As much as we’re interested in the upcoming videogames made by Remedy (such as Control and CrossFire HD’s story campaign), we also have a deep love for many of the games they have released so far. It’s no secret the first two entries in the Max Payne franchise are no doubt our favorites, but Alan Wake and Quantum Break we also have in high regard. The latter mentioned deserves some extra attention today, as it has reached its third anniversary. Yes, Quantum Break has been out for three years!
Quantum Break emerged from Remedy’s desire to further blend live-action cinema with videogames. A concept they have been playing around for decades. Ever since Max Payne, Remedy has been toying with integrating live action footage within their games. Although Max Payne, (famous for its funny in-game TV shows and sketches) contained still images, the concept was taken to new heights in Alan Wake with short live-action sequences. Alan Wake 2 was supposed to contain even more live-action footage, as was shown during a early concept pitch. However, Alan Wake 2 never entered production. Publisher Microsoft did stimulate Remedy to further experiment with the concept. A seamless transition between videogames and live-action entertainment was one of the hallmarks of the Xbox One when Microsoft introduced the console to the public. Quantum Break was announced in 2013 during E3, with the first gameplay demonstrated at Gamescom 2014. We were lucky enough to get invited.
Quantum Break was generally positively received, with many critics praising the game’s graphics, gameplay, story and music. They had mixed opinions about the game’s TV show and choices featured in the game. Quantum Break became the best-selling original property released by Microsoft since the release of the Xbox One, outselling games like Sunset Overdrive. You can read our Quantum Break review here.
Quantum Break was later released on PC, although it had a rocky launch at first (Some users reported issues with the Windows Store edition. Foe example, it didn’t contain an option to quit the game, among some performance issues) but Remedy was quick to fix those. We also had the opportunity to play through the game and we recorded some of that for your viewing pleasure. At the time, I had the idea of pointing out several Easter eggs and other trivia. Unfortunately I never got to finish the series. Hopefully with Control, I can make up for that!
