Quantum Break Is Not Part Of The Remedy Connected Universe (Wink, Wink)

Remedy Entertainment has confirmed that its 2016 game, Quantum Break, isn't part of the Remedy Connected Universe (RCU), once again speaking to the fact that the studio doesn't own the IP, even as the game does "echo" into RCU projects. Similarly, the upcoming Max Payne remakes from Remedy will not be in the RCU, Remedy confirmed. In both cases, the reason for this is the same: Remedy doesn't own the IP like it does with Alan Wake and Control.

In an interview, Entertainment Weekly asked creative director Sam Lake about a popular fan theory that suggests that Alan Wake 2's Mr. Door and Quantum Break's Martin Hatch are the same character. "The easy, clear answer is that, out of our past games, Max Payne and Quantum Break are not part of the Remedy Connected Universe," Lake said. "They are not part of Remedy's plans."

Lake added, however, that he enjoys seeing people come up with their own theories and doesn't want to shoot them down--it's part of the fun. "That being said, in a purely speculative, Easter egg kind of way, I do love the idea of enabling our audience to come up with theories. I don't want to shoot them down on that level. We are making questions possible and giving ideas to people that they can then form their own theories."

In past interviews, Remedy has spoken to the idea of "echoes," characters and events that, while not directly tied to other games, may bleed into future stories in ways that a multiverse may allow, such as Max Payne being "echoed" as Alan Wake's Alex Casey.

It would appear, to fans at least, that Mr. Door is another such example. As ever, the issue is as much a creative decision as it is a legal one. Quantum Break's ties to Alan Wake were obvious in 2016, even as now Remedy must leave the time-traveling game behind.

Both Alan Wake and Control franchises are part of the Remedy Connected Universe. After all, Control received the AWE expansion in 2020, which was a crossover between both games. Remedy is currently working on both Alan Wake 2 and Control 2, among other games. Alan Wake is launching on October 27 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Remedy is also working on remakes of Max Payne and Max Payne 2 for modern platforms, but not much more info has been revealed since their reveals last year. Lance Reddick, who portrayed Quantum Break's Martin Hatch, passed away this past March.