Alan Wake 2 is the highly-acclaimed sequel to the 2010 original. It's been widely praised for its reality-bending story and visuals, and its brilliantly executed survival horror gameplay. It's currently available for purchase on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC - but only via the Epic Games Store. And new information appears to confirm it'll remain that way for a while.

A post on X (formerly Twitter) by @Pirat_Nation claims to feature a screenshot of an email from Epic Games CEO and founder Tim Sweeney, stating that Alan Wake 2 will never be available for purchase through Steam. The screenshot contains an original email supposedly written to Tim, in which a fan states they'd like to play Alan Wake 2 on PC, but are "not a fan" of the Epic Games Store, and so prefer to wait for a Steam release. The supposed response from Sweeney is short, simple, and brutal: "It's not coming to Steam."

Alan Wake 2 Allegedly Won't Release On Steam

Epic's CEO Confirms Exclusivity

So it looks like Alan Wake 2 and its two DLCs will remain an Epic exclusive for the foreseeable future, and Tim Sweeney himself has confirmed it. An article in 80 Level features a comment from Sweeney, in which he confirms the response was indeed his, lending the exchange legitimacy. In other words, barring some unforeseen change in exclusivity, Alan Wake 2 is never coming to Steam.

It's worth noting that no one at Remedy or Epic ever claimed Alan Wake 2 would be available on Steam. This isn't a cancelation of a planned Steam release; Alan Wake 2 was always announced as an Epic exclusive, and an Epic exclusive it shall remain. It's unclear what this means for future Alan Wake and Remedy releases - this may be part of a larger exclusivity deal, or a one-time offer for Alan Wake 2.

Fans Are Hopeful For A Future Alan Wake 2 Steam Release

Even If Epic Says It'll Never Happen

Still, fans are hoping against hope for an eventual PC release. Players dislike the Epic Games Store for any number of different reasons. Some cite security and privacy concerns, claiming it's not as safe as Steam. One thing's for certain: Epic isn't quite as fully featured as Steam, lacking a community forum for players, or a built-in system for modding like the Steam Workshop.

If nothing else, it just seems to many players, like @HomieSanto, to be "money left on the table" by Remedy. Sure, games can sell well as Epic exclusives, but they can sell even better on multiple storefronts. For a recent example, look at how Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was catapulted to the top of Steam's concurrent player chart, smashing records among single-player games just a few days after its PC release.

But frankly, the real issue with the Epic Games Store is its reliance on exclusives. People like Steam because it allows them to have their entire game library in one easy-to-access, visually appealing place. Having to split all the games you own between Steam and Epic disrupts that convenience, making your library feel disted. Sure, you can add your Epic games to your Steam library, but it's an extra step, and you won't be able to access the same level of built-in community with a single click. For these reasons, many players still have hope for a future Steam release for Alan Wake 2.

Sources: @Pirat_Nation/X, 80 Level, @HomieSanto/X