By Sagar V. Mankar During its quarterly earnings report, Remedy Entertainment, the renowned Finnish game developer behind iconic titles like Control and Alan Wake, provided a major update on the remakes of Max Payne 1 and 2 and Tencent’s investment.
Max Payne 1 & 2 Remake in Full Production
During the presentation, Remedy revealed that the Max Payne 1 & 2 remake project is expected to move into “full production” during the second quarter (Q2) of 2024 (Between April to June).
The remakes, which were first announced in 2022, aim to breathe new life into the classic noir-style action games that were originally released in 2001 and 2003, respectively.
For those unfamiliar, the Max Payne games revolutionized the third-person shooter genre with their innovative bullet-time mechanics and gritty noir storytelling.
The games followed the journey of Max Payne, a former NYPD officer-turned-DEA agent seeking revenge for the murder of his family.
The remakes aim to breathe new life into these classics, updating the visuals, gameplay, and potentially even the narratives for modern audiences.
Other Exciting Projects
Beyond the Max Payne remakes Remedy Entertainment has an incredibly ambitious slate of projects in the works. The company provided updates on several fronts:
1. Control 2: Finalizing Proof of Concept
Remedy announced that the Control 2 team is finalizing its proof of concept and is expected to advance to the “production readiness stage” during Q2 of 2024.
2. Codename Kestrel: Multiplayer Action Game in Concept Stage
Remedy’s upcoming free-to-play, co-op PvE shooter multiplayer action game, formerly known as Vanguard and now dubbed “Codename Kestrel,” is still in the concept stage.
Little is known about this secret project, but multiplayer titles from the studio behind Control and Alan Wake pique interest.
3. Codename Condor: Control Universe Multiplayer Game in Final Development
Another multiplayer game set in the Control universe, Codename Condor, is in “the final development stage before a game is launched,” or full production.
This project promises to expand the captivating world of Control into new multiplayer experiences.
Tencent Nearly Triples Its Investment in Remedy
In a significant development, Remedy Entertainment announced that Tencent, the Chinese gaming giant, has nearly tripled its investment in the studio.
Previously holding a minority stake of 5%, Tencent has increased its ownership to 14.8%, solidifying its commitment to Remedy’s future projects.
This substantial investment from Tencent, a major player in the global gaming industry, is a vote of confidence in Remedy’s creative vision and development capabilities.
It could speed up the game development process of upcoming Remedy games and open new avenues for collaboration, resource allocation, and expanded reach for Remedy’s games in the vast Chinese market and beyond.
Alan Wake 2 Performance and Expansions
Remedy also provided an update on the performance of Alan Wake 2, their latest award winning narrative-driven psychological horror game.
The company revealed that the game has sold 1.3 million units as of early February and has recouped “a significant part” of its expenses.
Additionally, two planned expansions for Alan Wake 2, titled Night Springs and The Lakehouse, are currently in the works, though release dates have not been announced.
Organizational Changes at Remedy
Amidst this flurry of activity, Remedy Entertainment announced some organizational changes.
The company’s COO, Christopher Schmitz, is resigning, while Mikael Kasurinen, the game director for Control, has been appointed as a company-wide creative director.