Summary
- Remedy will maintain creative freedom with its new partnership with Annapurna Interactive.
- Annapurna Interactive's history highlights its willingness to take risks.
- The collaboration will expand Remedy's IPs into film, TV, and beyond.
It isn’t a simple task to gain a foothold in the gaming industry, and many studios have failed due to projects not finding popularity, or an inability to find funding for creative projects. Sometimes, studios have to make compromises in their creative visions to meet financial incentives and please publishers. Remedy, a studio known for its off-the-wall ideas seen in franchises like Control, may be able to avoid this fate thanks in part to a new partnership with Annapurna Interactive.
The announcement of the new deal comes at a time when Remedy is enjoying the success of Alan Wake 2 and is gearing up to expand the world of the Control franchise. This is perhaps the best position for the studio to be in, as Annapurna Interactive can help it develop the games that it wants to without creative limitations.
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Annapurna Has Always Been Ready to Take Risks
The gaming industry is volatile, and it’s not always easy to guess what players want. Some studios try their luck with new ideas, only to alienate fans. Others stick to conventions, but this comes with the risk of boring players. Over the years, Annapurna Interactive has gone the innovative route and has dared to take risks with the games it publishes. This has been seen with titles such as Stray, which has gamers play as a cat in a cyberpunk city. The idea is novel, but it landed with players. Thanks to the positive reception the game got, a movie adaptation is in the works.
Another experimental game published by Annapurna Interactive is What Remains of Edith Finch. The title follows the tale of Edith Finch who returns to her family home after many years. Through exploration, she discovers the tragic stories of her family members and the deaths that befell them. Like Stray, What Remains of Edith Finch was a success, and many critics have lauded the game’s storytelling.
Annapurna Interactive is the perfect publisher for Remedy to have on its side, as the Finnish studio is fond of making daring choices. It seldom goes the conventional route, which is seen in games like Control which takes inspiration from the SCP Foundation, a fictional organization created in collaboration with several writers online. Remedy also dares to experiment with its storytelling methods, choosing to embrace live-action elements in its games, an element seen in both the Control and Alan Wake franchises. Working with Annapurna, Remedy has the chance to flex its creative muscles yet again without fear of limitations from publishers.
Annapurna Will Help Remedy Entertainment Expand Its IPs Across Different Mediums
Remedy has never been one to stick to gaming alone to tell the stories of its characters. This is seen with Alan Wake which has had novel adaptations as well as a live-action miniseries serving as a prequel. The studio also delved into the world of live-action with Quantum Break, which has an accompanying television series.
In a press release from the Finnish studio, it is confirmed that the partnership with Annapurna will allow it "to make Control 2 exactly the game [it] want[s] it to be." There is also the exciting announcement that it will be working with the publisher to take "Control and Alan Wake franchises to film, TV, and beyond." This is exciting news for Remedy fans, as it sounds like they will get to see the stories of Jesse Faden and Alan Wake, who connect through the Remedy Connected Universe, expanded across different mediums.
A release date for Control 2 hasn't been announced, though the studio confirms that the "development team is working full steam ahead on the game." Control 2 likely won't rear its head for a long time yet, but thanks to Annapurna, its future looks brighter than ever.
Control
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
- Released
- August 27, 2019
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Winner of over 80 awards, Control is a visually stunning third-person action-adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Blending open-ended environments with the signature world-building and storytelling of renowned developer, Remedy Entertainment, Control presents an expansive and intensely gratifying gameplay experience.
A corruptive presence has invaded the Federal Bureau of Control…Only you have the power to stop it. The world is now your weapon in an epic fight to annihilate an ominous enemy through deep and unpredictable environments. Containment has failed, humanity is at stake. Will you regain control?
Can you handle the bureau’s dark secrets? Unfold an epic supernatural struggle, filled with unexpected characters and bizarre events, as you search for your missing brother, and discover the truth that has brought you here.
- Engine
- Northlight Engine
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Action, Third-Person Shooter, Supernatural
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
