Remedy Entertainment pulled off one of the biggest surprises at The Game Awards 2025, officially revealing Control Resonant, the highly anticipated sequel to their 2019 paranormal action hit. Set to launch in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Mac, this isn’t just another sequel – it’s a complete reimagining of what a Control game can be.
Dylan Takes the Lead
The most striking change comes with the protagonist swap. Jesse Faden, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Control from the first game, has mysteriously disappeared – she’s “gone fishing” according to the trailer. Instead, players will step into the shoes of her brother, Dylan Faden, who spent years confined by the FBC as Prime Candidate 6. After being held captive due to his unstable supernatural abilities, Dylan is now deployed at the height of a reality-bending crisis that’s tearing Manhattan apart.
According to creative director Mikael Kasurinen, you don’t need to play the original Control to jump into Resonant. The team designed it as both a sequel and a fresh entry point, similar to their approach with Alan Wake 2. Dylan’s story stands on its own while expanding the mysterious Remedy Connected Universe.
From Gunplay to Brutal Melee Combat
Forget Jesse’s iconic Service Weapon. Control Resonant shifts the entire combat philosophy from ranged gunplay to visceral melee action. Dylan wields the Aberrant, a living shapeshifting melee weapon that transforms on demand. The trailer showcases it morphing from a massive two-handed hammer to agile dual blades, creating what Remedy calls “a paranormal weapon for a supernatural street fight.”
The combat system combines the Aberrant’s raw physical force with Dylan’s evolving supernatural abilities. Players can create distinctive builds that complement their preferred playstyle, whether that’s relying on brute strength, environmental manipulation, or precision timing and mobility. Kasurinen emphasized that combat revolves around three core elements: rapid movement through distorted environments, chaotic unpredictable enemies, and mind-bending abilities paired with transforming weapons.
Manhattan Becomes Your Paranormal Playground
The Oldest House was claustrophobic by design – a brutalist maze of shifting corridors and impossible architecture. Control Resonant opens things up dramatically. The game unfolds across multiple expansive zones in Manhattan, now transformed into what Remedy describes as a “geophysical nightmare.” A mysterious cosmic entity has warped the city, defying natural laws, distorting gravity, and reshaping streets into perception-bending landscapes.
This shift brings a more open-ended structure. Players can explore branching missions, random encounters, and dynamic events in any order they choose. The world is described as “alive, strange, and replayable” with discoveries that reward curiosity. It’s Remedy’s most ambitious project to date, and Kasurinen confirmed it’s the biggest game the studio has ever made.
Action-Adventure Becomes Action-RPG
One of the fundamental changes is the genre shift. While the original Control was an action-adventure game with light progression systems, Resonant fully embraces action-RPG mechanics. This means deeper character customization, meaningful choices that shape Dylan’s abilities, and a robust progression system that isn’t trivial to undo.
Players will make decisions that determine how Dylan’s supernatural powers manifest and grow. The game promises multiple combat styles and approaches to exploration, giving players the freedom to shape how Dylan fights and survives. Whether you prefer aggressive close-quarters combat, strategic use of psychic powers, or a hybrid approach, the systems are designed to support your choices.
The Mystery Behind Jesse’s Disappearance
The story picks up seven years after the events of Control. Jesse successfully contained the Hiss threat within the Oldest House and became the FBC Director, but something has gone terribly wrong. The lockdown protocols have failed, allowing the Hiss and other supernatural threats to spill out into Manhattan, cutting the city off from the outside world. Jesse has vanished without explanation, leaving Dylan to navigate this crisis while searching for his sister.
This setup creates an intriguing role reversal. In the first game, Jesse spent years searching for Dylan after he was taken by the FBC. Now Dylan must find Jesse while grappling with his own complicated history with the organization that imprisoned him. The narrative promises to explore themes of identity, redemption, and the psychological toll of wielding supernatural power.
What We Know About Release
Control Resonant is scheduled to launch sometime in 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), and Mac (via Steam and the App Store). No specific release date has been announced yet, but given the polished trailer and 2026 window, more details should arrive in the coming months.
The game is being co-financed and co-produced with Annapurna Pictures as part of a strategic partnership announced in 2024. According to Remedy’s financial reports, the initial development budget is around 50 million euros, and the game needs to sell between 3 to 4 million copies to break even – a testament to the project’s ambitious scope.
Key Features at a Glance
- Play as Dylan Faden, Jesse’s brother and a powerful parautilitarian
- Wield the Aberrant, a shapeshifting melee weapon with multiple forms
- Explore a paranaturally warped Manhattan with expansive open zones
- Deep RPG progression system with meaningful choices affecting abilities
- Melee-focused combat combined with supernatural powers
- Branching missions and dynamic encounters across the city
- Designed as both a sequel and entry point for newcomers
- Biggest game Remedy Entertainment has ever created
FAQs
Do I need to play the first Control game before Control Resonant?
No, creative director Mikael Kasurinen confirmed that Control Resonant is designed to be accessible to newcomers. While it continues the story from the first game, you can jump in without prior knowledge and still have a complete experience.
When is Control Resonant coming out?
Control Resonant is scheduled to release sometime in 2026. No specific date has been announced yet, but it will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), and Mac (Steam and App Store).
Why isn’t Jesse Faden the main character in Control Resonant?
The sequel focuses on Dylan Faden, Jesse’s brother who was introduced in the first game. Jesse has mysteriously disappeared, and part of Dylan’s journey involves searching for her while dealing with a supernatural crisis overwhelming Manhattan.
What is the Aberrant weapon in Control Resonant?
The Aberrant is Dylan’s primary weapon – a living, shapeshifting melee tool that can transform into different forms like a two-handed hammer or dual blades. It replaces Jesse’s Service Weapon from the first game and emphasizes close-quarters combat over ranged gunplay.
Is Control Resonant an open world game?
Not exactly. While it’s not a traditional open world, Control Resonant features multiple expansive zones across Manhattan that players can explore freely. These areas include branching missions, encounters, and events that can be tackled in any order, offering more freedom than the first game’s linear structure.
What platforms will Control Resonant be available on?
Control Resonant will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), and Mac (via Steam and the App Store). There’s no announcement yet regarding a potential Switch 2 release.
How is Control Resonant different from the first Control game?
The sequel transitions from action-adventure to action-RPG, featuring a different protagonist (Dylan instead of Jesse), melee-focused combat instead of gunplay, a Manhattan setting instead of the Oldest House, and deeper RPG systems with meaningful player choices and build customization.
Conclusion
Control Resonant represents a bold evolution for Remedy Entertainment. By switching protagonists, embracing melee combat, and expanding into action-RPG territory, the studio is taking risks that could redefine the series. The shift from the claustrophobic Oldest House to a reality-warped Manhattan promises a fresh experience while maintaining the weird, atmospheric storytelling that made the original Control so memorable. With a 2026 release window on the horizon, fans won’t have to wait too much longer to dive into Dylan’s supernatural struggle through a twisted New York City.