News

We have seen the next winner of American Idol — we just don't know who it is yet.

Season 23 of ABC singing competition wrapped up the audition phase on Sunday night as judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan traveled to New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville to find music's next superstar. The two-hour episode aired Sunday, March 30 (8 p.m. Et/Pt) with Ryan Seacrest hosting.

Brooklyn native JMarie was the first contestant to "slay" with her saucy rendition of Carrie's own "Before He Cheats," breathing new life into what she called a "hood anthem." The Haitian-born soul singer had Idol's newest judge smiling ear-to-ear as she riffed around the country original. "I was a little worried that people would sing my songs to me," Carrie said. "But you made it your own. I forgot about myself ever having sung that song. It was like I had heard it for the first time.

Exclusive: Netflix’s popular romantic drama Virgin River has cast Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) and Cody Kearsley (Riverdale) in recurring roles for the upcoming seventh season, which has begun production, with Deadline able to share two behind the scenes images from the set in Vancouver featuring most main cast members, including stars Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson (You can see them below). The new season, which will pick up two hours after the end of the Season 6 finale at Mel (Breckenridge) and Jack’s (Henderson) wedding, is expected to premiere in early 2026.

Canadian actors Canning and Kearsley will play characters related to an existing and new storyline, respectively, on the series based on Robyn Carr’s novels about the tight-knit community in the remote California town of Virgin River.

Canning’s Victoria is an ex-cop who was shot in the line of duty and is now working for the...

Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes have announced a 25th anniversary expanded reissue of their live album Live at the Greek, out March 14th.

The new edition contains the original selections from the 1999 concerts at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, plus 16 previously unreleased recordings. All 36 tracks — a mix of Led Zeppelin classics and originals by the Black Crowes — have been remixed and remastered for this release, and the new mixes of the Black Crowes’ “No Speak No Slave” and Zeppelin’s “Bring It on Home” (previously unreleased) can be streamed now.

“The new mixes capture the collaboration of those historic encounters,” remarked Page in a press release, “and provide the full explosive passion and exciting energy of those alchemical moments.”

For completionists, the 6-lp vinyl box set contains all 36 tracks, including the 16 previously unreleased cuts. A 2-lp edition features the original show plus a previously unreleased soundcheck jam (also...

Fresh off of their Rock Hall nomination, the Black Crowes will revisit their time performing alongside Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page with a 25th-anniversary edition of their live album Live at the Greek.

For the reissue, the original 20-song double album has been expanded to 36 tracks, each one newly remixed and remastered. Live at the Greek found Page and Black Crowes teaming up for Led Zeppelin songs and Zeppelin-adjacent covers, but the reissue expands the track list to include Crowes cuts like “No Speak No Slave,” which was released...

Nearly 30 of the biggest stars of the past half-century came together on Jan. 30 to deliver a five-and-a-half-hour love letter to Los Angeles, offering the city a much-needed musical catharsis following this month’s devastating, destructive wildfires.

The FireAid show was a huge undertaking: With so many artists eager to take part, organizers split them into two simultaneous events, at the famed Kia Forum and the newer Intuit Dome one mile down the street. Fittingly, most of the classic rock acts played the Forum, while the more contemporary pop stars played the newer venue.

The creative director behind Alan Wake 2 and Control has delved into the shared universe between the games and revealed more information on what's to come from Remedy Entertainment. Sam Lake, an auteur-like figure behind the Finnish developers, sat down for a short interview with IGN where he discussed the future of the Remedy Connected Universe with Control 2, as well as their upcoming remakes of Max Payne 1 and 2, and 2025's Fbc: Firebreak.

Sam Lake, the pen name for Sami Antero Järvi, has creatively led titles like the first two iterations of Max Payne, the Alan Wake games, and Control. All of these titles have received critical acclaim, with the latter titles being praised for their revolutionary approach to meta-narratives and unique gameplay. The release of 2019's Control saw the beginnings of the Remedy Connected Universe becoming explicit thanks to the Awe Dlc, where the protagonist Jesse Faden investigates Alan Wake's otherworldly experiences in Bright Falls.

The multiverse is everywhere, from the unstoppable Marvel machine to Oscar-winning films like Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) — and even dozens of fan theories about My Little Pony. Every single facet of entertainment has started toying with universe-hopping storytelling, and yes, that includes video games.

This year alone, over a half dozen games have created their own multiverses — like trading Npc allies with other Dragon’s Dogma 2 players across realities. There’s been a dramatic uptick in these kinds of explorations, and there’s a good reason for that, according...

One of the things that makes Alan Wake 2 a masterpiece is its ability to juggle multiple tones. It’s a dark detective story. It’s a metafictional surrealist horror story. It’s got humor, scares, and even a full-on musical number. Remedy flexed their tonal muscles earlier this year with Alan Wake 2’s first Dlc, Night Springs, giving us three separate Elseworld-style stories all with their own thematic focus. These were charming little tales, but it feels like The Lake House, the game’s second and final Dlc, is the more substantial follow-up that fans of both Alan Wake and Control have been waiting for.

The story of The Lake House fills in some gaps in the main Alan Wake 2 narrative, showing how the Federal Bureau of Control ended up in Bright Falls when Alan returned. You play as the returning Agent Kieran Estevez, played by Janina Gavankar, who comes...

Remedy Entertainment is ready to drop The Lake House, the second Dlc for Alan Wake 2. Fans of the survival horror can prepare to revisit Bright Falls on October 22, 2024, according to the latest leaked dates. According to early screenshots, we might be returning to a classic Alan Wake horror experience.

We’re going back to the horror roots with this Dlc. | Image Credit: Remedy Entertainment

Unlike the light-hearted tone of the previous Night Springs Dlc, The Lake House seems to be returning to the dark, psychological horror that defines the series. With Remedy recently promoting its Interconnected Universe, the upcoming Dlc could also potentially bridge the gap to Control 2.

Alan Wake 2‘s Dlc Will Take Us Back To The Roots

Set alongside the events of the main game, The Lake House introduces Federal Bureau of Control (Fbc) agent Kiran Estevez as the new playable protagonist. Estevez, who was a secondary character...

Fans of Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake 2 have waited for the release of The Lake House Dlc. And according to a new leak, the time is almost here. According to listings on New Zealand and Australian retailer sites, The Lake House Dlc is set to release on October 22, 2024.

The first Dlc did well and this one should too. | Image Credit: Remedy Entertainment

With the Silent Hill 2 remake launching just a few days earlier, fans of survival horror are racing against time to wrap up one horror experience before starting another. The upcoming Dlc will build on the original game and potentially even be related to Control.

Alan Wake 2‘s Next Dlc Might Come Out In Under a Week

The leak was first spotted on the Eb Games website by PlotPointsYT who shared it on X (formerly Twitter). The listing on Eb Games says that The Lake House Dlc would...

Karma: The Dark World is an upcoming dystopian first-person psychological thriller/horror title. Not only does the game take inspiration from the works of George Orwell, it is also set in 1984, taking place in a world dominated by the Leviathan Corporation, who are an oppressive entity controlling everything from behind the scenes.

The player character is an amnesiac employee of Leviathan who wakes up restrained to a bed, marked with strange, somewhat crude surgical incisions and surrounded by odd scientific equipment. Not long after, you encounter a room filled with dead bodies, all seemingly having been victims of similar experiments to the ones carried out on you.

Karma: The Dark World Is Aiming High

As you wander through Leviathan’s corporate halls, a sense of anxiety builds that is effectively exaggerated upon. Karma: The Dark World’s blend of surreal, Lynchian influences and survival horror mechanics keep the player on edge,...

Alan Wake 2 is one of those games that leaves you with more questions than it may answer. Between complex characters and convoluted themes, the game manages to bewilder players with a sense of mystery that only a studio like Remedy Entertainment can craft.

Even after almost a year of its release, players are finding new things in its playthrough and sharing them with the community. Suffice it to say, the game has much more to tell us than what meets the eye.

A Player Has Managed to Find Something Eerie in the Game

Recently, user Wtpj on Twitter shared a picture of what looks like an ID card found in Alan Wake 2. According to them, this ID belongs to Thomas Zane, with a picture of Alan on it.

Suggested“The lighting in that game was bonkers”: Not Alan Wake 2, but Another Remedy Game Getting Cheered On For Really Nailing...

"The Final Draft" is a New Game Plus mode for Alan Wake 2 that adds new lore, narrative changes, and new endings. Players must complete a playthrough to unlock "The Final Draft," which includes new videos, manuscript pages, and altered narration. Weapons and upgrades carry over to assist with the increased Nightmare mode's challenges.

A New Game Plus mode for Remedy's highly acclaimed survival horror game, Alan Wake 2, was released on December 11, 2023, titled The Final Draft. New Game Plus is a feature expected in many story-driven titles as a way to revisit a game's narrative without having to restart progression entirely, and while The Final Draft certainly has this feature, there are plenty more additions to the mode that are sure to make players want to revisit Alan and Saga's entangled story.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Alan Wake 2's ending and epilogue.]Alan Wake 2's story takes place 13 years after the events of Alan Wake and continues the titular author's story,...

Alan Wake 2's upcoming Dlc, The Lake House, set for October 2024 release. Lake House, a supernatural hotspot, connects to Alan and Alice's story. Dlc may provide answers to Alan Wake 2's mind-bending narrative.

While Alan Wake 2 may have been blessed by a surprise Dlc drop in June 2024, that hasn't stopped the game's community from requesting more information on future expansions and Remedy Entertainment is more than happy to oblige. The recently released Night Springs Dlc earned plenty of rave reviews from critics and fans alike as it provided even more insight into Alan Wake's twisted version of reality while also showing off more connections to the so-called "Remedy-verse." The next chapter is expected to take these links between Alan Wake 2 and Control and make them even more apparent.

Per Wccftech, Remedy Entertainment confirmed that The Lake House, the next piece of Alan Wake 2 Dlc, will be in players'...

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is an upcoming game that is highly anticipated. While the game is expected to be released in 2025, a recent image featuring the genius behind the development of the game, Hideo Kojima, playing the game has surfaced, suggesting that it might finally be ready.

The game has been in development for more than four years now, but given the immense success of the first installment, fans expected the sequel might take time for development as well. While we only have little details regarding the game so far, there is a chance we will start to see more gameplay reveals soon.

Death Stranding 2 Is Likely Moving Out of the Development Phase Soon Death Stranding 2 adjustment phase might be finished. Image Credit: Image credit: Kojima Productions

Twitter USer @Lisa_West_Pix posted an image of Hideo Kojima with what seems to be a scene from Death Stranding 2 on a monitor screen.

Hideo Kojima, the legendary game designer known for his innovative storytelling and cinematic approach to video games, has made the news again. He’s out and about, potentially collecting actors once again, with his latest catch being Hollywood’s scream queen, Mia Goth!

Kojima, who attended the premiere of Goth’s upcoming film MaXXXine, posted pictures from the event, including a snapshot of the actress herself. Unsurprisingly, the internet burst into a frenzy, with many fans begging him to put her into his next game.

Hideo Kojima and Mia Goth, aka a Meeting of Creative Minds A collaboration between these two could not happen any sooner.

Hideo Kojima‘s fascination with the world of cinema is well-documented. Playing through any of his games will show you the same, or you can scroll through his X/Twitter, which has the same effect.

His games often blur the lines between films and interactive entertainment,...

Alan Wake 2 was Remedy Entertainment’s most successful game; however, it was also criticized initially for its decision to release the game only digitally and justifying itself by claiming this process to be easier for updates and fixes required in the future. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, shares the same fate as Alan Wake 2, as it did not release any physical copies of the game as well.

There has recently been a wave of digitization of most stuff, and the gaming industry is experiencing the change firsthand. Following the lead of Alan Wake 2 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, one of the UK’s biggest retailers, ‘Game’ has also decided to stop storing physical copies of games in store, with purchases of pre-owned and new releases being limited by pre-order policy only.

The Fate of the UK’s Huge Store, ‘Game’ Looks Meek

Game...

There was a time, back in 2014, when people heard of Activision and Bungie’s plans for a sprawling first-person shooter sci-fi space epic live service—before we even truly had the term live service—they balked at the thought of those two companies in particular being able to sustain such an enterprise in the long term. The people were right to, really, because Destiny has been a series of incredible highs and aggravating lows since the very beginning.

But stubborn as ever, Bungie has been shepherding us along an unstable road toward the events of Destiny 2: The Final Shape for the past couple of years, a final destination for the enormous, nigh-inscrutable tale of intergalactic heroism gamers have been fighting since 2014. At long last, Bungie has brought gamers to the promised land. And the promised land is beautiful.

That’s both literal and metaphorical, as The Final Shape gets down to business fast,...

Kojima continues to tease the release of Death Stranding 2 On the Beach. The popular Japanese director is fascinated by George Miller’s new movie, Furiosa. According to reports, Miller will be part of the cast of Kojima’s new game.

A poster published by the game director himself left many fans thinking that Miller’s design for this highly anticipated title looks exactly like Elton John, better known as Rocket Man, the popular British musician. This will not be the only big name to be part of the upcoming Kojima project.

George Miller Will Be Part of Death Stranding 2, and Fans Are Fascinated by His Resemblance to Elton John Death Stranding 2 has cast George Miller and fans are saying that it looks like Elton John.

The popular director of Metal Gear Solid is well-known for being an avid cinema enthusiast. Hideo Kojima constantly posts on social media about the movies he watches,...

I didn’t cover Alan Wake II when it was released last fall, but I echo everything in Reyna’s 5/5 review. It’s a masterpiece of survival horror that has one of the most creatively confident visions I’ve seen in the medium. I’m always on board for anything Remedy makes, so I was extremely excited by the Summer Game Fest announcement that Night Springs, the first of two planned story DLCs, was to be released on June 8. Now that I’ve got my hands on it, I’m happy to say that it’s a fun return to the world of Alan Wake, even if it’s not quite essential.

As the name implies, the Dlc is inspired by the in-universe TV show “Night Springs,” a riff on The Twilight Zone. There are three episodes included, each an alternate-world take on existing characters and locations in the Remedy Extended Universe.

James McCaffrey, popularly known for voicing Max Payne, could have been a part of the Remedy Connected Universe in the future, after his successful collaboration with Remedy’s Game Director Sami Antero Järvi in Alan Wake 2.

McCaffery played the role of Alex Casey in Alan Wake 2, which turned out to be his last role due to his untimely demise on December 17, 2023, from multiple myeloma.

Sam Lake and James McCaffery pose for a photo | @SamlakeRMD X

Järvi was looking forward to collaborating with McCaffery in the future after they collaborated in Alan Wake 2 but his wish to make the star return to Remedy Connected Universe was put to an end due to the actor’s death.

Järvi’s wish to have the voice of Max Payne back could not be fulfilled

During an interview with Wccftech, Järvi opened up about his thoughts on collaborating with McCaffery in the future. Commenting on...

In games, where many different universes often come together and sometimes narratives intertwine, fans always dream of seeing their favorite characters or universe collaborate. As excitement builds for the launch of the Night Springs Dlc for the highly acclaimed Alan Wake 2, many are speculating about potential crossovers with other beloved Remedy Entertainment games.

However, a recent interview with Sam Lake sheds light on the challenges of connecting these universes, particularly considering partnerships with industry giants Microsoft and Rockstar. Getting elements from different games is harder than it seems.

Ownership Rights and Limitations for Remedy Entertainment Alan Wake 2’s new Dlc is releasing today | Remedy Entertainment

In an interview, Director Sami Antero Järvi also known as Sam Lake, the creative mind behind many of Remedy’s titles, discussed the possibility of the Remedy Connected Universe and the studio’s shift towards open-world gaming.

When asked about the possibility of adding elements...

Ever since Remedy dropped Alan Wake 2, a plethora of fans have been eagerly waiting for news of a Dlc. The game was a smashing hit, with a score of 89 among critics and 8.6 among users on Metacritic.

Praised for having incredible atmosphere, acting, and storytelling, fans who can’t get enough of the game have been begging for more. And it looks like they might finally get their wish.

Remedy Potentially Teases Dlc for Alan Wake’s Beloved Sequel Remedy is getting bolder with its hints about the Night Sprigs Dlc.

Getting a game right is no easy feat. There are a ton of different aspects to game development, and for the first Alan Wake to get as popular as it did was a testament to how well Remedy did.

Now, doing that twice? That’s even more difficult. When a game you love gets a sequel, there are a ton of expectations.

It’s been several months since Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 arrived on various platforms. The game’s success has been credited to multiple aspects that made it such a powerful title. From its art direction to visual design, the game has got a lot of things right.

On that note, Remedy has announced that fans will soon be able to play and listen to the game’s Ost. After all, its soundtrack has stayed in the hearts of thousands of players even after finishing the campaign.

Here’s How to Celebrate the Launch of Alan Wake 2’s Ost The Ost has 35 different tracks.

Going hand in hand with Alan Wake’s 14th anniversary, the Ost will be available on the studio’s official YouTube channel.

SUGGESTEDAlan Wake 2 Profit Struggle is Bad News for Max Payne Remake After Remedy Blew a Similar Budget on Ex-NYPD Vigilante

The soundtrack becomes available...

There are few personalities in gaming that can inspire fans to really make anything, like Hideo Kojima. In this case, the director of Alan Wake 2 and head of Remedy have confirmed his plans to collaborate with another prominent figure in the industry to establish a unique club.

Ben Starr, a voice actor in Final Fantasy, is teaming up with Sam Lake to form an unconventional vigilante group that seeks justice. The only requirement to join is to have an amazing surname; this could be the most peculiar and great collaboration in video game history.

Ben Starr and Sam Lake Join Forces in the Most Interesting and Unexpected Collaboration Remedy Creative Director Sam Lake announces a weird collaboration with another gaming personality.

Lately, there has been a wave of collaboration in the video game industry; titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and many mobile games have all been a part of this.

Alan Wake 2, the survival horror title from Remedy Entertainment, was one of the biggest releases of 2023. The game has been praised for its tense atmosphere, innovative and thrilling narrative, and much more from fans and critics alike.

The title won several awards at the prestigious Game Awards 2023, including the awards for Best Narrative and Best Game Direction, showcasing its popularity and acclaim. It became the fastest-selling title ever from Remedy, but all still isn’t going well for the developer.

Alan Wake 2 Has Still Not Made Its Budget Back

Alan Wake 2 is struggling to make its development and marketing costs back.

Remedy Entertainment released its financial statement for the first quarter of 2024 on April 29 and revealed that although the sales of Alan Wake 2 have been going well with a “high average price,” the developer has not been able to make back the development and marketing costs.

According to the developer,...

Helldivers 2 is full of surprises, and that’s pretty much the point of its crazy gameplay loop. Between the cinematic action sequences and mission objectives that keep players busy for hours, there are some insane details in this game that you may not have noticed before.

From capes burning up to stratagems taking damage, here are some of the coolest details in Helldivers 2 that might just make you love the game even more!

Explosions Leave Craters

It is crazy how combat affects environments.

In Helldivers 2, when you call in that sweet, sweet 500 kg bomb, you’re sort of also destroying planet’s ecosystem a little. Have a closer look next time, and you’ll notice a massive crater left at the spot where there was an explosion.

This works with most explosions and aligns with how realistic the game’s universe feels. Just be mindful of not dropping one on your close friends.

Mad Tongue Alberich and Ensha invade players in Elden Ring, with unclear motivations only explained by obscure connections to the lore. Alberich's armor set hints at his past with the Golden Order and Marika, which may explain why he attacks the player. Ensha invades the player after they've found the Haligtree Medallion, potentially serving his master's plot.

Most Elden Ring players have likely been invaded by either Mad Tongue Alberich or Ensha of the Royal Remains, if not both, without totally understanding why. Alberich is a sorcerer who first appears on the lower level of Elden Ring's Roundtable Hold. This fight is practically inexplicable at first, requiring players to leap off of the balcony where Rogier settles in at the hub area. Mad Tongue Alberich has no dialogue and only drops assorted multiplayer items, but some other hints throughout the game can help contextualize his place in Elden Ring's lore.

Acclaimed developer Hideo Kojima has several highly anticipated projects in the works, including Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and the mysterious Od. In a recent post on Twitter/X, fellow beloved game director, Sam Lake, of Remedy Entertainment posted a video of himself in the process of getting digitally scanned for inclusion in an upcoming video game for Kojima Productions.

Fans of both directors are now clamoring for more information on this exciting collaboration. Many fans have begun to speculate on what game this collaboration could relate to, with the consensus generally being that it is most likely for On the Beach.

Hideo Kojima and Sam Lake Have Collaborated Before Hideo Kojima and Lake have partnered once again.

This would not be the first time the two industry legends have collaborated. In the first Death Stranding game, players can communicate with the hologram of an Npc bearing Lake’s likeness.

The sequel to Death Stranding, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is finally confirmed to launch next year for PlayStation 5. A trailer for the game was unveiled at the recent PlayStation State of Play, which gave players some idea about what they could expect from the game.

Alan Wake 2 writer and director Sam Lake recently visited Kojima Productions and met Kojima, and the fans are now going all out with the speculations and predictions. They think Sam might make a cameo in the upcoming sequel, and honestly, everybody would love it if that happened.

Fans Think Sam Lake Is Getting a Cameo in Death Stranding 2

Sam Lake visits Kojima Productions in Tokyo and fans are stoked.

After the success of Alan Wake 2, Sam seems to be on vacation, or probably not, as he visited Kojima Productions while he was in Tokyo, Japan. He previously posted a video of him drinking coffee on X/Twitter,...

Alan Wake 2 had been one of the better titles to release in 2023. While faring very well in the eyes of various critics, the game could not make a considerable impact commercially. As per the studio’s financial reports captured between January and December 2023, revenue declined by 22%.

Remedy Entertainment is an independent studio; taking that into account, along with the studio’s latest $75 million budget, which has still not been recuperated, is most certainly bad news. However, the studio suffered another big blow due to a rebranded project that set the company back by another $7.8 million.

Alan Wake 2 Is Only Part of the Reason for the State of Remedy’s Financial Reports Alan Wake 2 is the strangest game by the studio.

As mentioned, the studio published an official financial report for 2023. At the very beginning of the report, one can see the studio’s admission of the year being challenging. Moving further down,...

Max Payne’s remakes may be in development, but who said that doesn’t give other developers to cook up their own bullet time experiences? On that note, there’s a new exciting project in the works that looks like a serious combination of Max Payne, My Friend Pedro, and John Wick making the most of the cinematic gameplay experience you could hope for.

The game is called The Hong Kong Massacre and is being crafted by two individuals, working in a studio called Vreski that is based in Malmö, Sweden. Even though the game’s press kit shows a trailer of a game that looks very different, the narrative seems to have stayed unchanged over the course of its development.

Max Payne’s remakes will take a while, until then, have a taste of The Hong Kong Massacre This one is really looking like a first-person version of Max Payne!

Sam Lake, the Creative Director at Remedy, who plays Alex Casey, posted a picture from the sets of a motion capture for the Dlc. Remedy confirmed two DLCs coming to Alan Wake 2: Night Springs, which will be released first, and Lake House.

Lake mentioned the capture was completed for an upcoming Dlc, but what could be concerning was him mentioning that the wrap-up was done for the last time for him as an actor in the Alan Wake sequel. Several fans responded with excitement over the Dlc shoot being finalized, which brings the release date closer.

Sam Lake Posts an Au Revoir to His Acting Gig in Alan Wake 2 Sam Lake posted a picture after completing his final motion capture for Alan Wake 2 Dlc.

Sam Lake posed for a picture after wrapping up motion capture for an upcoming Dlc for Alan Wake 2, and the post on X received over 150 replies,...

Alan Wake 2 developer Remedy Entertainment might not have succeeded in releasing a blockbuster game, but they released a very well-made title. This game looks excellent and has been loved by every gamer who has tried their hands at it. The best part is that they improved significantly over the prequel in terms of gameplay. It wears its Resident Evil influence on its sleeves.

Its story, too, was something else; it features a parallel narrative simultaneously telling the story of two different characters at the same time. To add to everything else, its ending was such that fans are still wondering if this game will get a sequel or not. A lot of signs from the developer and its latest game suggest that there will indeed be a sequel.

No, Alan Wake 2 is not the last game in the series

A still from Alan Wake 2

A while ago, when Control launched,...

Alan Wake 2, the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic Alan Wake, released in 2023 and quickly racked up a reputation as one of the all-time greatest horror games ever made. It boasts not only a thrilling narrative, but also a unique and unconventional soundtrack, perfectly mirroring the game’s wild and unpredictable nature.

Composer Petri Alanko, known for his unorthodox methods, went to some nutty lengths to create a soundscape that matches the game’s oddball energy. Be warned, it may be nuttier than the story itself.

SUGGESTEDRemedy Devs Confirm What We Thought all Along with Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake 2’s Soundtrack Features Burnt Pianos And Adult Toys

Alan Wake 2 composer Petri Alanko “violated” a piano to create the game’s soundtrack. Image credit: Remedy

Alan Wake 2‘s developer, Remedy, went above and beyond for the game, incorporating dual protagonists, an out of the blue musical number, and subtle nods to their rich history.

All the accolades in the world mean nothing if your product doesn’t sell, right? That’s not a problem for Remedy and Alan Wake II. The return of the eponymous writer has not only earned the developer several awards, but has also become Remedy’s fastest-selling title with over 1.3 million units sold since it first launched digitally for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Epic Games Store last October.

In a new post on Remedy’s website, Alan Wake II‘s sales information reveals that Alan Wake II sold 1 million units by the end of December 2023, and 1.3 million units as of the beginning of February 2024. By comparison, Alan Wake II sold over 50% more copies and over three times more digital copies in its first two months than Remedy’s earlier hit title, the sci-fi thriller Control, did in its first four months.

Control is no slouch, either. Since its...

Alan Wake 2 has a deep and intriguing mystery that extends beyond the game into other titles and even TV shows. With a story that's been over a decade in the making, it makes sense that the second game, which takes place 13 years after the first title, would include a few hidden details. While some are more innocuous call-backs to previous media in the extended Remedy universe, others serve as clever clues left behind by the game's writer, Sam Lake, and the team of creatives at Remedy Entertainment.

[Warning: This article contains story spoilers for Alan Wake 2 as well as potential spoilers for the Night Springs and Lake House DLCs.]

One such clue is the creepy owl in Alan's office that follows the character with its eyes. While unsettling, it seems like it would be a completely innocuous addition to freak out those paying attention. However, another train of thought and theory could lend itself to uncovering the greater mysteries and unsolved story threads that have weaved their way into the Alan Wake narrative.

Exclusive: Supinder Wraich (Sort Of) and Enrico Colantoni (Station Eleven) have been cast to lead an upcoming CBC police procedural.

Allegiance is now in production in Vancouver and British Columbia’s lower mainland, with Stephen Lobo (Continuum), Adolyn H. Dar (Superman & Lois), Brian Markinson (A Million Little Things) and David Cubitt (Virgin River) also starring.

Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern are the showrunners and Canadian firm Lark Productions is producing in association with Universal Studios Group subsidiary Universal International Studios, with NBCUniversal Global Distribution handling global sales. Anar Ali is the series creator.

The series is described as focusing on “identity and belonging, policing and politics and finding truth within the heart of the flawed justice system.”

‘Allegiance’ cast: Supinder Wraich, Enrico Colantoni, Stephen Lobo, David Cubitt, Brian Markinson, Adolyn H. Dar

Wraich will star as a Sabrina Sohal (Wraich), a star rookie officer...

“You left us on quite the cliffhanger,” teases insipid light-night talk show host Mr. Door, as he playfully admonishes his guest for the glacial pace of their output.

Said interviewee happens to be none other than pulpy crime novelist (turned unwitting adversary of evil) Alan Wake, who is more than a little perplexed by the rhetoric of the man sitting across from him.

Befuddlement, of course, is one of Alan’s defining traits and right now he is unable to figure out: A) how he got here in the first place; B) whether he’s already been through this pantomimic ordeal once before; or C) if the studio audience currently snickering away hyena-like in the darkness even exists. More importantly, though, he has no recollection whatsoever of penning another book.

You see, he’s been suffering from crippling writer’s block for the past few years and, as far as he can tell,...

American Idol season 21 has featured some of the most extraordinary talent in the show's history, and Megan Danielle will most likely win the whole competition. Megan, a 21-year-old server from Douglasville, Georgia, had one of the most memorable auditions. While she sang Lauren Daigle's "You Say" for the judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, Lauren surprised her and joined her in singing the song. Lauren's mother Morgan, an American Idol alum, was in an untelevised group performance with Lauren during the Las Vegas round of season 11.

Throughout American Idol season 21, Megan has been consistently excellent. She advanced to the finale on Disney Night, along with Colin Stough and Iam Tongi. Although all three of these finalists are superb and any one of them would make a perfect American Idol, Megan will most likely win the competition. There are ten reasons why this will happen.

The American Idol...

Hazelight Studios and EA’s It Takes Two took home several prizes at The Game Awards 2021, including best family game, best multiplayer game, and game of the year. The annual ceremony returned to a live ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, after it went virtual in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandmeic.

It Takes Two bested fellow Goty nominees Resident Evil Village, Deathloop, Metroid Dead, Psychonauts 2 and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Also taking home numerous honors during the evening ceremony were Kena: Bridge of Spirits and Forza Horizon 5.

Like the 2020 iteration and previous years, The Game Awards 2021 featured some major starpower, with Simu Liu, Ben Schwartz, Keanu Reeves, Giancarlo Esposito and Ming-Na Wen among the ceremony’s presenters. Schwartz and Sonic the Hedgehog co-star Jim Carrey came together to tease the film’s upcoming sequel with the first trailer.

The pre-show also featured news for gaming takes on entertainment titles,...

“Beyond the shadow you settle for, there is a miracle illuminated.” Those words by Thomas Zane spoken in Remedy’s Alan Wake are not as often quoted by fans as some other go-to lines–something like “It’s not a lake, it’s an ocean” comes to mind as a fan-favorite. But I nonetheless had Zane’s line on my […]...

Rick Aiello, actor and son of Oscar nominee Danny Aiello, died of pancreatic cancer on Monday at a hospital in Warwick, N.Y., his niece Sydney Fingerhut told Variety. He was 65.

Fingerhut remembers him as a great uncle who was close to all his nieces and nephews, and a “strong guy.”

With more than 60 acting credits, Aiello followed in his father’s footsteps, appearing alongside him in Spike Lee’s 1989 classic “Do the Right Thing.” His father earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Salvatore “Sal” Fragione and Aiello played Officer Long, a role he’d reprise a couple years later in Lee’s “Jungle Fever.”

Aiello also starred in films, including Christian Maelen’s “Remedy” and George Gallo’s “29th Street,” and toplined the TV series “Dellaventura” and the movie “A Brooklyn State of Mind” opposite his dad. As a character actor, Aiello had roles in shows such as “The Sopranos,...

The Black Crowes announced their Shake Your Money Maker 30th anniversary tour in November 2019. On Tuesday night, nearly two years later, the trek finally got underway at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater.

While the big news around the tour is the reunion of perpetually squabbling siblings Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson, it’s billed as a celebration of the Black Crowes’ 1990 debut Shake Your Money Maker, plus “all the hits.” The band played the album in full and in sequence, opening the show with a blistering “Twice as Hard.”

As a...

Brothers Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson were gearing up for the Black Crowes’ 2020 reunion tour and the celebration of the band’s 1990 debut Shake Your Money Maker when the pandemic hit. While the full-band tour was delayed until this summer — it kicks off July 20th in Nashville — the Robinsons did sneak in an acoustic duo club tour. On Friday, the siblings announced a new concert film that captures one of the shows on the stripped-down run.

Titled Brothers of a Feather, the movie documents their March 6th, 2020, gig at the...

No space is safe from the heaviness of our times — even, it appears, a Maroon 5 record. “Toast to the ones that we lost on the way,” Levine offers on “Memories,” a sweet, somber, genuinely felt ballad, with a melody borrowed from Pachelbel’s Canon. Jordi is named after and dedicated to Jordan Feldstein, the band’s manager and a friend of Adam’s since childhood, who passed away in 2017, just as the band was releasing its last album, Red Pill Blues.

Earlier on the LP, we get the single, “Nobody’s Love,...

“Pratidhwani”

Director: Gita Guha

Synopsis: During the pandemic situation of 2020, the youth of this country are merely distressed. They lost their jobs. Initially they perceived that it is a matter of 21 days, but they suffered a long-term lockdown and government apathy. They were not seeing any ray of hope. So the question is, how long should we keep our silence?

“Lunch”

Director: Junbum, Ha

Synopsis: Mother (Jh) teaches her daughter(Mj) how to make kimchi stew. When her father(Iw) comes home, her mother hides.

“Remedy”

Director: Tugce Sari

Synopsis: Alper, who has a hearing impairment and disfigurement, and his story of clinging to life with art.

“How you feel?” (very very very season 4)

Director: Alicia Lee

Synopsis: Two women who I met again after 7 years! Can they be friends again?

“Wings of Eternity”

Director: Süleyman Eskiocak

Synopsis: A bird-killing hunter faces his regret. And in this confrontation, it turns into a bird.

Laura Mvula has released a new song, “Church Girl,” from her upcoming album, Pink Noise, which is set to arrive July 2nd via Atlantic Records.

“Church Girl” boasts a big, glossy beat that feels taken straight from the Eighties, and it finds Mvula confronting the doubts that came after the acclaim that accompanied her first two albums didn’t necessarily materialize into serious success. “How can you dance with the devil on your back?” Mvula belts during the punchy chorus, “How can you move?/Caught up in a picture-perfect/That will never last.

Jahmil French, an actor best known for appearing in four seasons of the Canadian teen drama “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” has died at the age of 29.

In addition to “Degrassi,” French also co-starred on the Netflix musical series “Soundtrack” and the short-lived Pop TV series “Let’s Get Physical.” His death was confirmed on Twitter by “Soundtrack” creator Joshua Safran. No cause of death was made public.

“I can confirm my good friend, co-worker, and all around inspiration, Jahmil French, passed away yesterday,” Safran wrote. “Only posting because I see the story getting out there. I will have more to say about him later. Right now we’re all just processing this devastating news.”

French joined the cast of “Degrassi” as a series regular for in Season 9, playing Dave Turner. He remained aboard the young-adult soap until its penultimate season in 2014.

“So grateful for memories and deep convos with you, beautiful angel,...

Jahmil French, known for his role as Dave Turner in the hit Canadian series Degrassi: The Next Generation, has died, his representative Gabrielle Kachman confirmed to Deadline. He was 29.

“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of a dear friend and client Jahmil French,” Kachman said in a statement. “He will be remembered by many for his passion for the arts, his commitment to his craft, and his vibrant personality. I ask that you keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”

A cause of death was not revealed.

Soundtrack creator Joshua Safran first shared the news of French’s passing on Twitter.

“I can confirm my good friend, co-worker, and all around inspiration, Jahmil French, passed away yesterday,” Safran wrote. “Only posting because I see the story getting out there. I will have more to say about him later.