Remedy Officially Explains: CONTROL Resonant is an Action Game, RPG, and Superhero Game All at Once

CONTROL Resonant launches tomorrow, September 24, 2026 – and Remedy Entertainment is using the final hours before launch to clarify what kind of game players can expect. In an official post on Xbox Wire, the studio explains that CONTROL Resonant is intended to be an an action game, role-playing game, and “superhero game” all at once. The most significant difference from the original: instead of paranormal firearms, melee combat is now the focus.

According to Remedy, it's the studio's first game built entirely around melee combat gameplay. Lead Gameplay Designer Sergey Mohov is quoted as saying that CONTROL Resonant is “not a Soulslike,” but rather a “push-forward, action-driven” title with an aggressive playstyle, where the player clearly maintains control over the pace of combat. Protagonist Dylan Faden's main weapon, the “Aberrant,” can transform into various weapon forms and is combined with supernatural abilities.

CONTROL Resonant is launching for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and on Xbox it will also support Xbox Play Anywhere. The digital version in the Xbox Store is already available for pre-order, with physical editions for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S following on October 15. Whether the game will actually land on Game Pass day one, as briefly speculated due to a now-deleted Instagram post by Xbox UK, has not yet been officially confirmed – Remedy and Xbox have not clearly commented on it so far.

When does CONTROL Resonant release and on which platforms?

The release is set for September 24, 2026 – which is tomorrow. CONTROL Resonant launches digitally simultaneously on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC; macOS is currently slated to follow later. Those who prefer physical copies will have to wait until October 15.

How does CONTROL Resonant differ from the original CONTROL (2019)?

The genre shift is the crucial point: The original CONTROL from 2019 was a weapon-based third-person shooter adventure, in which protagonist Jesse Faden fought against the Hiss with the transformable “Service Weapon,” supported by telekinetic powers. CONTROL Resonant reverses this dynamic: melee combat and supernatural abilities are now in the foreground, while firearms take a backseat. Additionally, a new main character, Dylan Faden, Jesse's brother, takes on the role of the protagonist, searching for his missing sister as a new supernatural crisis erupts in Manhattan.

Editor's Note: For fans of the original, this is certainly a bold step. CONTROL (2019) was celebrated specifically for its gunplay, its environmental destruction, and its calmer, exploration-heavy atmosphere. Those expecting the same from Resonant should adjust their expectations: Remedy promises a significantly more aggressive, action-packed pace in the style of superhero titles like Infamous or Prototype, combined with RPG elements. This could be a gamble for long-time fans, but it also opens up the series to a new, broader audience – a conscious genre shift that will have to prove itself in the final game.

Those who want to know beforehand what Remedy is technically getting out of the new consoles can find details in our article on the PS5 features of CONTROL Resonant. We have already collected initial press impressions in our overview of the first reviews for CONTROL Resonant.

Coinciding with the launch, Remedy has also released an official launch trailer that once again showcases the new melee focus and the story of Dylan Faden's search for his sister:

Source: Xbox Wire

What do you think of the genre shift in CONTROL Resonant – a bold new beginning or a risk for fans of the original? Let us know in the comments!