Remedy Wants To Fix Alan Wake And Control’s Biggest Problem: Not Enough Players
Remedy Entertainment, known for creating critically acclaimed but commercially underperforming games, has appointed a new CEO aimed at addressing this challenge. Jean-Charles Gaudechon, formerly of EA Games, took the helm in March 2026 with a mandate to increase sales while preserving the studio’s distinctive creative identity.
The problem is substantial: Alan Wake 2, a horror-mystery game that received critical praise, didn’t become profitable until February 2025—over a year after its release—when it reached 2 million sales. Similarly, Control underperformed commercially despite critical success. Gaudechon has acknowledged that these franchises “should have sold more.”
Gaudechon’s appointment has drawn some skepticism from fans, given his background leading EA’s PC and mobile FIFA operations and subsequent work in sports betting ventures. However, he has stated that he understands Remedy’s “offbeat” nature and intends to preserve it while scaling the company’s commercial performance.
The new CEO’s strategy centers on leveraging cross-media expansion. Remedy recently signed a deal with Annapurna to develop television and movie adaptations of Alan Wake and Control. Gaudechon believes these adaptations can help the games reach broader audiences and drive sales. He plans to focus on how the studio approaches its intellectual property development, viewing media adaptations as a key vehicle for increasing awareness and commercial success.
This approach represents a shift toward building “lasting value” without abandoning Remedy’s reputation for creating distinctive, single-player experiences. While some industry observers remain cautious about Gaudechon’s sports industry background, others acknowledge that Remedy’s creative excellence alone hasn’t translated into commercial viability, suggesting that a more strategic business approach may be necessary.
Sources
- Remedy Wants To Fix Alan Wake And Control’s Biggest Problem: Not Enough Players
- Alan Wake and Control ‘Should Have Sold More,’ New Remedy CEO Says, as He Accepts Skepticism of His Former EA Background
- Remedy’s new CEO thinks cross-media deals will help its games sell more, and for once I think I agree
- Remedy’s new CEO says Alan Wake and Control ‘should have sold more’ – and movie/TV deal will ‘help us do that’