Control Resonant: Remedy Expands Its Supernatural World Into Manhattan

Control Resonant takes Remedy Entertainment’s supernatural action series beyond the Oldest House and into a distorted version of Manhattan. The sequel follows Dylan Faden as he searches for his missing sister, Jesse, while confronting a paranatural crisis spreading through the city.

Unlike the original Control, which centred much of its action around a single shifting building, Resonant uses a larger, more open structure with multiple zones. Remedy describes the game as an open-ended action-adventure RPG, with a new setting, protagonist, abilities and shapeshifting weapon built around Dylan’s journey.

A Different Kind of Control

The biggest change is the shift in protagonist and combat design. Dylan replaces Jesse as the playable character, and his primary weapon is the Aberrant, a supernatural weapon that can change form during combat.

Remedy has moved the combat emphasis toward melee encounters. The Aberrant can take different forms, allowing Dylan to use attacks suited to different situations. The game also gives him paranatural abilities that expand as the story progresses.

This shift changes the series’ rhythm. Instead of relying primarily on the firearm-based combat of the first game, Resonant emphasises positioning, movement, close-range attacks, and timing. Remedy’s explanation of the combat system describes encounters involving attacks, staggers, status effects and timed dodges.

Manhattan Becomes Part of the Gameplay

The new Manhattan setting is not simply a larger backdrop. Buildings, streets and interior spaces are affected by the same paranatural forces that define the Control universe, allowing the environment itself to become part of exploration and progression.

The game is divided into visually distinct zones, with fast travel connecting different parts of the city. Remedy says players can also access the Gap, a separate space within Dylan’s mind where they can unlock upgrades, test builds and work with the Aberrant.

The larger structure also changes how players move through the world. Abilities such as aerial movement, dashing, and wall traversal can open previously inaccessible routes, tying exploration closely to Dylan’s growing powers.

PlayStation’s hands-on coverage highlights the combination of expanded environments, supernatural movement and shifting spaces that defines the sequel’s exploration.

Movement Is More Important Than Before

Traversal is one of the clearest ways Resonant expands on its predecessor. Dylan can eventually fly, dash through the air, double jump and move across walls and ceilings, with additional abilities opening up further routes.

These powers are useful beyond simple navigation. They can also be incorporated into platforming challenges and environmental puzzles, giving movement a more direct role in progression.

This approach ties exploration to character development rather than making it fully available from the start. As new abilities become accessible, previously unreachable areas can become viable destinations.

The Story Keeps Remedy’s Strange Tone

Resonant continues the Federal Bureau of Control storyline while moving the action away from the Oldest House. Dylan’s relationship with Jesse provides the central personal thread, while the wider crisis introduces new threats and supernatural phenomena.

Remedy has also retained the documents, recordings and other supplementary material that helped build the original game’s fictional world. These optional pieces of information provide additional context around the Bureau and the events unfolding outside its headquarters.

The result is a story structure that combines a conventional campaign with optional worldbuilding. Players who explore beyond the main objectives can encounter additional material that expands the setting without requiring every piece to follow the central narrative.

Combat Can Be Adjusted

Resonant includes an expanded Assist Mode that lets players change individual parts of combat rather than relying solely on traditional difficulty presets.

Settings can adjust enemy aggression, incoming damage, outgoing damage, projectile speed and the timing of the Perfect Dodge Window. Players can also use stronger assistance options, while some settings can be increased to make particular aspects of combat more demanding.

Remedy has also confirmed that trophies and achievements are not locked behind Assist Mode. Players can therefore use the system to suit their preferences without creating a separate progression track.

Visuals and Performance on PS5

Control Resonant is built using Remedy’s Northlight technology and takes advantage of the PlayStation 5’s hardware features. On standard PS5 hardware, the game offers Performance and Quality modes.

Performance mode targets 60 frames per second at 1440p, while Quality mode targets 30 frames per second at 2160p. PS5 Pro adds a third Balanced mode targeting 40 frames per second at 2160p with ray tracing when used with a compatible 120Hz display.

Remedy’s PS5 feature breakdown also details DualSense adaptive trigger support and 3D Audio. The game’s different combat abilities can produce different trigger resistance, giving the controller a more direct role in combat feedback.

The Larger World Has Trade-Offs

A more open structure gives Resonant considerably more room for exploration, but it can also make navigation less straightforward. The game’s environments are deliberately distorted, with buildings and spaces that do not always follow conventional geography.

That design is central to the atmosphere, but it can make orientation harder when several routes seem possible. Players who prefer tightly structured environments may find the expanded navigation less immediately clear than the Oldest House’s more contained structure.

The combat system also asks more from the player than a simple action game. With melee attacks, dodges, abilities, enemy projectiles, and stagger mechanics interacting during encounters, the amount of on-screen information can increase during larger fights. Assist Mode lets you adjust those elements when needed.

Platform Availability and Pricing

Control Resonant launched on September 24, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The Xbox listing shows the standard edition at $59.99 in the United States, with a $69.99 Digital Deluxe Edition.

The PlayStation Store listing also lists the standard edition at $59.99 and the Digital Deluxe Edition at $69.99. On PC, the Steam version is available at the same standard price of $59.99.

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the game, plus a digital artbook, original soundtrack, AWE Mission Outfit, Untapped Artefact, and Starter Resource Bundle.

Who Is Control Resonant For?

Resonant targets players who enjoy supernatural action, exploration, and story-driven games, especially those who enjoyed the worldbuilding of the original Control. The sequel also serves as a new entry point, according to Remedy’s original positioning, though familiarity with the first game can add context to Dylan and Jesse’s relationship.

Players looking for a tightly linear action game may find the larger zones and ability-driven exploration less direct. Those interested in experimenting with movement, supernatural abilities and environmental puzzles have more systems to work with than in a straightforward campaign.

Key Strengths and Limitations

Strengths:

• Expanded Manhattan setting with multiple explorable zones
• Dylan’s shapeshifting Aberrant creates a different combat structure from the original game
• Movement abilities become an important part of exploration and puzzle solving
• Optional documents and recordings continue the series’ environmental storytelling
• Detailed Assist Mode allows individual combat mechanics to be adjusted
• PS5 supports dedicated Performance and Quality modes, with additional PS5 Pro options

Limitations:

• The larger and distorted environments can make navigation less straightforward.
• Combat can become demanding when multiple systems and enemies overlap
• The melee-focused design represents a significant change from the originalgame’ss shooting-heavy combat
• Some advanced movement abilities take time to unlock and understand

Final Verdict

Control Resonant expands the series without abandoning its core identity. The move to Manhattan, Dylan’s role as the protagonist, the Aberrant weapon and the larger exploration structure give the sequel a different mechanical foundation from the original Control.

Its most important addition is the way movement and exploration connect to progression. New abilities do more than strengthen Dylan in combat; they also change how players can move through the environment and approach puzzles.

The larger world and more demanding combat introduce their own challenges, but the expanded Assist Mode gives players considerable control over the difficulty. With its combination of supernatural combat, exploration and layered worldbuilding, Resonant builds on the Control formula while giving Remedy room to take the series in a broader direction.