Control Resonant Secretly Teasing Character’s Return in Alan Wake III

Nobody doubted that Control Resonant, the new game from Remedy Entertainment, would set up the studio’s future projects. Fans think the most obvious one is a new Alan Wake game, and they have already spotted a hint that a character who was missing from the second game may return.

That character is Barry Wheeler, one of the most memorable figures from the original Alan Wake, a friend and agent of the writer. He was absent from Alan Wake II because he was far from the game’s setting, in Los Angeles, though he was mentioned in emails. Since Remedy is reportedly working on Alan Wake III, the studio may be preparing his return through Control Resonant.

Reddit users reached this conclusion after finding a message the developers hid in Morse code. During the first playthrough, a flashing light spells out “Death of the Author,” and in New Game+ it spells out “Barry Wheeler Will Return.” You can read more in the Reddit post here.

Barry Wheeler will return in Alan Wake 3

In Control Resonant, fans found an Easter egg with a Morse code message from a lightbulb. On the first playthrough, it translates to "Death of the author," while in NG+ it displays a new sentence: "Barry Wheeler will return."

It seems like Remedy is very likely working on Alan Wake III. That is suggested less by the “Alan Wake Returns” trademark, which was renewed in September, and more by the fact that the studio has had an unannounced project in development since January 2021, with Kyle Rowley, who held the same position on the second game, as game director.

As for Control Resonant, the developers recently announced that the game has sold 1 million copies. It has been three weeks since release, and it broke the studio’s record for the fastest-selling game in its 31-year history. By comparison, Alan Wake II took two months to reach that milestone.

Control Resonant is available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.