Control Resonant, the upcoming sequel to Remedy Entertainment’s Control, recently received fresh previews, offering a closer look at its gameplay, exploration, and progression in the studio’s expanding Remedy Connected Universe.
Control: Resonant Introduces Progression and Exploration in New Footage
A Customizable Action-RPG
Control: Resonant developer, Remedy Entertainment, has released over six minutes of new footage for the upcoming sequel set within the studio’s interconnected universe alongside Alan Wake and FBC: Firebreak. The gameplay previews were shown as part of a hands-off marketing presentation held remotely by Remedy, during which a select group of media outlets and influencers was invited to get a closer look at what Remedy has been working on, followed by a Q&A session.
The biggest reveal from the presentation was the introduction of the game’s progression systems, a returning feature from the first Control. In Control: Resonant, players have greater control over the playstyle of its new protagonist, Dylan Faden, allowing them to tailor their build depending on their preference.
Dylan Faden’s service weapon, the melee-focused Aberrant, features three distinct forms in the preview: a massive axe, dual blades, and a three-section staff that can turn into a whip. Each form comes with its own skill tree filled with abilities that complement its combat style. For example, the axe form can unlock a launcher attack that sends enemies flying into the air, setting them up for additional combos.
In its preview, Video Games Chronicle (VGC) even compared the combat to Marvel's Spider-Man games, noting how players can seamlessly strike enemies and launch them into the air to extend combos and deal extra damage.
Dylan’s progression works differently in Control: Resonant compared to the original Control, where players could instantly upgrade Jesse Faden’s abilities. Instead, Dylan must enter "The Gap," a mysterious, dreamlike threshold that players can access by pressing the down directional button on the DualSense controller (for PlayStation 5 users).
The system is similar to the Mind Place mechanic used by Saga Anderson in Alan Wake 2, where she enters a surreal mental space to upgrade her weapons and review key information through her investigation board.
Apart from that, not much else was revealed about "The Gap" and its customization options. However, players will be able to choose from different playstyles after defeating the game’s selection of Resonant Bosses, which unlock new abilities for Dylan Faden. These include powers like Shield Wall, which coats Dylan in protective rocks, and Seeker, a telekinetic entity that can be thrown to attack enemies and assist him in combat.
Not Open World, But Exploration is Encouraged
Another major detail revealed during the Control: Resonant preview is that the game is not aiming to be an open-world experience, as most players believe. Instead, it will feature interconnected zones centered around a main hub that serves as the base of operations for the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), the game’s clandestine organization responsible for keeping paranatural threats at bay.
The game’s version of Manhattan has become a twisted and tangled landscape due to these otherworldly threats, which also serve as the story’s primary antagonists. Dylan’s missions throughout these shifting skyscrapers are divided into two: "Dylan’s Journey," which serves as the main campaign, and "World Quests," self-contained stories that players can do without affecting the main story.
"Combat encounters, environmental challenges, hidden discoveries, and optional activities" will also appear throughout exploration, according to the official PlayStation Blog post. The preview also mentions the presence of "an Altered Item or two," similar to the SCP-like everyday objects like the evil Refrigerator seen in the first Control.
As for the rest of the preview, much of it will be familiar to fans, particularly the melee-focused combat and new movement options, which were revealed during previous trailers.
Remedy Entertainment has not officially confirmed a release date yet, but Control: Resonant is planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games, with a projected Q2 2026 release window.
Source:
VGC Preview for Control: Resonant
Official PlayStation Blogpost for Control: Resonant Preview
