Control Resonant is out: Remedy's melee gamble earns strong reviews at launch
Control Resonant is now out on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam, and the Epic Games Store, priced at $59.99. Remedy Entertainment's follow-up to the 2019 original is the studio's first self-published Control title — the Finnish developer bought back the franchise from 505 Games for €17 million in 2024. With two million wishlists ahead of launch, the pressure was real. So far, it's paying off.
The shift
This is not the Control you remember. Resonant replaces Jesse Faden with her brother Dylan — previously a comatose side character — and swaps the series' signature Service Weapon for a melee system built around a supernatural weapon called the Aberrant. The setting expands too, trading the claustrophobic corridors of the Oldest House for an open-world Manhattan warped by paranatural forces. The main story runs 25–35 hours; full completion lands closer to 45–50.
The genre pivot is genuine. Early critic reviews described a dynamic action-RPG rather than a third-person shooter, and Metacritic confirms a strong landing with an 84 average across 77 reviews and 86% of critics recommending the game. That's a confident debut for a studio self-publishing a major franchise for the first time.
Dylan Faden steps out of his coma and into an open-world Manhattan in Control Resonant.
Player reaction
Steam user sentiment sits at 79% positive — solid, though a step below the critic consensus. Most praise covers technical performance: the game reportedly runs well on mid-range PCs, with strong visuals and high detail. A subset of players is less happy, pointing to the combat learning curve and the loss of the original's shooter identity.
One notable sore spot is Steam Deck support. Remedy publicized handheld presets ahead of launch, but independent testing by Steam Deck HQ shows frame rates dropping into the low 20s — effectively unplayable. If you planned to take this one on the go, it's worth waiting for a patch.
Availability
Control Resonant is available digitally now on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, and Xbox. Physical editions for PS5 and Xbox arrive October 15. MacOS support is planned later in 2026.
