Alan Wake 2 developer not a fan of Red Dead Redemption Remaster releasing in October

Although the remaster's release is still speculative and its existence unconfirmed by Rockstar Games, the mere hint of it has put Kyle Rowley on high alert. In a tongue-in-cheek tweet, Rowley begged Rockstar Games not to launch the remaster on the same day as Alan Wake 2.

The plea is a half-joking nod to the grim sales history of Alan Wake that launched four days before Red Dead Redemption, which is partly to blame for its status as a cult classic instead of a celebrated title.

Despite Rowley's public plea, the decision lies in the hands of the publishers, Epic Games, and not the game's director nor its developers. Regardless of the high-profile competition, moving the release date may not be an option for the Alan Wake 2 team. Ironically, while October is brimming with major releases, the following month, November, seems significantly less crowded.

One could imagine Remedy deliberately avoiding a re-do of 2010 by releasing Alan Wake 2 just a few weeks later, but that would defeat the whole point of why it's going the digital-only route - a controversial decision that has since been copied by Starfield, among others.

For Alan Wake 2, its impending release is an uncanny echo of the past. The stakes are higher than ever, as its performance could determine the future of the franchise. Amid the tension, one thing is clear: it's not just the quality of a game that determines its success, but timing and competition too.

So, will Alan Wake 2 manage to stand out in a jam-packed October line-up? Or will the sequel, once again, be overshadowed, this time by a legion of popular releases including its decade-old competitor? With a fanbase awaiting its arrival and a director pleading for some release-date reprieve, Alan Wake 2 is gearing up for a tumultuous entry into the gaming world.

In a realm where release dates can make or break a game's success, Alan Wake 2 stands on the precipice of deja vu. Fans and creators alike can only hope the sequel will avoid the fate of its predecessor and shine on its own merit amid the storm of competition. Only time will tell if this underdog can hold its own or if the ghost of Red Dead Redemption will haunt it once more.