Alan Wake spotted in Steam registry

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 13 December, 2011

Announcement soon?

Eagle-eyed gamers have spotted an entry in Steam's registry for Alan Wake.

Alan Wake fans on the Alan Wake forum believe the image, below, indicates the Xbox 360 exclusive will launch on PC.

A quote from developer Remedy's Aki Järvilehto, made to a Finnish website (via JustPushStart), is fuelling the rumour.

"We have received feedback from a lot of PC gamers, and I have to admit that yes, we somehow ignored that. Let's see if in the near future we could have some positive news to tell you about dating!"

We assume when Järvilehto says "dating" he means a release date.

In the run up to Alan Wake's May 2010 launch Remedy revealed it scrapped plans to launch a PC version - but didn't rule out doing it one day.

"We're a small studio. We're 50 people, and being a small studio it makes a lot more sense for us to focus on one platform," Remedy's Oskari Häkkinen said.

"Currently we're fully focused on the Xbox version, and [as for] what the future holds, we haven't got anything to announce, and we haven't thought that far right now."

Microsoft previously dismissed a PC version of Alan Wake in the interests of "matching this specific game to the right platform", arguing that Xbox 360 provided "the most compelling way to experience Alan Wake".

"Some games are more suited for the intimacy of the PC, and others are best played from the couch in front of a larger TV screen," the publisher said.

Eurogamer has asked Remedy for comment.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 5 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • rotmm #1 5 months ago

    It would be fantastic if this truly great game could be experienced by as wide an audience as possible.

  • onyxbox #2 5 months ago

    I thoroughly enjoyed this game and it would be nice if this came to PC (and PS3 too)

  • Subquest #3 5 months ago

    "Some games are more suited for the intimacy of the PC, and others are best played from the couch in front of a larger TV screen," the publisher said.

    Microsoft in 'blind to fact many PC gamers connect to their living room TV' shocker.

  • arcam #4 5 months ago

    Please , please, please let this be true. I would love to play Alan Wake. I will even promise to play it on my TV downstairs if that makes you feel better.

  • Belmonth #5 5 months ago

    OH GOD YES OH GOD! REMEDY IS BACK BABY !

  • AnthonyDaniels #6 5 months ago

    isnt it just Alone in the Dark Lite?

  • arcam #7 5 months ago

    If the mod scene for this turns out to be even a fraction of the mod scene for Max Payne, this could be so, so sweet.

    Eurogamer, you made my afternoon, thanks!

  • Butr0sButr0s #8 5 months ago

    Alan Wake has been high on my list of "games you wish would release on PC" for quite some time. I think it will sell well when released, and even more when it hits the $19.99 sweet spot during a sale.

  • Darren #9 5 months ago

    "Microsoft previously dismissed a PC version of Alan Wake in the interests of "matching this specific game to the right platform", arguing that Xbox 360 provided "the most compelling way to experience Alan Wake"."

    Yeah right, stripped down from its original open-world format to a more console-friendly linear one running at a sub-HD resolution with lots of screen tearing. Yup, the Xbox 360 was definitely the ideal platform for that game! :p
    Edited by Darren at 13/12/11 @ 14:06

  • oceanmotion #10 5 months ago

    Cool. Should be amazing with mods, the environments were truly spectacular. Hope Alan Wake does well and the series continues. A more open game would be immense.

  • Nico4 #11 5 months ago

    I hope for the PC gamers sake that they'll get it. The game is amazing and seriously underrated.

  • evild_edd #12 5 months ago

    This is good news for PC and 360 gamers.

    PC gamers get a great and underrated game (that suffered from over-hype, high expectations, and a protracted development) while more sales might help get a full sequel for everyone (as opposed to the download spin-off).

  • deadstoned #13 5 months ago

    The first Alan Wake was made for PC in mind, but cancelled last second due to Microsoft's close mindedness to PC Gaming. I certainly wont buy a game promised 2 years ago for the PC at full price -_- £9.99 and I'll think about it. And if it uses GFWL which I expect it will then no sale Microsoft.

  • Shakey_Jake33 #14 5 months ago

    Too late guys, I was interested 2 years ago. We've moved on already.

  • v.profane #15 5 months ago

    They better put it out at a budget price after cancelling what was supposed to be a flagship PC game then putting it out 18 months later. Either that or put a lot of work into making it a proper PC version.

  • DozyKipper #16 5 months ago

    Where does those screenshots above come from? What is this Content Description Record Viewer?

  • JumpinJackFlash #17 5 months ago

    Alan Wake didn't sell too well on the 360, so now they bring what is a mediocre game that was originally mean't to be on the PC anyway and expect PC gamers to pay full price for it 18 months later. Remedy and MS can go and suck each others dick, they won't see a penny from me.


    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/remedy-defends-poor-alan-wake-sales

  • Lonewolf2002 #18 5 months ago

    @DozyKipper

    http://www.itsmods.com/forum/Thread-Release-Steam-ClientRegistry-Toolkit-0-5-1.html

    Tells you about it, looks like a Steam mod/app for analyzing registry entries.

  • N2O1990 #19 5 months ago

    @Darren
    Even if it stayed PC or not Remedy themselves said that going full sandbox made no sense narratively.

    They tried it and it didn't work for them, the 'levels' are absolutely huge anyway.

    this is what Remedy said:

    "Certainly, there were prototypes we tested and were not happy with that didn't end up as part of what Alan Wake is.

    "For example, early on we tried out sandbox elements. With them we were constantly running into situations where we had to [endure] big compromises in our thriller pacing and our thriller storytelling. At the end of they day we decided it wasn't worth it. We wanted to do a story-driven game - that's what we feel Remedy games are supposed to be.

    "[Sandbox] was one thing we decided to abandon and go in a different direction. Some of these things look good on paper, and then when you try them out they don't work as well."


    and this game can lower than 3GB if they delete the cut-scene

  • Liquidoodle #20 5 months ago

    The few people claiming that the PC version will be full price... where are you getting your info from because I'm pretty certain this article doesn't confirm it's actually getting released let alone give a price on it.

    I'm sensing you are just angry for the sake of being angry, take a chill pill and go have a nice relaxing bath, might calm you down a bit :p

    Wonder if the new American Nightmare will be coming out too, I would definitely buy it on PC over XBox even if just for full 720p resolution and smooth as butter frame rate :D

  • thesonglessbird #21 5 months ago

    I still remember that big tech preview Remedy did showing off the physics in the game and saying how it needs a Q6600 to run. Perhaps now the majority of PC gamers have a rig that can play the game, IT IS TIME?

  • arcam #22 5 months ago

    @JAGUARCD32x name three

    Daggerfall, Guild Wars Nightfall, LOTRO. I don't even know what that's supposed to prove, but anyone requests a list, I like to provide :)

  • manupkp #23 5 months ago

    "We have received feedback from a lot of PC gamers, and I have to admit that yes, we somehow ignored that. Let's see if in the near future we could have some positive news to tell you about dating!"
    is translated wrong. The original interview says "Olemme saaneet paljon palautetta PC-pelaajilta ja täytyy myöntää, että meitä kyllä houkuttaisi jotenkin huomioida tuo. Katsotaan jos lähitulevaisuudessa meillä voisi olla jotain positiivisia uutisia kerrottavana tälläkin saralla!" which means:

    "We've received lots of feedback from PC players and I gotta admit we're tempted to take notice. Let's see if we'll have some positive news to tell about this in the near future!"

  • Sharzam #24 5 months ago

    Completed this on the xbox and loved every minute of it. Sure its short but s good story doesnt hav eto be long to be intreasting.

    But it kept nagging me that it could be so much more on PC. Things like light efffets for atomsphere are a big part of the game just imagine what a powerful graphic card could do for this game. Along with the obvious such as resoultion , AA etc.

    So in short; i so hope this is true.

  • LeChuckie #25 5 months ago

    As a Max Payne fan without an Xbox I would approve of this.

  • Snake_2011 #26 5 months ago

    great game one of the reasons I have a 360.

  • silversun #27 5 months ago

    This would be good for the game , get it on pc.

  • fox #28 5 months ago

    I was actually trying to buy alan wake second hand, but alas, my xbox died! This would definitely be good news!

  • Darksjeik #29 5 months ago

    Fantastic, it will be great to play it in HD

  • Bogie19th #30 5 months ago

    @Darren No screen tearing here.

  • Badassbab #31 5 months ago

    @Bogie19th

    Alan Wake no screen tearing? It's a tear-a-thon especially in the light (pardon the pun) when it's easily visible.
    Edited by Badassbab at 14/12/11 @ 11:51