Control Resonant Pushes Video Games into Bold Territory

Control Resonant is an open-world action-adventure video game developed by Remedy Entertainment. Serving as a narrative continuation set seven years after the events of Control, the title shifts the franchise from the linear confines of the Oldest House into an expansive New York City setting. Players control Dylan Faden to resolve an anomaly known as the Patterning and counter an extradimensional invasion.

Key Facts

Attribute Value

Game Title Control Resonant

Developer Remedy Entertainment

Creative Director Mikael Kasurinen

Protagonist Dylan Faden

Narrative Timeline Seven years after the Hiss invasion of the Oldest House

Platforms PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Windows

Setting New York City (Open-world multi-zone format)

Primary Supporting Character Zoe de Vera (Federal Bureau of Control Agent)

Combat Format Melee-focused strike-and-dodge with customizable loadouts and powers

Retail Availability / Release Date Available as of October 2026; exact numerical MSRP is unknown

What Is the Narrative Premise of Control Resonant?

Control Resonant begins seven years after Jesse Faden cleansed Dylan of the Hiss infection in the Oldest House. After awakening Dylan, Jesse promptly disappears, leaving him to navigate a severed New York City affected by an event called the Patterning, alongside Federal Bureau of Control agent Zoe de Vera.

The narrative forces Dylan into an alliance with Zoe, whose voice is transmitted directly through the PS5 controller speaker. Together, they investigate how the Patterning separated New York City from reality and invited thousands of hostile extradimensional entities that seek Dylan’s destruction. The storytelling incorporates dream logic, surreal missions featuring younger projections of Jesse, and shifting realities influenced by cinematic traditions.

“We wanted to make something that provokes. Something that feels like nothing you’ve played before.” Mikael Kasurinen, Creative Director, Remedy Entertainment

Dylan Faden becomes the central protagonist of Control Resonant after Jesse Faden awakens him seven years post-lockdown and promptly vanishes.

How Do Gameplay Mechanics and Navigation Function in Control Resonant?

Control Resonant features an open-world design across multiple New York City zones, emphasizing exploration, RPG progression, and reality-altering mobility. Progression requires completing side missions and scavenging urban structures like laundromats and gyms to acquire essential character upgrades, unlock regional access, and survive encounters with formidable Resonant bosses.

The combat loop relies on strike-and-dodge melee tactics integrated with extensive skill trees, selectable weapon loadouts, and magical artifacts. As players progress, Dylan unlocks distinct abilities, including summoning AI combat allies and throwing projectiles at hostile targets. Early navigation demands mastery of vertical traversal: Dylan acquires an upward grapple mechanic to ascend high building points and gains a world-bending power that rotates the physical environment along its axis to traverse vertical surfaces.

Control Resonant requires mandatory urban scavenging across gyms and laundromats to level Dylan Faden up sufficiently to defeat Resonant-class bosses.

How It Compares

Control Resonant replaces the claustrophobic corridors of its predecessor with open-world exploration and deep role-playing systems. It targets players seeking non-linear exploration, intricate skill tree customization, and surrealist, boundary-pushing narrative design over scripted, corridor-based action experiences.

Feature Control (Original) Control Resonant

Protagonist Jesse Faden Dylan Faden

World Design Linear, enclosed layout (The Oldest House) Open-world structure with multiple distinct zones

Progression System Standard ability acquisition Expanded RPG skill trees, loadouts, and gear crafting

World Manipulation Telekinesis and localized levitation Full-axis world reorientation and vertical point-pulling

Exploration Requirement Optional lore discovery Mandatory resource scavenging across urban locations

Control Resonant diverges from the first game by replacing the linear corridors of the Oldest House with open-world New York City zones.

Common Questions

Why is Control Resonant set in New York City instead of the Oldest House?

The story shifts because an anomaly called the Patterning severed New York City from baseline reality, forcing Dylan Faden to navigate exterior multi-zone environments rather than the locked-down Federal Bureau of Control headquarters.

Can players progress through Control Resonant by playing only story missions?

No. Players cannot complete only core missions because enemies quickly overpower under-leveled characters. Upgrading Dylan requires completing side quests and exploring locations like laundromats to collect crucial enhancement materials.

What platforms is Control Resonant available on?

Control Resonant is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and Windows PC. A review copy of the game was provided directly by the publisher to media outlets.

Sources and Methodology

This technical overview is synthesized directly from the RogerEbert.com critical review titled “Control Resonant Pushes Video Games into Bold Territory,” authored by the editorial staff upon playing a publisher-provided retail copy on PlayStation 5. The primary documentation includes official statements from Creative Director Mikael Kasurinen extracted from the title’s launch review guide. No currency conversions, metric translations, or external dataset modifications were applied. This article was last updated on October 8, 2026.