Control Resonant Blends Action and Narrative in Warped Manhattan

Remedy Entertainment's sequel to Control takes players on a momentum-driven combat journey through a dynamically altered New York City.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The upcoming Control Resonant is deliberately moving away from genre expectations, focusing on aggressive, player-driven action and a more grounded narrative centered around a fractured Manhattan. Players will take on the role of Dylan Faden, Jesse Faden's brother, who is guided by FBC field agent Zoe De Vera as they navigate the city's paranatural crisis. The game's combat system revolves around the Aberrant, a transforming hammer weapon, and is inspired by action game staples like Bayonetta and Devil May Cry, emphasizing momentum, combos, and player skill.

Why it matters

Control Resonant's design choices reflect emerging trends in the action-adventure genre, moving away from open-world fatigue and punishing 'Soulslike' difficulty in favor of more focused, streamlined experiences that prioritize narrative collaboration and emotionally resonant stories within engaging combat encounters. The emphasis on momentum-based, aggressive gameplay also aligns with a shift towards more proactive and skill-based action in the genre.

The details

In Control Resonant, the city of Manhattan is dynamically altered by paranatural forces, with architecture warping and gravity becoming unstable, creating unique combat arenas for players to navigate. The Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) remains active, attempting to contain the escalating crisis across distinct zones. Players will wield the Aberrant, a massive transforming hammer weapon, which shifts between primary and secondary forms to allow for a variety of combat combinations and customizable playstyles. The combat system is designed to reward aggressive, momentum-driven play, taking inspiration from action game classics like Bayonetta and Devil May Cry.

  • Control Resonant is set to release in 2026.

The players

Dylan Faden

The protagonist of Control Resonant, who is the brother of Jesse Faden from the original Control.

Zoe De Vera

An FBC field agent who acts as Dylan Faden's handler and guide throughout the game.

Federal Bureau of Control (FBC)

The government agency tasked with containing the paranatural crisis unfolding across Manhattan in Control Resonant.

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What’s next

As Control Resonant approaches its 2026 release, fans can expect more details to emerge about the game's narrative, combat system, and the evolving state of Manhattan.

The takeaway

Control Resonant's emphasis on aggressive, momentum-driven combat and its focus on narrative collaboration and emotionally resonant storytelling within a dynamically altered Manhattan suggest a promising evolution for the action-adventure genre, blending thrilling gameplay with a compelling character-driven experience.