Control Resonant is Remedy Entertainment’s sequel to 2019’s Control, released digitally on September 24, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC at $59.99. It’s a bigger, melee-focused action RPG starring Jesse Faden’s brother, Dylan, and critics rate it slightly higher than the original. If you liked Control or want a strange, stylish single-player game this fall, it’s worth your money.
Below you’ll find the price, editions, platforms, length, PC specs and review scores, so you can decide if Control Resonant fits your library.
| Detail | Control Resonant | |
|---|---|
| Release date (digital) | September 24, 2026 | |
| Physical release | October 15, 2026 | |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Epic), GeForce NOW | |
| Mac version | Later in 2026 (Steam and Mac App Store) | |
| Price | $59.99 Standard / $69.99 Digital Deluxe | |
| Developer and publisher | Remedy Entertainment | |
| Metacritic score | 84 (56 critic reviews) | |
| Length | About 30–35 hours; 40–50 for 100% | |
What Is Control Resonant?
Control Resonant is a narrative sequel to Control. It moves the story out of the Oldest House and into a warped Manhattan where reality itself is breaking down.
You play as Dylan Faden, the brother of the first game’s hero, Jesse. After years as a test subject held by the Federal Bureau of Control, he’s pulled into a fight against a reality-bending cosmic threat.
Remedy describes the siblings’ stories as a “yin-yang” pairing. Jesse spent the first game searching for Dylan; now you see the world through his eyes.
Is it connected to Alan Wake?
Yes, loosely. Control Resonant sits in Remedy’s shared universe, and a teaser for it appeared in Alan Wake 2’s Lake House expansion in October 2024. You don’t need to have played Alan Wake to follow the story.
Do you need to play Control first?
You don’t have to, but it helps. The first game explains the Federal Bureau of Control, the hostile force known as the Hiss, and why Jesse is searching for her brother.
If you want the backstory, the cheapest route is the Steam bundle below. Otherwise, a quick story recap video will cover the essentials in under half an hour.
Control Resonant Price and Editions
You have two main editions to choose from.
| Edition | US price | UK price | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59.99 | £49.99 | Base game | |
| Digital Deluxe | $69.99 | £59.99 | Base game, bonus in-game items, digital soundtrack | |
| Steam bundle | $79.18 | Varies | Control Resonant plus Control Ultimate Edition | |
Australian buyers will pay AU$99 for the Standard Edition, according to Tom’s Guide.
Our buying advice: stick with the Standard Edition unless you want the soundtrack. If you’ve never played the first game, the Steam bundle with Control Ultimate Edition is the best value.
Platforms and Release Dates
Remedy launched Control Resonant on every major platform except Nintendo’s.
| Platform | Availability | |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 / PS5 Pro | Out now | |
| Xbox Series X|S | Out now | |
| PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) | Out now | |
| GeForce NOW (cloud) | Out now | |
| Physical discs | October 15, 2026 | |
| Mac (Steam and Mac App Store) | Later in 2026, no firm date | |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Not announced | |
If you’re waiting for the Mac version, check your hardware first. Our guides to whether your Mac’s RAM is enough and M3 vs M4 chips will help you judge how an Apple Silicon machine might cope.
Gameplay: What’s New in Control Resonant
The biggest change is combat. The first game leaned on ranged shooting; the sequel pushes you into close-range, melee-heavy fights.
Your main tool is a shapeshifting weapon called the Aberrant. It changes form mid-fight, from a heavy hammer-style weapon to faster blades, so you can match the enemy in front of you.
Combat feels more physical as a result. You’ll dodge, close the gap and chain hits together, rather than hanging back behind cover and firing. If the first game’s gunplay felt floaty to you, this is the fix you were hoping for.
Powers and progression
Dylan also has supernatural abilities, including fire-coating attacks and spectral projectiles. You earn experience from fights and missions, then spend it to unlock and upgrade powers.
Tom’s Guide praised the “deep weapon and ability customization.” The main complaint was that maps can be confusing, which fits a game whose city literally folds in on itself.
The world
Manhattan is the star. Directed by Mikael Kasurinen, the game was inspired by Attack on Titan and Neon Genesis Evangelion, and you can see it in the huge, surreal set pieces.
Control Resonant vs Control: Key Differences
If you played the first game, here’s how the sequel compares.
| Feature | Control (2019) | Control Resonant (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main character | Jesse Faden | Dylan Faden | |
| Setting | The Oldest House, a shifting government building | A warped, open Manhattan | |
| Combat style | Ranged, with the shapeshifting Service Weapon | Melee-focused, with the shapeshifting Aberrant | |
| Genre label | Action-adventure | Action RPG with deeper progression | |
| Length | Roughly half as long, per Tom’s Guide | About 30–35 hours | |
| Metacritic | 82 | 84 | |
The move from corridors to a whole city is the biggest shift you’ll feel. It also explains the map complaints, since navigation is far less linear than before.
How Long Is Control Resonant?
Control Resonant is a much longer game than the original. Tom’s Guide says it takes roughly twice as long to finish.
| Play style | Estimated time | |
|---|---|
| Main story plus some side missions | 30–35 hours | |
| Completionist (all achievements and content) | 40–50 hours | |
GameSpot counts 22 named main missions and more than 20 side missions, plus collectibles and zone levels to raise. On Steam, you’ll find 49 achievements to chase.
PC Requirements and Console Performance
Control Resonant runs on Remedy’s Northlight engine, updated with mesh shaders and path tracing. That makes it demanding, especially on PC.
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10/11 64-bit | Windows 10/11 64-bit | |
| CPU | Intel i5-8500 / AMD Ryzen 5 3500 | Intel i7-10700 / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
| GPU | GTX 1070 / RX 5600 XT / Arc A580 | RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT / Arc B580 | |
| Storage | 120 GB SSD (required) | 120 GB SSD (required) | |
Note the 120 GB SSD requirement. You can’t install it on a hard drive, so clear space before you buy. If you’re planning an upgrade anyway, our guide on why you’ll want an AI PC this year covers what to look for in a new machine.
PS5 and PS5 Pro modes
On consoles, you get a choice of modes. Tom’s Guide tested the PS5 Pro:
- Performance mode: targets 60 fps
- Balanced mode: about 40 fps with full ray tracing
- Quality mode: 30 fps with the best visuals
If you’re on a 120 Hz TV, the balanced 40 fps mode is a good middle ground.
Control Resonant Reviews: What Critics Say
Reviews are strong overall, but not unanimous.
| Source | Score or verdict | |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 84 (vs 82 for the original Control) | |
| OpenCritic | 86% of critics recommend | |
| Steam users | Very Positive (90% of 3,540 reviews at time of checking) | |
| GameSpot, Destructoid, PCGamesN | 9/10 | |
| Eurogamer, GamesRadar+ | 3/5 | |
| Tom’s Guide | Editor’s Choice | |
Critics mostly praise the visuals, creativity and story. The lower scores point to repetitive combat over a long campaign.
GamesRadar+ noted that the 84 Metacritic score beats the original overall but falls short of 2026’s top 20 games, where the cutoff is 87.
Tips Before You Start Control Resonant
A few simple steps will make your first hours smoother.
- Free up 120 GB of SSD space before you download, including on consoles with smaller drives.
- Pick your performance mode early. On PS5 Pro, try the 60 fps mode first, since the melee combat rewards quick reactions.
- Experiment with every Aberrant form. Some enemies are far easier with the right shape.
- Do some side missions. They add XP for powers and make later story fights less punishing.
- Check the map often. Manhattan’s twisting layout is the most common complaint in reviews.
What We Still Don’t Know
A few details are still missing, and they may matter to you depending on your setup.
- Mac release date: Remedy says “later in 2026” but hasn’t named a day or published Mac system requirements
- Switch 2 version: there’s no announcement, so don’t count on one soon
- Post-launch content: Remedy hasn’t detailed DLC or expansion plans yet
- Subscription services: none of the launch coverage we checked mentions Game Pass or PS Plus, so plan to buy it
Playing on a weak PC or laptop
If your computer falls short, GeForce NOW is your easiest option. The game streams from the cloud, so your local GPU and SSD matter much less. You’ll still need to own the game on Steam or Epic, plus a solid internet connection.
Is Control Resonant Worth It?
For most players, yes. Here’s a quick guide based on what you enjoy.
- Buy it now if you loved Control, enjoy story-heavy action games or want something visually unlike anything else this year.
- Wait for a sale if you prefer ranged shooting, since the melee focus is a real shift from the first game.
- Try it on GeForce NOW first if your PC is below the minimum specs or short on SSD space.
- Hold off if you’re on Mac and want the native version, as it has no firm date yet.
Remedy has a lot riding on it too. The studio estimated it needs 3–4 million lifetime sales for a 100% return on investment, according to Wikipedia’s summary of company figures.
For the latest news and trailers, visit Remedy’s official Control Resonant page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Control Resonant launched digitally on September 24, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Physical copies arrive on October 15, 2026, and a Mac version is due later in 2026.
Yes. It’s a narrative sequel set after the first game, and you play as Dylan Faden, Jesse’s brother, instead of Jesse.
The Standard Edition costs $59.99 and the Digital Deluxe Edition costs $69.99. The Deluxe version adds bonus in-game items and a digital soundtrack.
No Switch 2 version has been announced. It’s available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and GeForce NOW, with Mac coming later in 2026.
Expect about 30–35 hours for the story with some side content. Completionists should plan for 40–50 hours.
No. Steam lists a 120 GB SSD as required for both minimum and recommended specs.
Yes. It holds an 84 on Metacritic and an 86% recommend rate on OpenCritic, slightly above the original Control.
