras. Their goal is to gather evidence across a series of haunted locations, and *checks notes* not die in terrifying ways. Fuelling the fear, the dev team has been inspired by ghost tales from all over, from the Banshees of Irish legend to the Oni of Japanese folklore. So, THAT'S relaxing.
As for the Alan Wake 2 collaboration, more details are promised soon! For now, mark your calendar for the event running May 12th to June 2nd.
Wake, you could have written yourself into Stardew Valley or Powerwash Simulator 2, you mad man.
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