Who is Ahti? Any leads?

[Raywhisper]

Ofcourse, the most badass thing about Ahti is that game even after two expansions left us in total mystery.

But it is in human nature to try and ruin these precious mysteries and find answers.

So what have you found so far? Any evidence to support your claim?

I am curious, even have my own theory but I would like to read from others. That is if you people care enough to write in here.

Thanks in advance to thsoe who do!

[Captain Striker (Empo)]

im a firm believer he is a god. the keeper of balance in the alan wake/control universe.

[Barry Wheeler]

He's just a guy. But nobody really notices him because he is "just" a janitor. He sees things, pays attention. And I bet he's been around longer than any other employee. You could say he is the human embodiment of institutional memory/knowledge in the Oldest House.

Also, he is Martti F***ing Suosalo!

[Raywhisper]

He certainly isnt "just a guy but nobody notice him becuase he is a janitor".

We know from game lore that he is in fact paranatural entity. He appeared in The Oldest house, he didnt come there, he wasnt hired, he just appeared.

So he is soemthing paranatural. Question is what/who.

[Broso]

I think Ahti is something like a caretaker for the Oldest House. That way it makes sense he is manifested as a janitor in the FBC. As to why he is a finnish dude? No idea.

[Mikey]

He is the personification of the Oldest House

They already hint that the Oldest House has been around since atleast the dawn of writing, with the references to it as Yggdrasill and others, suggesting it existed back then but in various forms. This would suggest the House itself is some form of intelligence that adapts to it's environment and inhabitants, namely humanity, and it's needs.
It would stand to reason that such an intelligence would require a more hands on approach in some situations, which is why it created Ahti, as a guide.

[Raywhisper]

My own theory is Ahti being self cleaning mechanism or a defence mechanism of the Oldest house. Think of white blood cells.

After all most of his involvement is indirect and he seemingly doesnt really care about hwo is in control, but he does care about "mess" all around oldest house.

He seems unaffected by the hiss but he also doesnt seem directly hostile towards the hiss. What he wants on the other hand is for Jesse to put the hosue in order, so cleaning things that interfere with the house, like the clog, radioactive mess near the furnace, darkness blocking the house in AWE dlc etc.

[Sid]

Alan Wake wrote him in

[Miral]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahti

Though I think he leans more towards the "god" side of things. There's some implications that the Oldest House is related in some fashion to Yggdrasil, and he seems to be the caretaker of it. And he's demonstrated paranatural abilities several times.

[Captain Striker (Empo)]

Originally posted by AC:

https://youtu.be/79pFpAyGw2I

I would also recomend to watch the other videos from Gaming University.
really cool stuff, even some might be just theories and speculations.
Gaming University: Lecture - Control

I watched the series and found it rather meh because I interpret things differently, especially regarding Ahti.

[KVAS TARAS]

Found a note in the Foundation DLC from completing a side quest to cleanse the TV. The TV was showing Ahti singing and mopping the floor. The note said that the TV shows "Entity A-001" cleaning the floor and dancing. Judging by the title in the note, he was the first paranatural entity discovered and documented. Probably he is some sort of spirit of the Oldest House itself. I believe he's a spirit cuz judging by the actions of the agency throughout the game, I have no idea why he wasn't contained in the cell like any other paranatural item. So FBC leaders probably couldn't even catch him (maze note serves as proof as well, where they were asking how in the hell did the janitor pass the maze and entered a restricted area) and then made up a story that he's just a janitor, like they make up fake stories to all paranatural items

[RCMidas]

So, the FBC made up the story that Ahti is a janitor, and Ahti himself liked the story so much that he retroactively adopted the trappings and customs of a janitor, and continued to pretend that he was a janitor for some fifty further years?

Or is the more likely explanation that being a janitorial custodian, and presenting himself as such, is the easiest way for Ahti to keep an eye on the Oldest House under the occupation of the FBC whilst still carrying out his metacosmic duties?

[Raywhisper]

Not really. He appear in the oldest house out of the blue and just was a janitor. FBC had no means or idea how to contain him. Also it has been said by management team to leave Ahti alone and never mingle or obstruct his duties.

Which implies that Trench, Darling, Marshal, Salvador and Tommasi had a little bit more insight into what Ahti actually is but that is classified. And now all of them are dead or MIA.

So it is other way around - FBC didnt made up janitor story, Ahti did and FBC just went with it. But in some sort of sense I think he truly is the janitor. Becuase he does clean up mess. So it is not made up thing, it is just his personification of what he does, just as the house adapted to this sort of 1960s bureo/research center architecture.

I think both of these entities do adapt according to what minds of people who discover it in current time can comprehan while this interpretation being as close to what thsoe entities actually are as possible within grasp of understanding of people they are manifesting to.

We know that he is extremely powerful entity luckily not hostile.

Just think about it - Ahti is immune to Hiss, He can move freely around the oldest house and no human means(lockdown or clearance level), no supernatural means (Ashtray maze, foundation astral leaks etc.) can stop him. He can read thoughts, even appear in mind of others, similar to polaris but polaris is exclusive to Jesse while others dont really see her that much but I am convinced that Ahti could and would be able to read minds and telepathical communication with anyone he wanted.

He obviously is above even the board. And board is/are extremely powerful entity/entities.

Also to one of the posts above - the theory aboud Oldest house being Yggdrasil and Ahti its keeper is good one, I like it. Not sure if I agree with it but I like it.

[Dunearhp]

He is The Janitor. The house requires a janitor and he is it.
Somehow it doesn't seem odd that up to this point the infinite house has only needed one.

When reality first coalesced, the house was there and he opened up the doors.

When reality finally unravels, he will lock the door, sweep the doorstep and go on holiday.