A new European trademark application for “Alan Wake’s Return” has been filed more than a decade after Remedy first protected the same name. The new filing was submitted to the European Union Intellectual Property Office on September 15, 2026, under application number 019422415 and is currently listed as being under examination. Its existence does not confirm a new Alan Wake game, but the scope of the application is broader than the original filing associated with Quantum Break.
The new word mark covers Nice classes 9, 16, 25 and 41. Those categories include video game software and downloadable games, films and other media, printed material such as books and comics, clothing, and entertainment services including television, film production and online gaming. That broader range is notable because the previous Alan Wake’s Return trademark from 2016 was ultimately connected to content inside Quantum Break rather than a standalone Alan Wake project.
When the name first appeared in European trademark records in 2016, it immediately prompted speculation that Remedy was preparing another Alan Wake game. Creative director Sam Lake later clarified that Alan Wake’s Return referred to a live-action video series appearing on televisions inside Quantum Break and said the trademark was primarily intended to cover the legal requirements surrounding that material. The name therefore already has an established use within Remedy’s catalogue, which makes the new filing less straightforward than a typical previously unseen game trademark.
The latest application differs from its predecessor in several areas. The 2026 filing includes Class 16 for printed products such as books, comics and video game strategy guides, along with Class 25 covering clothing including hoodies, T-shirts and headwear. Class 9 contains an extensive list of video game software and downloadable media, while Class 41 covers video game services alongside television, film, music and multimedia production.
Those classifications leave several possible uses open, but none establishes what Remedy intends to do with the name. Trademark applications frequently cover more categories than ultimately appear in a finished product, allowing companies to protect names across merchandise, software and other related media. A similar situation surrounds Neowiz’s European “Wonders of O” trademark, whose filing provided evidence that a name was being protected without confirming exactly what product it represented.
The timing also comes as Remedy continues expanding Alan Wake beyond video games. Remedy and Annapurna announced a strategic partnership in 2024 that gives Annapurna rights to develop Alan Wake and Control projects for film, television and selected audiovisual formats, while Remedy retains ownership of the intellectual properties. The new trademark’s inclusion of television, film, cinematographic content and printed media therefore fits within categories that could support several different kinds of Alan Wake projects.
At the same time, Remedy has not announced a new game called Alan Wake’s Return. Its currently listed game portfolio includes Alan Wake 2 and Alan Wake Remastered among released Alan Wake titles, while its announced development slate includes Control Resonant and the Max Payne 1 & 2 remake. The trademark alone should therefore not be interpreted as confirmation of Alan Wake 3, a remaster, adaptation or any other specific project.
The new filing is nevertheless materially different from simply rediscovering the decade-old trademark. It is a fresh EUIPO application filed on September 15 with updated classifications covering games, audiovisual media, printed products and merchandise. Until Remedy explains why the name has been filed again, “Alan Wake’s Return” remains a protected title with several possible uses rather than an announced new entry in the series.
