Video games 'Alan Wake' and 'Control' have taken their first steps towards television and cinema, after Finnish studio Remedy made a deal with United States production firm Annapurna.
Remedy said Annapurna would take charge of the adaptions and partially bankroll 'Control 2', the next installment of the 2019 game where players investigate paranormal activities.
Video game adaptations including 'The Last of Us' and 'Fallout', have garnered critical praise and massive audiences in recent years, leading to a buzz around other games seen as likely to make the transition.
Remedy's 'Max Payne' first-person shooter was turned into a film in 2008, which did solid box office but was panned by critics.
The first chapter of survival horror franchise 'Alan Wake' was released in 2010 with an award-winning sequel last year.
'The way we tell stories is changing,' said Megan Ellison, founder of Annapurna, which produces games, films and series.
'Today people fall in love with characters and universes, not formats, and we're excited to leverage Remedy's beloved, immersive narratives in these new mediums."
The Finnish studio said the deal would allow it to continue as an independent operation with control over its two biggest franchises.
The video game industry is facing tough times with companies laying off thousands of workers as investment dries up.
Smaller studios are either going to the wall or being snapped up by giants like Microsoft.