Alan Wake PC patch to arrive this week

Remedy has revealed that a new patch for the recently released PC port of Alan Wake will be made available sometime this week. The update will address several issues and bugs experienced by users, and will also include some minor tweaks to improve performance, with one of them allowing the use of 640×480 and 800×600 resolutions via a command line.

Here’s the full changelog:

• Fix problems of game not moving forward / triggering properly after videos. (Workaround: avoid pressing space or enter when those videos trigger, restarting the chapter helps)
• Nvidia tree flicker – if we manage to catch it. We are doing our best.
• Unofficial support for 640×480 and 800×600 resolution through command line
• Fix that blur occasionally gets re-enabled even if -noblur specified
• Add “rigidcamera” command line option for those who are sensitive to our current mouse/camera controls
• Add possibility to bind mouse buttons 4 and 5
• Fix that the Developer Video Commentary volume is more sensible
• Fix that Localized cinematic audio volume is not too loud and adjustable
• Fix that going to menus during a cine skips the cinematic when you return to game
• Fix that controller ruble works even without weird workarounds of enabling it with keyboard
• Prevent binding controller keys and thus preventing weird problems
• Real Traditional Chinese translation for added PC strings. Apologies for the current Simplified Chinese in menus
• Better CPU thread assignment for 3-Core AMD machines (smoother gameplay)

The developer also promised a second patch which, along with several other changes, will add a free camera mode to the game to make it easier to explore the game. Here’s the scoop:

• Fix crashes when using alt-tab during loading
• Solve “File IO Failure” issue when unable to write to My Documents
• Somehow offer Latin-American Localizations through Steam
• Hopefully add a free camera for those who want to explore the world
• We’ll try to get SLI support in but can’t promise that yet…
• Continue sorting out other problems users have been having

Remedy also revealed that several other improvements are also on the drawing board, but hasn’t disclosed a possible release window.

• Solve Cursor Key / Numpad assignment issues
• Remember camera side preference (tab key)
• Improve Stereoscopic 3D
• Longer grass draw distance option
• “Low Performance Mode” improvements

The much demanded port finally fit Steam on the February 16th and was able to earn enough revenue withing the first 48 hours to cover all development and marketing expenses. It’s great to see that some developers still care about the PC community, and not just consider it as an afterthought.