Remedy: Microsoft doesn't want to make Quantum Break or Alan Wake sequels

By Jez Corden
published

Quantum Break and Alan Wake are two of Xbox's most under-appreciated titles, and that under-appreciation apparently includes Microsoft.

Quantum Break (opens in new tab) and Alan Wake (opens in new tab) are two Xbox titles crying out for a sequel, sequels Microsoft apparently doesn't want to make, according to Remedy.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz (via COGConnected) about Remedy's next game, Control, the Finnish independent studio discusses the fate of Alan Wake and Quantum Break, and the pain of not being in control (heh, pun) of the worlds the studio has built.

Alan Wake

Alan Wake (Image credit: Microsoft)

Alan Wake

Remedy CEO Tero Virtala implied in the interview how the studio had intended to create a long-term franchise with both Quantum Break and Alan Wake, working hard to flesh out the characters, their backstories, and the worlds attached to them. The way Quantum Break is littered with easter eggs that call back to Alan Wake speaks to that fact. Virtala notes that Microsoft doesn't want to take either franchise "further."

"If you want to create a memorable story, it's not just a story. It's the characters, their background story, their motives, and the locations. In order to create these worlds, characters and stories, it's a huge investment of really high-quality people that are really hard to find and those typically provide a basis for long-term franchises, long-term brands in which you could put multiple games.""Considering our history, Alan Wake was really interesting but it was a collaboration with Microsoft. Due to certain reasons, it never got a sequel. Quantum Break, also, we put a lot of effort into creating the world, the characters, the stories, but still it was Microsoft IP. They decided not to take it further. If we owned the IP, it's fully in our hands to decide how we create it, how we develop, what are the creative decisions that we take? And then maybe one day in the future, if it proves to be successful, it's again in our hands to decide what will be done. That was important for us."

Both Alan Wake and Quantum Break finish in a way that leave them wide open for a sequel. While it sounds as though both games struggled to obtain the commercial success Microsoft hoped for them, both titles enjoy a loyal fanbase and could easily achieve wider success with a few tweaks.

Quantum Break is an action thriller that follows Jack Joyce on a mission to prevent the collapse of time itself, following a failed time travel experiment. Alan Wake is a psychological horror that draws heavy inspiration from Twin Peaks and similar TV shows, which challenge the idea of "reality" itself. Both games are available to buy on Xbox One, and are well worth every penny.

Remedy's next game: Control

Microsoft recently added five new studios to its first-party portfolio, specifically with the goal of addressing the central criticism of Xbox as a platform: here are not enough high-quality exclusive "AAA" games. Quantum Break or Alan Wake sequels, complete with addressed feedback, would be prime candidates to help build out Microsoft's first-party offering. But for whatever reason, it looks like we'll never get them.

Jez Corden
Jez Corden
Co-Managing Editor

Jez Corden a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his Xbox Two podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!

23 Comments
  • I'm disappointed I thought Microsoft would be enthusiastic about Quantum Break and Alan Wake. I guess they haven't considered the Mixed reality angle with Quantum Break? I hope Remedy can acquire the IP from Microsoft.
  • Creative Freedom, right..
  • Yup. Xbox really needs some compelling IPs, Quantum Break and Alan Wake are already established franchises... It's a no brainer. This risk aversion mentality is extremely counter productive.
  • That's quite odd - they got those two IPs which may not be the absolute top of the line but are nonetheless very interesting, and decide to do nothing with them despite the ongoing rant about the lack of exclusives on the XBox platform? Instead they drag on with Crackdown 3 development when the game probably should be canceled to save them further embarrassment when (if?) it finally launches and proves to be a totally underwhelming environmental destruction tech demo with a game tacked on... I don't think I can understand that.
  • I'd love sequel to both but probably sales were low especially for Quantum break unfortunately.
    If I have to believe VGChartz (which may be skewed now with digital sales) it didn't even sell 1M copies. Even if it did double that it's far behind other big games.
  • Not just C3, they have other games from other developers and the 4 studios they just required.
  • I would be super disappointed if we didn't get more of the Alan Wake series.
  • One could argue that no one at Microsoft knows what it takes to grow a franchise. This one-and-done approach doesn't work. And I can understand if a game launched to terrible reviews and low sales, but Microsoft seemingly has no interest in a game unless they believe it's A) low risk (like State of Decay) or B) little investment/big return. Maybe post this year's E3 they're finally starting to learn their lesson, but we'll see.
  • Quantum break was a great game but not at launch. And it's probably Microsoft who is at fault for its failure. They should not have released it exclusive on Windows store and in such a buggy state that it's no wonder it got so many bad reviews. I do remember that I specifically waited for it to be released on Steam just to have it run decently.
  • I wish I would have waited for the steam release... The game ran like garbage on launch and completely soured my experience with the Windows Store, I will never buy another game from there... I loved the concept of the live action show mixed with the game too, the acting and production quality was actually pretty good (especially Lance Reddick).
  • Good that Remedy is going multi-platform then.
  • We need to have serious conversation with microsoft about this. They have been doing this for over a decade with game franchises that fans love but never gets a sequel only because it sold poorly, too many bug problems, or it just didnt build enough hype. Last console generation, we got a few sequels of : games such as MechAssault, but it never survived, I believe this game can and should be brought back to life because im now seeing new mech games coming into the market. Fable is another series that needs to come back. think Zelda.
    Perfect Dark is another. They bought Rare with so many characters to mess with incl banjo kazooie, Kameo, and Conker are just a few that are dying to be brought back to life. This generation, we have not seen title sequels to games like Ryse: Son of Rome and we are left with a cliffhanger. Sunset Overdrive is another great game that needed a sequel. An interview of Insomniac games once said that part 2 is ready and is looking for a publisher. Microsoft didnt want it. Remedy is such a great developer with impressive old titles as far back as MAx Payne. I don't know microsoft hasnt acquired them and instead acquiring some unknown devs like We Happy Few, risking their money on a developer that hasnt made any games in the past. Sounds like No Mans Sky (when people put their faith on it and bought it full price). Dont ever risk your money on someone with no resume.
    Remedy are great story tellers that doesnt require too many mindless shooting like Halo, Crackdown, and Gears. Alan Wake proved that and Quantum Break. After many many exclusive titles that microsoft didn't want to pursue in the past, its really hard for me to put my money on new and upcoming exclusives now. I just dont understand, are they just throwing things on the wall and see what sticks? Don't they know they need to build franchises so they can start their own SSBM clone. I'm waiting for xbox fighters game to come out. That's the end goal of this.
  • Every games have fans, the differences are the size, and if the game can earn pass BP.
  • Just pointing out that Fable is NOT Microsoft's IP, it belongs to Lionhead (which is defunct by now?) so it's not really their decision. We had three main games in the series and frankly - the two sequels failed to evolve the franchise in any interesting way. Also can't agree with what you said about acquiring new, young studios - gaming needs fresh ideas because the "triple-A" sector is just a pile of boring bull right now. That, and we need the middle shelf too.
  • I thought this stupid mentality was over at Microsoft. This is very concerning.
  • is it stupid if the game takes too much money to make and does not generate any money to even pay it back? that's the main problem with these games right? I loved QB, but I can't fault them in taking a back seat on the IP if not enough gamers are buying it. It's a business.
  • It's a balancing act, to grow a franchises you need to take risks. Microsoft is not really struggling for funds. It's not the smart play when you want to attract talent and studios for new franchise IPs.
  • Alan Wake is no longer available to purchase, it’s music licenses expired The most likely actual scenario is that Microsoft is not interested in financing Alan Wake 2 in a mood Remedy finds accessible. Since MS controls the console rights, Remedy cannot make an acceptable royalty to them, and MS is unwilling to either allow the purchase of those rights (which they’d be super smart to do for an exclusive window) or do a hefty guaranteed buyout. While QB has never sold in the number required to justify more, Alan Wake eventually did. Phil Spencer would be smart to consider an episodic AW sequel as part of his proposed single player Game Pass exclusives
  • For all of Microsoft’s talk of single player gaming mattering, they sure don’t act like it when it comes to which projects they show interest in. It’s so incredibly disheartening as someone who primarily plays single player games.
  • Come on Microsoft, get with it! These were both great games, please make sequels to them!!!!!!
  • This is very disappointing. I wonder what will happen to their newly acquired Ninja Theory.
  • Microsoft will probably create their own studio, give it a name related to the particular game, and then get them to cram the thing full of microtransactions and horrid bugs and then call it a day. It's happened before, it'll happen again.
  • I loved this games. MS should push for the sequels