Potential first look at next gen Max Payne model ahead of Remake

We may have just seen our first look at what Max Payne may look like in next gen graphics thanks to the new Alan Wake II gameplay reveal trailer. This new trailer from Remedy was revealed during the June PlayStation Showcase and features a familiar looking detective.

Whilst the the Max Payne Remakes are still a long way off, Remedy Entertainment have been busy on the long-awaited Alan Wake sequel which releases on October 17th.

We recently reported on the latest development update from Remedy Entertainment for the remakes. This is just some what they had to say: “Max Payne 1&2 remake has progressed well and during the first quarter the project moved into the proof-of-concept stage. The development team has worked efficiently in proving the key elements of what Max Payne is all about.”

Max Payne in Alan Wake 2?

As fans will know, Sam Lake, the writer of Max Payne, was used a the face of Max Payne in the first game. This was changed in both the second and third game. Many fans have been wondering if Sam’s face will be used once again for the first game’s remake.

If Sam Lake’s likeness is to be used once again this short clip of him in the AW sequel trailer could offer us a glimpse of what to expect from the remake.

Both Alan Wake 2 and the Max Payne 1&2 remakes are being made on Remedy’s proprietary Northlight engine. This allows Remedy to take full advantage of the new hardware without being limited by the old consoles and PC hardware.

Of course given how far off the remakes are, this is just speculation but it can give us an idea as to what Sam’s Max may look like in the Max Payne remake.

If you are wondering if this is actually Max Payne in the Alan Wake 2 trailer, it is not. The PlayStation blog notes the two FBI agents are Saga Anderson and her veteran colleague Alex Casey. This confirms Sam is playing Alex Casey in Alan Wake II.

You can watch the full Alan Wake 2 Gameplay Reveal Trailer below with Sam Lake as Alex Casey appearing on-screen at the 52 second mark.

When to expect the remakes to release?

Thanks to the transparency of Remedy, we have an idea on how development for their games are intended to go. They have a process called Stage Gate.

They share all of the stages that go into making a game and their expected timeline. As we mentioned earlier, the Max Payne Remakes just exited the concept stage and are now in the proof-of-concept stage.

This chart claims its current stage should take 3-6 months. Production readiness is after that which can take the same amount of time. Assuming the current and next stage take 6 months each then the game will enter full production in April 2024. Full production is expected to take 1-2 years plus an additional 6 months or so for polish.

This could mean the Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes may not hit our consoles and PCs until 2026-2027. Stay tuned to RockstarINTEL for any news updates on the Max Payne remakes.