It’s fascinating how Remedy Entertainment is biased on the current situation. The team seems to rush things into Control 2, but as much as it is moving forward, developers are busy creating a gameplay feeling, building environments, and designing missions in the game, where currently all new Control environments and their missions are being worked on and are now under construction. This was the first Control game that was released right after the year turned into a new millennium in 2019. It did quite well as it sold more than 5 million copies. Personally, I was blown away the first time I played it, and it just seemed to suck me in. What really stood out for me was the atmosphere in the game and the powers; hence, now knowing there would be a sequel makes me quite excited indeed.
Meanwhile, Remedy is also remaking Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. For these remakes, the original publisher, Rockstar Games, is on board. So, from what I could see or maybe hear, they want to rebuild these noir classics with that modern twist, but keeping the same vibe-drenched feel. For someone like me who played Max Payne long ago, even the thought of seeing the slow-motion gunfights look more realistic today added impetus to me to play them all over again.
Not every Remedy game, however, travels at the same pace. For example, their multiplayer project, FBC: Firebreak, which happens to belong in the universe of Control, has been technically quite able, but did not sell much upon launch. This has led some people to reflect on whether Remedy really ought to go back to making denser, narrative-heavy games, which have been their hallmark.
With nearly 300 people working in that company, Remedy is just the right size to undertake several projects at once, but still keep the feel of a small developer. They could make their major titles, but also experiment with smaller ones and be creative in such ways. Other studios have done this, like Obsidian: while developing huge RPGs, it also made smaller games like Pentiment and Grounded, where both were developed with small teams.
For Remedy, this could mean developing new ideas while protecting their key franchises. I can picture them creating a short story-driven RPG or some narrow genre experiment over a few years with a small team. In this way, they wouldn’t have to put all their hopes into one gigantic game that costs so much to make.
And frankly, that could be very suitable for some licensed games. They seem diligent at innovative combat, storytelling in very detailed worlds, and supernatural elements intermingled. They are understood in the gossip that they can do a Star Wars game, something Jedi Knight-ish, where the telekinesis they’ve got from Control could make lightsaber fights and Force powers up close better than ever.
But for the time being, it’s all about Control 2, Max Payne remakes, and whether FBC: Firebreak is included in their future plans. Whatever happens within a span of two years will tell us if Remedy is going to scramble toward new creative ideas or if a good amount of their energy will be spent on their already-existing series.
At the moment, they’re really at a crossroads. They could stick with the worlds they already know, try something completely new, or even both. Whatever route they go down is going to define them as a studio going forward, especially in an industry that requires balancing risk with knowing what already works. You may also be interested in: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition Review
