Control: Resonant — Everything We Know

Control is exactly what I’ve always dreamed gaming to feel like. That omnipotency when swinging melee weapons and hauling objects bigger than yourself at enemies. And yet, you still have to cover your ass with gear and defense options, because no matter how strong you can be, you can still take damage, and even die. 

That balance of power versus caution that keeps you on your toes is what I love most about gaming. And with the sequel upon us, I’m all the more excited to find out what Remedy Entertainment has been cooking. Tag along with me as we unpack everything there is to know about the upcoming Control: Resonant.

What is Control: Resonant?

Control: Resonant is the upcoming sequel to 2019’s Control. You probably know it, as it won over many gamers and critics’ hearts alike, along with several gaming awards. In the sequel, you’ll explore Manhattan. But, due to paranatural phenomena, the place looks like nothing you’d imagine. This new game will be a third-person, open-ended, action-adventure RPG, following Jesse’s sister, Dylan Faden. It’ll have you wielding superhuman powers, trying to survive and save humanity from a cosmic threat that distorts reality itself. 

Story

Dylan Faden has long been held captive by the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC). Now, the same captives want him to fight a supernatural crisis. It’s a mysterious cosmic threat that alters the fabric of reality. But fortunately, Dylan has the supernatural powers to take on these threats and save Manhattan from total annihilation. 

You’ll explore vast areas of the city, running into a chaotic mess of corrupted creatures and enemies. From the Mold, which is an invasive micro-organism, to the Hiss, and other paranatural entities, you’ll one by one dismantle and fight them back. 

It’s interesting how Remedy Entertainment has transitioned from Jesse Faden, FBC Director, and the protagonist for the first game, to her brother, Dylan Faden, for the sequel. They share similar supernatural abilities, which will grow stronger the more you play. But you’ll also be trying to find your sister and reconcile the threats that have broken through the Oldest House into the larger Manhattan world.

Gameplay

The city of Manhattan is at the brink of chaos, and the one person who can stop it is Dylan Faden. But it’ll take talking to NPCs to find out their background and motivations. You’ll be learning a lot about yourself, too, as well as the secrets of the FBC. All the while, discovering the entities threatening humanity’s future. While some characters are from the first game, Remedy is adding several new ones as well. 

A lot of the story will have a lot to do with de-bunkering Dylan’s identity. His past will have a lot of influence on his present, even as he learns and masters his newfound, supernatural power. It seems you’ll be making choices, too, that shape both the world and how your abilities evolve. 

At the heart of the story is character progression, based on how Dylan interacts with NPCs and uses them for his benefit. Yet, Dylan must cling to his humanity, even as he confronts his former captivity and becomes a “paranatural superweapon.”

Besides story and exploration, you’ll fight lots of enemies using your elemental powers, but also weapons, particularly the shapeshifting melee weapon called the Aberrant. Aberrant can take many forms, with its magnetic ability to merge with objects in the environment. Featured in the marketing material is Aberrant, looking like a two-handed hammer, but it can also take the form of dual-wield swords. It morphs depending on the enemy types and use cases.

There’s also a reality-bending concept to gameplay, thanks to a cosmic threat that is reshaping the environment and world. What you see defies what’s normal and even bends gravity. The end result is a feverish nightmare, seen in the trailer. Apparently, this strange perception-bending world is a representation of Dylan’s own troubled psyche.

Development

Like the first game, Remedy Entertainment will develop and publish Control: Resonant. In a PlayStation blog post, Co-Creative Director at Remedy, Mikael Kasurinen, talks about the new game. Immediately, the words “a different kind of chaos” stand out to me. But also that while Jesse was searching for her brother in the first game, the sequel now tells Dylan’s story from his point of view. 

Two siblings, searching for each other, trapped in a world that defies gravity and reality itself, how crazier can it get? And you’ll have free will to complete branching missions in whatever order you want, running into enemy encounters and mind-bending events. Remedy intends to adhere to RPG’s intended shaping of the protagonist’s story and gameplay. From multiple fighting styles to vast spaces to explore, you should enjoy the freedom to “play your way.”

Mikael Kasurinen insists that even though the sequel tells the story of Jesse’s brother, newcomers don’t have to have played the first game to catch up. He says that the sequel is independent of the first, but that returning players should still be able to make connections between Jesse’s and Dylan’s paths. Overall, he says that their goal is to offer more of the first game: more action, exploration, and player choice, and still stay true to the original’s chaos and storytelling.

Trailer

Props to the guy(s) who made the Control: Resonant announcement trailer. Every visual and sound is intentionally mind-bending. The birds took me out the most, sending chills down my spine. But also the mystery behind Jesse’s MIA status, and how much it wants me to unravel it. There are far more mysteries to debunk, as well as new gameplay elements I can’t wait to take a big bite out of.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Good news. It won’t be long before you’ll get your hands on Control: Resonant. Just nearly here in 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms. Keep an eye out for future updates, including editions and more information that the devs plan to share in the coming months. Likely on Remedy Entertainment’s socials right here.