Control: Resonant is not open-world but features open-ended gameplay. Read on to learn more about Control: Resonant’s new direction and how it compares to the 2019 original.
Remedy Entertainment Share New Details on Control: Resonant
Control: Resonant is Not Open-World, But Open-Ended
As Control: Resonant prepares for its imminent 2026 release, Creative Director Mikael Kasurinen shares new details about the Control sequel, hinting radical changes from the original’s linear gameplay, while also denying open-world claims. Previews for Control: Resonant are slowly rolling out to the media as it gears up for its imminent 2026 release.
In an interview with Game Informer’s Wesley LeBlanc, Kasurinen details what players can expect from this sequel, describing Control: Resonant as "open-ended," and clarifying that the upcoming title is not fully open-world. Prior to this confirmation, many fans had speculated that the sequel would feature an open-world structure following its reveal at The Game Awards 2025. This was due to the fact that the trailer showcased Dylan Faden exploring warped sections of Manhattan while battling alien threats.
An open-world game typically features a large map players can freely explore. By contrast, Control: Resonant being "open-ended" appears to mean that it will be structured within more curated spaces, which may feature the freedom to tackle objectives however players want without the full openness of a sandbox.
According to Kasurinen, "...none of it is filler and all of it is integrated into the larger world of Control and the golden path." He added that Dylan’s powers will allow for faster-paced traversal across its warped environments, potentially opening up more opportunities for exploration. The interview confirmed that players can expect "secrets, side stories, and more," to its surreal cityscapes.
Control: Resonant is the latest entry to Remedy Entertainment’s overarching Remedy Connected Universe, or RCU, bringing the entire Alan Wake and Control stories into one supernatural continuity. Resonant takes place seven years after the first Control game, where the former protagonist and Dylan’s twin sister, Jesse, is nowhere to be found.
The Federal Bureau of Control, a clandestine government body tasked to contain supernatural threats, failed in its duties, causing otherworldly horrors from spreading into the streets of Manhattan, New York. This is where the game’s protagonist, Dylan Faden, comes in.
Control: Resonant Compared to Its 2019 Original
Control: Resonant plays different compared to its 2019 original, where progression often required frequent backtracking as new environmental changes were revealed. Resonant takes that step further with its open spaces teeming with shifting buildings (ala Inception or Doctor Strange) and leaving the choice on where to go to the player.
For Control: Resonant, Kasurinen stated that progression will be "more meaningful" and feature "real choices." While further details on how these choices will impact gameplay have yet to be disclosed, it could suggest that players may encounter moments where Dylan, the game’s protagonist, is required to make difficult decisions that influence the experience.
As for its gameplay, Kasurinen mentioned "distinctive builds," for Dylan’s arsenal and combat prowess. His weapon, the Aberrant, which is similar to Jesse’s Service Weapon from the first game, is a shapeshifting tool that adapts to his needs.
Unlike the Service Weapon’s focus on ranged combat, the Aberrant is designed primarily for close-quarters encounters, capable of transforming from a dual-wielded melee form into a heavy hammer. Trailers have also hinted at a potential spear archetype. While Remedy has yet to reveal the full extent of its transformations, the weapon’s design suggests a flexible combat system that allows players to tailor their approach when dealing against the game’s slew of paranatural enemies.
This aligns with what Kasurinen told Game Informer, where he described the first game as "an action adventure," whereas Resonant is more of an "action-RPG."
Remedy Entertainment has yet to share more details into Control: Resonant, but the studio’s early insights suggest that this sequel is shaping up to be a clear upgrade from Jesse Faden’s straightforward adventures in the first game.
Control: Resonant has no release date yet, but Remedy Entertainment has consistently stated that it will come out this 2026.
Source:
Game Informer Preview for Control: Resonant
PlayStation Blog Post About Control: Resonant
Control: Resonant Reveal Trailer
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