It’s been a long time since we opened the doors for players to first experience Phasmophobia. Since its launch into Early Access in 2020, we’ve always been focused on defining what the game is at its core – a mix of cooperative investigation, unpredictability, and player-driven horror.
But as the game has grown over the years, we’ve finally reached a point where we feel especially confident in the game’s identity and where it’s heading. This confidence gave us the space to explore something new without losing what makes Phasmophobia what it is, and opportunities to surprise our fans with something other than a ghost event! ‘Phasmophobia by Alan Wake’ is a limited-time event in Phasmophobia, live on Xbox Series X|S from May 12 until June 2.
A limited-time collaboration felt like the perfect step for us, as it’s something special and memorable, but still very much Phasmophobia. When it came to choosing the right partner, Alan Wake 2 felt like the perfect fit. At Kinetic Games, we’re huge fans of the series – especially what Remedy Entertainment achieved with the sequel.
The tone, atmosphere and psychological edge of Alan Wake 2 aligns closely with what we try to create with Phasmophobia; both games focus on tension and the unknown, they just express them in different ways. Alan Wake 2 leans into narrative and psychological horror, while Phasmophobia has a more emergent experience that is shaped by player interaction – but at their core, both experiences are built around that same feeling of unease.
When we look back at the decision to work with Alan Wake 2 rather than the original Alan Wake, it was clear that the sequel was the right place to draw inspiration from. It pushes further into horror, with a darker atmosphere that really resonates with Phasmophobia’s players. It’s a great moment to celebrate where both of the games currently are, so this collaboration felt really warranted.
The collaboration itself came together very naturally, as both teams have a lot of mutual respect for one another. Once conversations started, it became clear that we shared a similar approach to horror and player experience. From there, ideas started flowing pretty easily, and it became less about “should we do this?” and more about “how can we make this as cool as possible?”
Rather than trying to merge the two games completely, we focused on bringing together elements that complemented our existing systems in Phasmophobia. The goal became enhancement instead of replacement, as Phasmophobia is built around the unpredictability of each investigation and the way players react in the moment – so we wanted to keep that very much intact. When players jump into the event, it should still feel like Phasmophobia, just with a different edge to it.
A lot of that comes through in the atmosphere. Alan Wake 2 does an incredible job of creating an environment that feels both oppressive and alive, and we wanted to capture that energy in this collaboration. Without going into specifics, we looked closely at how lighting, sound, and environmental storytelling could incorporate that tone in a way that fits into Phasmophobia’s investigations.
There’s a shift in atmosphere, something that feels familiar but just a little more intense and stylised. It’s still about investigating, communicating, and surviving, but the tone brings a different flavour of horror into the experience. Even players who’ve spent hundreds of hours in Phasmophobia should find something here that surprises them.
Even though this collaboration let us explore exciting new ideas, bringing another world into Phasmophobia wasn’t without its challenges. Balancing authenticity with gameplay was one of the bigger challenges for us, as we wanted to respect Alan Wake 2 and make sure anything introduced felt true to it, while also working with our own systems and mechanics. It was definitely an enjoyable puzzle to solve, especially with the support from the team at Remedy.
‘Phasmophobia by Alan Wake’ has been a major milestone for us, and opens the door to new possibilities for the future. We’d love to explore more collaborations like this if they feel like the right fit, as this has shown us how well it can work when there’s genuine alignment between both games.
Ultimately it always comes back to player experience and seeing how they react. Phasmophobia has always been shaped by its community, and the fans are incredibly perceptive when it comes to the details. Watching them pick up on the subtle shifts in the tone and atmosphere, including fans of Alan Wake 2, is something we’re really looking forward to.
It’s a moment where two worlds come together – and we can’t wait for players to step inside and experience it for themselves.
Phasmophobia (Game Preview)
Kinetic Games