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Remedy’s “pleasant surprise” was a September 2024 tease, not a claim that the finished upgrade had already been tested. The studio later specified the PS5 Pro changes: ray-traced reflections in Quality mode, improvements to both graphics modes, and 4K output using Sony’s PSSR upscaling. Remedy described the Pro support as a free update for game owners.
What did Remedy mean by “pleasant surprise”?
In September 2024, Remedy Communications Director Thomas Puha commented on discussion of the game’s image quality and resolution. Push Square quoted him saying: “Remedy’s games and resolution discussion pops up every once in a while,” then added, “Image quality matters more than resolution, not that I’m confirming anything. We’ll drop some details on the PS5 Pro version of Alan Wake 2 in the coming weeks with some assets too. I think the version will be a pleasant surprise, but hard to tell these days.” Push Square reported the remark as a forward-looking tease; it was not a verdict based on a published comparison or independent test.
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Remedy later detailed what the Pro version includes. Its Northlight technical breakdown says both Quality and Performance modes were upgraded, with PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) used for upscaling. The headline addition is ray tracing.
What are the Alan Wake 2 PS5 Pro upgrades?
Remedy’s 2024 specifications distinguish internal render resolution from output resolution. The 3840 × 2160 figure is the upscaled output, not the resolution at which the game initially renders.
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- Solve a Deadly Mystery: What begins as a small-town murder investigation rapidly spirals into a nightmare journey. Uncover the source of the supernatural darkness in this psychological horror story filled with intense suspense and unexpected twists.
- Play As Two Characters: Experience both Alan Wake’s and Saga Anderson’s stories and see events unfold from different perspectives. Switch between Anderson’s life-or-death race to solve the case and Wake’s desperate attempts to rewrite his reality to escape the depths of the Dark Place.
- Explore Two Worlds: Experience two beautiful yet terrifying worlds, each with its own rich cast of characters and deadly threats. Discover majestic landscapes of Cauldron Lake in the Pacific Northwest and the idyllic towns of Bright Falls and Watery. Contrasting sharply, attempt to escape the nightmarish cityscape of the Dark Place.
- Survive With Light: With limited resources, take on powerful supernatural enemies in desperate close-combat situations. It takes more than just a gun to survive: light is the ultimate weapon in the fight against the darkness and will be your refuge when enemies threaten to overwhelm you.
- The physical version of Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition includes the following: ● Alan Wake 2 physical game. ● The Night Springs and Lake House expansions. ● Deluxe Edition cosmetics and items: Nordic Shotgun Skin for Saga, Crimson Windbreaker for Saga, Celebrity Suit for Alan, Parliament Shotgun Skin for Alan, and Lantern Charm for Saga. ● Alan Wake Remastered (Digital Edition - included as a gift with purchase DLC on a voucher).
| Mode | Frame rate | Render resolution | Output resolution | Remedy’s description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 30 fps | 2176 × 1224 | 3840 × 2160 (4K) | Ray-traced opaque and transparent reflections |
| Performance | 60 fps | 1536 × 864 | 3840 × 2160 (4K) | Improved image stability, fog, volumetric lighting and shadow accuracy |
These are Remedy’s published specifications, not results from independent gameplay testing. The figures describe the PS5 Pro modes and should not be read as a guarantee of a particular player’s visual preference.
Does Alan Wake 2 have ray tracing on PS5 Pro?
Yes. Remedy lists ray tracing in PS5 Pro Quality mode, including reflections on both opaque and transparent surfaces. The studio says ray tracing is not available in the base PS5 version. Quality mode is specified at 30 fps.
Rank #2
- Just For Games video game
- Color: Multicolor
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 17 x 1.5 cm
- Reference: S71010427
- If what you want is quality at the best price do not keep looking!
In a PlayStation Blog developer feature, Puha said ray tracing adds “another layer of immersion” to a game whose mood and environmental storytelling matter. This is the studio’s explanation of the feature, rather than an independent assessment of how noticeable it is in play.
Is Alan Wake 2 4K on PS5 Pro?
Remedy lists 3840 × 2160 (4K) output for both Pro modes, but the internal render resolutions are lower: 2176 × 1224 in Quality and 1536 × 864 in Performance. PSSR upscales the image to the stated output resolution. So “4K” here describes the output, not native 4K rendering.
Rank #3
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The distinction is especially useful when comparing modes: Performance targets 60 fps at the lower internal render resolution, while Quality targets 30 fps and adds ray-traced reflections. Remedy says Pro Performance uses image-quality settings approximately comparable to base PS5 Quality mode. For context, the base PS5 Performance mode outputs at 1440p, according to the same technical breakdown.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the PS5 Pro update free?
Yes. Remedy’s official FAQ says Alan Wake 2 received a free update for PS5 Pro support at the console’s November 7, 2024 launch. The enhanced modes use PSSR; they are not a separate paid Pro edition.
Rank #4
- PlayStation 5 Video Game Deep Silver
- Colour: multi-coloured
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 17.3 x 1.8 cm
- Reference: S7188301
- If you are looking for quality at the best price do not keep looking!
The FAQ lists the game for PC through the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It also describes a physical PS5 Deluxe Edition with the game, Deluxe Edition items and Expansion Pass. Its listed recommended price—$79.99, €79.99 or £64.99—was the publisher’s price information at the time of the FAQ, not a statement of current store pricing.
What Remedy said after the tease
In the PlayStation Blog feature, Puha described the work as a collaboration between Remedy’s graphics engineers and Sony Interactive. He said the team used PS5 Pro’s additional power to improve visuals and effects in 60 fps Performance mode and raise its output resolution to 4K. That later explanation puts the original tease in context: the final feature set includes upgrades to both modes, not just the Quality-mode ray tracing.
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