How to come up with a new plan in Alan Wake 2

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The 'come up with a new plan' objective in Alan Wake 2 gets you to gather clues, leading into a point of no return

Alan Wake 2 come up with a new plan Saga
(Image credit: Remedy)

To come up with a new plan in Alan Wake 2, you've got to search the Sheriff's Station for a few specific pieces of intel by gathering files and profiling individuals. Some of the evidence can be a little finnicky to find and collect, with certain UI icons not always being especially obvious. Once you have got the required files for Saga to formulate a new plan of attack to rescue Alan, you can pitch it to Casey and Estevez, although this leads straight into a point of no return in Alan Wake 2. That means this is a pivotal moment in the game, so I'll take you through everything you need for the Alan Wake 2 "come up with a new plan" objective, and what to expect after.

Obviously, there are spoilers ahead for Saga's story in Alan Wake 2, so scroll with care.

Alan Wake 2 Saga's new plan

Alan Wake 2 come up with a new plan Casey and Estevez in sheriff's station

(Image credit: Remedy)

Once you've got past the Scratch boss fight in the Sheriff's Station yard, you'll end Chapter 6 in Saga's story by needing to 'come up with a new plan', as you've discovered that Alan Wake is in fact still trapped in the Dark Place. Here's what you need to do to come up with that plan and progress the chapter:

  1. Speak to Casey and Estevez and exhaust all dialogue options with both characters. You'll eventually get the get a Prison Cell Key from Estevez. Also make sure you add any clues you gain from these conversations to the Alan Wake 2 Case Board.
  2. Use the Prison Cell Key to get inside the Sheriff's Station stash.
  3. Examine the files on the desk in front and make sure you collect both files. "FBC file on Cauldron Lake threshold to another reality" and "FBC file on capabilities of light switch object – The Clicker".

Alan Wake 2 come up with a new plan FBC files

(Image credit: Remedy)
  1. Turn left and examine the files on the other desk. This time, there's only one file to collect – "FBC file: Dark Presence assumed the form of Barbara Jagger".
  2. Add all three FBC file clues to the case board, specifically the "Wake and the Clicker" case. The Barbara Jagger clue links to the "Scratch? Or Wake?" investigation, the Cauldron Lake threshold clue links to the "How to Rescue Wake?" investigation, and the Clicker capabilities clue joins with the "Clicker still useful?" investigation.
  3. Add any other clues to the case board. It's likely that adding these clues has opened new lines of questioning for you to pursue, and you might already have some clues that fit in.
  4. Profile Tor on "Trusting Wake" to learn about the Clicker.
  5. Ask Estevez about the Clicker, then add the clue gained from this conversation to the Case Board.
  6. Profile Tor again, this time about "Rescuing Wake". This allows Saga to formulate her rescue plan by using the Clicker herself to get Alan out of the Dark Place.
  7. Share the plan by speaking to Estevez and Casey.

Alan Wake 2 come up with a new plan Estevez conversation point of no return

(Image credit: Remedy)

After telling the pair about the new plan, you will be faced with a point of no return and an important decision that will affect your progress. If you choose to continue, you must drive to Cauldron Lake and put Saga's plan into action, limiting where you can explore. After completing the following section of Chapter 7 as Saga, you will then be forced to play as Alan Wake, completing any chapters in Alan's story that you haven’t already completed and eventually moving towards the Alan Wake 2 ending.

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While you will play as Saga again later on, your travel options will be limited and it will be impossible to get any collectibles, such as Alan Wake 2 lunch boxes and stashes.

Conversely, if you choose the 'Not Yet' option when speaking to Estevez, you'll have free rein to continue exploring Cauldron Lake, Bright Falls, and Watery to tie up any loose ends, switch to Alan, resupply (perhaps using the Alan Wake 2 lighthouse key or by finding all the Alan Wake 2 deer head locations), or gather collectibles. You can of course return to Estevez and carry on with Saga's plan when you feel you're ready. If you're going for a 100% completionist run, definitely pick this option and check you're not missing anything!

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Will Sawyer
Will Sawyer
Guides Editor, GamesRadar+

Will Sawyer is a Guides Editor at GamesRadar+ with over five years of experience in writing online guides, news, and features, and has a BA (Hons) in Journalism. Starting as a freelancer, Will contributed to startmenu and Game Rant before joining the GamesRadar+ team in August 2021. Since then, he has written hundreds of guides about a huge range of games, with shooters and action games being his areas of expertise. Outside of writing about games, Will hops between multiplayer shooters with friends, such as Darktide and Helldivers 2, and delves into whatever has been on his backlog for far too long. He also tries to get through his never-ending Warhammer pile of shame of grey Tyranids, Aeldari, and Chaos Space Marines.