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- The RCU (Remedy Connected Universe) goes beyond your typical connected universe by adding a unique twist.
- Despite not holding the rights to all characters, Remedy still managed to find a unique way to include them.
- Because Marvel and DC have laid the groundwork for such stories, the studio can learn from their failures and successes moving forward.
While the trend of a shared universe in movies and TV shows has been ongoing for more than a decade, connected universes in video games have yet to be fully explored.
Remedy is one of the most notable developers of recent times, and it seems to have been the first to adopt this trend in the gaming industry. The RCU (Remedy Connected Universe) is the multiverse sharing the stories of all these IPs.
All the build-up from previous games, including references and easter eggs from one game to another, was finally cleared up in Alan Wake 2’s Night Spring DLC, which features some of the best writing ever in fiction.
Why it matters: Remedy is just beginning to grasp the concept. The whole multiverse-style storytelling will only get better from here.
The RCU Is The Most Distinct Among Shared Universes
Swaying away from every other conventional shared universe, Sam Lake was quite innovative with this concept. His connected universe is intricate and may require a deeper than surface-level understanding because of its interconnected storylines.
These are some of fiction’s best stories despite spanning a few major franchises rather than other shared universes, such as the MCU or DCEU, which exist on a much larger scale.
Despite not owning the rights to all the franchises the team has developed over the years, Remedy still has passion and love for the characters it’s created. Therefore, I can’t help but admire the team’s smart solution to the intellectual rights problem.
Characters from past IPs keep appearing under different aliases in every story, even if they technically don’t belong to Remedy. Take Alex Casey from Alan Wake 2, for example, a character who looks identical to Max Payne.
Originally, he was considered a nod to the upcoming Max Payne remakes, but his role served a much greater purpose. The Alan Wake 2 Night Spring DLC, which featured three episodes and cost $20, further expanded on this concept.
Like Max Payne, Quantum Break is cleverly integrated into the universe with this DLC. It takes place before the events of Alan Wake 2 and marks his attempt to write the perfect story to free himself.
As such, he writes characters, such as “The Sibling,” “The Actor,” and “The Agent,” all based on characters from existing Remedy IPs.
The RCU Is Only Set To Expand Further
Because the RCU is so new, the sky is the limit. The main timeline currently involves the Alan Wake and Control IPs, but things will only get more interesting from here.
These IPs will receive live-action adaptations, and Control 2 is currently in development. Following Remedy’s latest collaboration, Annapurna’s CEO expects the live-action story to tie in with the games, expanding the interwoven narrative.
Moreover, with Rockstar willing to borrow Max Payne, perhaps this IP will be more involved in future stories within the RCU. I could even see Microsoft heading in a similar direction and potentially agreeing to lend Quantum Break since the gaming giant is seemingly going all-in on a third-party push.
Much like Marvel’s ambitious crossover with the original Avengers paled in comparison to the scale of Avengers Endgame, the same could be true for the RCU a few years later.
Learning From Past Failures
The biggest reason I can’t wait to see where this connected universe goes is the fact that Remedy can learn from Marvel and DC’s failures.
A decade ago, there was no real template on how to pull off crossovers of this scale. Sure, comic book stories had plenty of multiversal narratives, but they often became convoluted and confusing.
The MCU solved this issue, only to fall into the same trap a few years later. On the other hand, DC showed how rushing things can be a recipe for disaster. In my opinion, there are important lessons to be learned from these failures.
If Remedy is wise, it will examine what worked for Marvel and DC and avoid making the mistakes that prevented them from reaching greater heights. These lessons should prove to be incredibly important as the studio moves ahead with plans to establish gaming’s most ambitious interconnected universe.
I have faith in the team’s ability to analyze and learn from these lessons, giving me just one more reason to be excited about everything coming in the future.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheer@tech4gamers.com
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