Everything We Know About Remedy’s Connected Universe

Last Updated: August 18, 2020

Remedy Entertainment often includes references to their past work in their games, and fans have long speculated that some of these are more than mere Easter eggs and the games actually take place in a shared universe. This possibility became most apparent in 2019’s Control, which not only included nods to previous Remedy games, but also showed a definite connection to Alan Wake through its upcoming AWE DLC expansion.

Alan Wake, which was released for the Xbox 360 in 2010 and then later for the PC in 2012, has now been confirmed to take place in the same universe as Control. Its plot features a writer searching for his missing wife as the events of his novel begin to come true thanks to a dark power, and this is the sort of Altered World Event (AWE) investigated by the Federal Bureau of Control in Remedy’s most recent game.

Remedy’s official website confirms that they’ve been planning these connections for a long time:

“For over 10 years, we’ve had a crazy dream. The idea that the tales told in some of our games would be connected to each other, a connected world of stories and events with shared characters and lore. Each game is a stand-alone experience, but each game is also a doorway into a larger universe with exciting opportunities for crossover events.”

Remedy Entertainment

Remedy Connected Universe

Remedy has introduced the Remedy Connected Universe, with AWE being the first “crossover event” to take place in it. They also have a new game from the Connected Universe currently in development.

The revelation that Remedy has been planning their Connected Universe for over ten years, along with the implications that some of the supposed Easter eggs are actually hints to this shared universe, have led fans to search for clues. Not only does Control contain references to Alan Wake, but the reverse is also true: Alan Wake includes numerous references to what would later become Control.

Control references in Alan Wake:

  • In Control, the Typewritten Page from Alan Wake came from a door at the Oceanview Motel marked with a spiral symbol. Fans have discovered that same symbol in Alan Wake.
  • The “Night Springs” tie-in comic to Alan Wake includes a reference to “the Bureau” investigating things.
  • Alan Wake’s American Nightmare features a song called “Balance Slays the Demon” that includes a snippet of reversed audio. When played backwards, this section says “It will happen again, in another town, called Ordinary.”

There was also a report that the Oldest House can be seen briefly in Alan Wake during a flashback, but this appears to be a glitch or illusion rather than an actual reference.

The Oldest House aside, Alan Wake and Control now explicitly take place in a shared universe, so what about the rest of Remedy’s games?

Quantum Break has frequently been theorized to take place in the same universe due to its numerous references to Alan Wake. One such reference that is much more significant now is the blackboard. Not only does the Quantum Break blackboard describe the plot events of Alan Wake, but it also explicitly uses the term “AWE,” which is then questioned as meaning either “Alan Wake Experience” or “Altered World Events.” Fans are divided on whether or not Quantum Break makes sense logically as part of the same universe, and it hasn’t been confirmed, but right now it’s the most likely candidate for another game in the Remedy Connected Universe.

Which Games Are in the Remedy Connected Universe?

From what we know so far:

  • Control – Confirmed
  • Alan Wake – Confirmed
  • Quantum Break – Probable, but not confirmed
  • Max Payne – Possible; the novels Alan writes are themselves a reference to Max Payne, and a line in Control implies there Max Payne is an alternate universe
  • Death Rally – Unlikely
  • Agents of Storm – Unlikely
  • CrossfireX – Highly unlikely, due to being based on the CrossFire universe and lore

And of course, there is the unknown in-development game already confirmed to be part of the shared universe.

Now, this is somewhat complicated by the fact that Remedy doesn’t own the Max Payne or Quantum Break IP, which could lead to them never being directly tied in even if the intention is there.

Conclusion

Right now, this is all we know about the Remedy Connected Universe. The AWE DLC for Control will be out on August 27, so more details might come to light then.