We now know the download size for Alan Wake 2.
As revealed by PlayStation Size, Version 1.000.01 will come in at 79.775 GB. Pre-loads begin at October 25, midnight ET, prior to game release at October 27, also at midnight ET. This is the time set for all regions, so no one is going to be playing Alan Wake 2 earlier than anyone else. You can learn more about the release time for your area here.
That’s a hefty download considering that Remedy has made it clear that Alan Wake 2 is not getting a physical release at all. Remedy gave several reasons for choosing to go digital only, but we know that there’s no technical reason that would hold them back. In fact, THQ Nordic offered to publish it physically on behalf of Remedy and Epic Games.
THQ Nordic had alleged that there is specifically one person at Remedy Entertainment who is resisting the consumer demand for a physical version of the game. Unfortunately for physical game collectors, that hasn’t changed in the time since Remedy made the announcement. So whether you like it or not, if you want to play Alan Wake 2 at launch, a digital download is the way to go.
There was also some concern that the console versions of Alan Wake 2 might not be up to snuff, because of the high requirements set upon the PC version of the game. That anxiety prompted Remedy’s communications to reassure them that the studio did everything they could to make sure that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S would be getting great versions.
Obviously, that was code for confirming that the consoles won’t be getting as good a version of the game as PC gamers will. On the other hand, PC gamers are going to pay a steep price for the privilege of being able to play it on their platform.
We would be remiss not to point out that the same Remedy communications director, Thomas Puha, admitted that they found it challenging to work with the Xbox Series S. That console is significantly weaker than the PCs that Alan Wake 2 has apparently been designed around, and Puha names the GPU and the RAM in particular as sticking points. But then, Puha’s reassurances came after this interview, so we could give Remedy the benefit of the doubt that they did magic on the console.
Alan Wake 2 will be released on October 27, 2023, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows via Epic Games Store. As of this writing, it is not planned for release on Steam.
