Control Resonant is the in-development action role-playing game sequel to 2019's Control. There is no public build yet and no demo. This page is a pre-release primer for readers arriving cold. For a wider summary, see the Overview; for the platform situation, see Platforms and Release.
Mental Model: Not A Soulslike
Resonant looks like a character-action game in its trailers, but it does not behave like a Soulslike. The studio has been explicit on this point in public press: there is a dodge, but there is no parry, and the encounter design is built around forward pressure rather than counter reads. Coming in expecting a deliberate, defensive cadence will fight the system; coming in expecting Devil May Cry-style aggression with a buildcrafting layer is the right mental frame.
The Aberrant in One Page
Dylan's weapon, the Aberrant, is a shapeshifting melee tool configured as a small loadout. Three slots matter on day one:
Primary form: the form basic combos run through.
Secondary form: the form special and charged attacks use.
Combo ender: the form Dylan switches into to close out a string with a finisher.
Five forms have been shown so far: a heavy hammer, dual blades, a scythe, a whip, and bare fists. New forms are unlocked through the Aberrant's own progression and through defeating Resonants, the major boss enemies the game takes its name from.
Combat Ability Resource
Hitting enemies with melee strikes refills Dylan's Combat Ability resource. That meter pays for his supernatural abilities. Spending it on a power tends to stun enemies, which opens a window for an execution, which grants a temporary buff to melee damage and feeds back into the next round of strikes. The intended habit on a fresh save is to push forward, stay swinging, and treat every wave as a meter-building setup for the next ability use.
How to Play Right Now
You cannot play Control Resonant yet. The most useful things you can do today are simple acts of follow-along:
Wishlist on Steam
. The game has a confirmed Steam App ID of 3669870. Wishlisting it is the fastest way to be notified the moment a release date or a demo lands.
Wishlist on the Epic Games Store
. A PC version is planned for Epic, so wishlisting there covers both PC storefronts.
Pre-order on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S
. Pre-orders are open on both consoles, as well as on Steam and the Epic Games Store, in standard and deluxe editions. The PlayStation 5 Digital Deluxe edition includes 48 hours of early access.
A Mac version is also planned
, arriving on the same PC storefront alongside a separate App Store listing.
Newcomer Friendly
If you have never played the original Control (2019), you are not at a disadvantage. Remedy Entertainment has stated publicly that newcomers do not need to have played the first game to follow Resonant's story. The sequel is written so that the basics of the world, the agency, and the protagonist are introduced in-game rather than assumed as prior knowledge.
Your First Run
You play as
, a parautilitarian and the younger brother of the original Control's protagonist.
Combat is
-focused and built around the
Aberrant
, a shapeshifting close-quarters weapon that swaps between hammer, dual blades, scythe, whip, and other forms.
Two paranatural traversal abilities arrive early:
Reach
, a gravity-defying movement skill, and
Shift
, which redirects momentum through the world's many Gravity Anomalies.
Skill trees and ability conversions happen inside
the Gap
, a metaphysical space inside Dylan's mind that doubles as the in-game menu.
The opening playable region is the
West Incursion Zone
of
.
Three Decision Layers
Progression is built on three layered choices. None are cosmetic; each shapes how Dylan plays.
Layer | What It Controls |
|---|---|
Aberrant Form | The current shape of the Aberrant, which sets the basic attack chain and rhythm of melee strikes. |
Power Set | The mix of paranatural abilities equipped, including Reach, Shift, force-push variants, and deployable shields. |
Talent Tree Branch | Skill tree branches with exclusive choices. A single playthrough cannot unlock everything; each branch tunes the build toward a different combat identity. |
Setting Setup
Control Resonant takes place roughly seven years after the events of the original Control. The Oldest House, the agency's shifting paranatural headquarters, suffered a containment failure. The lockdown that should have sealed the threats inside it gave way, and paranatural forces have spilled out into the surrounding city. As a result, Manhattan has been overrun by entities and altered geometry that do not behave like the real world.
The Federal Bureau of Control is the secret United States government agency charged with paranatural containment. With the Manhattan crisis too large for regular field agents, the Bureau deploys Dylan Faden into the city to help contain it. That deployment is the campaign's framing mission, and Dylan's search for his missing sister Jesse runs underneath it.
Status
Control Resonant is not playable yet. The game launches on September 24, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with the Mac version following later in 2026. A public demo has not been announced.
Pre-Launch Checklist
Wishlist the game on Steam (App ID 3669870) and on the Epic Games Store so storefront notifications hit your inbox the moment a date is set.
Follow
Remedy Entertainment
on its first-party channels for new trailers and developer commentary.
Watch developer diaries as they are published. They are the clearest source on combat, traversal, and progression systems until a hands-on build exists.
If you have the time, the original Control (2019) is optional but a fun primer. It is not required to follow Resonant's story.
What Has Not Been Disclosed
Several details a new player would normally want are not public yet. The studio has not disclosed exact controls or default keybinds, demo timing or any open beta schedule, or PC and Mac system requirements. This page will be updated as those details are confirmed.