Remedy files trademark for 'Alan Wake's Return'

Alan Wake's future has been shrouded in mystery and darkness for years, and not the kind that goes away when you point a flashlight at it. But with Quantum Break just weeks away from its release date, it looks like Remedy Entertainment is starting to shine some light on Alan Wake's Return.

No, really, "Alan Wake's Return" is the name, according to a European trademark application apparently filed by Remedy on Tuesday and spotted by NeoGAF user ekim. And yes, it does share its title with the new book Mr. Wake begins at the end of the final (DLC) chapter of the original game. The trademark is specifically for "games software", so don't worry about it just being a cheeky novelization of the in-game story (which I would still totally read at this point).

The trademark application also lines up with a website domain name first staked out way back in 2007 by Remedy's usual registrar. The alternative spelling alanwakereturns.com was snagged back in June 2015 by the same company, indicating some renewed interest.

Every copy of Quantum Break will come with a downloadable, backwards compatible version of Alan Wake (his story even appears as an overt Easter egg in the game). Alan Wake's American Nightmare tied up a few loose ends back in May 2012, but there's still an ocean of possibility for the insomniac author to navigate - hopefully this all means Remedy will let us dive back in soon.

Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!

Connor Sheridan

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and now I'm a staff writer here at GamesRadar.

Latest in Alan Wake
Alan Wake 2 screenshot showing a live-action Alan standing in front of a stage curtain
The Remedy Connected Universe that ties Alan Wake 2 and Control is "just getting started" with no endgame in sight, says Sam Lake
Alan Wake 2 screenshot of Saga Anderson
As Remedy nearly breaks even with Alan Wake 2 sales, Sam Lake tells investors "we strive to create commercial hits" but "we must never lose" the studio's special sauce
Alan Wake 2
"Many times it seemed the game would never get made": Alan Wake 2 is "finally complete" thanks to its new DLC, but even its director says "no one knows about the future"
Alan Wake 2: The Lake House
Alan Wake 2's Lake House DLC sold me on Control 2 quicker than playing Control did
Alan Wake 2 review screenshot
Sam Lake "politely" asked Alan Wake 2 devs to kill him more violently: "There was hardly any blood in the first iteration"
Alan Wake 2 live action screenshot showing Alan being interviewed by Mr Door
Remedy confirms the Alan Wake AMC TV series is dead as it announces new partnership with Annapurna to "develop and produce Control and Alan Wake franchises for film and television"
Latest in News
Silent Hill f art showing a person covered in plants
Silent Hill f has been pre-emptively banned in Australia, with no reason given for the 'refused classification' rating
Assassin's Creed Shadows review gameplay showing Yasuke overlooking the sea and lush green scenery
Assassin's Creed Shadows has already "surpassed the launches of AC Origins and Odyssey" with 2 million players and counting
Helldivers 2 screenshot showing someone using a big gun
Helldivers 2 boss says "death and rebirth" is a natural part of the games industry, but it's "unnecessarily brutal" right now "because we don't diversify enough"
A Dragon Age character stares out against a blue background.
BioWare makes a return to Dragon Age: The Veilguard with a surprise PC update, months after layoffs and a seemingly final patch
God of War 3
God of War PSP's seamless loading was only possible because a Jak & Daxter game was also running in the background
Baldur's Gate 3 the vampire Astarion covered in blood
Baldur’s Gate 3 Astarion actor Neil Newbon warns games industry that "AI will have deep ramifications" if not properly regulated: "I believe in experiencing life and art through human expression, not software"