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Alan Wake 2 Title Update 13 Released, Adds New Game+, Full Patch Notes

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Remedy has just released Title Update 13 for Alan Wake 2 that adds New Game+ Mode, and revealed its full patch notes. This patch also comes with some performance improvements. So, let’s take a closer look at it.

The New Game+ Mode for Alan Wake 2 comes with a new ending, new Nightmare difficulty level and new Manuscript pages and video content. It will also let you keep all the videos, Charms, and upgrades that you have unlocked.

As said, Title Update 13 also comes with some performance improvements. For instance, it will improve overall quality of the occlusion culling algorithm. This will improve GPU performance, especially in locations with a lot of geometry. It also packs a few selected tweaks and optimizations for path tracing and rendering. Not only that but it reduces memory usage by 16 MB on all platforms. Oh, and it can slightly improve performance on PC by removing some error diagnostics instrumentation.

Patch 13 also improves the game’s stability. For instance, it fixes a rare crash that could happen during streaming. It also resolves several infuriating Lua script errors.

Before sharing the complete changelog, we should also note that this update reduces specular aliasing (“shimmering”) on shiny surfaces. It can also fixes a variety of broken or ugly LODs. And finally, this patch resolves the incorrect rendering culling mode on leaf and coffee pot materials when using Path Tracing. So, kudos to Remedy for addressing this.

Like always, Epic Games Store will download this patch the next time you launch its client. Below you can also find its full patch notes.

Alan Wake 2 Patch 13 Release Notes

New Game Plus mode

  • New ending
  • New Nightmare difficulty level
  • New Manuscript pages and video content
  • Retain all unlocked videos, Charms and upgrades
    NOTE: To access the New Game Plus mode, a completed playthrough of Alan Wake 2 is required. In New Game Plus, you will find the unlocked weapons in the first available shoebox for the character.

Performance

  • Improved overall quality of the occlusion culling algorithm, improving GPU performance especially on locations with a lot of geometry.
  • The performance upgrade is most visible in the PlayStation 5 Quality mode, where (incredibly) there are up to 1.8ms improvements. Cauldron Lake should be coughing less.
  • Optimized HUD UI content setup so rendering the HUD takes less time. This brings between ~0.5-0.7ms improvements to performance.
  • A few selected tweaks and optimizations for path tracing and rendering.
  • Improved streaming by removing occasional 10 – 100ms stalls that mostly affected Xbox Series platforms.
  • Reduced memory usage by 16 MB on all platforms.
  • [PC] Slightly improved performance on by removing some error diagnostics instrumentation.

Tutorials

  • Changed when some Tutorials appear in the Tutorials menu.
  • Added a timeout to the Tutorial about Fadeouts.
  • Players can now slow down to walking speed while a Tutorial is open.
  • Tutorial messages are not slowing down player movement speed anymore.
  • If tutorials are disabled, the player won’t be locked in the diorama when the first investigation clue gathering tutorial would take place…

Stability

  • Fixed several infuriating Lua script errors that made the game more stable and less unpredictable.
  • Fixed a hang on Xbox that could occur when attempting to suspend the application during launch.
  • Fixed audio middleware crash on Xbox Series platforms.
  • Fixed a rare crash that could happen during streaming.

Visuals

  • Somewhat reduced specular aliasing (“shimmering”) on shiny surfaces with a new algorithm.
  • Improved Trailer Park cinematic lighting.
  • Improved shadow quality inside the Valhalla Nursing Home to respect the elderly even more.
  • Flashlight shadows are now prioritized to avoid a blocky look in locations featuring heavy dynamic lights usage.
  • Fixed (or ruined, depending on your view) the “chameleon chair” visible in front of the sauna. It’s not changing color anymore
  • Fixed LODs on the hotdog stand.
  • Fixed a variety of broken or ugly LODs.
  • Fixed incorrect rendering culling mode on leaf and coffee pot materials to prevent path tracing issues.
  • Fixed broken materials on the garage building in downtown Bright Falls raising property value.
  • [PC] Improved quality for low ray-tracing preset, fixing flickering fireflies on character’s faces during cinematics.

Audio & localization

  • Improved overall audio quality on PlayStation 5.
  • Fixed lip sync being off during the cinematic where Saga and Casey arrive at Cauldron Lake.
  • Localization fixes for agent Estevez audio lines.
  • Additional fixes for localized subtitles.