Remedy Entertainment and Annapurna Pictures unveil open-world shift in Control Resonant
Playable preview ahead of Summer Game Fest 2026 reveals Dylan Faden as protagonist and a new 'Aberrant' weapon system
Remedy Entertainment and Annapurna Pictures have released a playable preview of Control Resonant, the sequel to the 2019 title Control, ahead of Summer Game Fest 2026. The game marks a significant departure from its predecessor, shifting from an enclosed, narrative-driven shooter to a melee-focused action-RPG. Set seven years after the original events, the sequel follows Dylan Faden as he explores a Hiss-corrupted, open-world version of Manhattan to find his missing sister, Jesse Faden.
The preview highlights a distorted, surreal New York environment described as reminiscent of the "Backrooms." The Manhattan setting is fragmented into explorable zones and distorted into a "living alien landscape." Specific areas mentioned include "The Sinkhole," an underground zone filled with Hiss and elite monsters. The preview ended with a sequence in a winding underground apartment complex that transformed into a "Backrooms-esque mega-complex."
Control Resonant incorporates deeper RPG mechanics, including skill trees, perks, and status effects such as burn damage to manage crowds of enemies. The game features a "punchy, high-flying" combat style with a focus on melee engagements. Players can customise attack flows by swapping between primary, secondary, and combo-ender moves using the Aberrant weapon.
The Aberrant is a new weapon system that transforms into various melee forms, including blades, gauntlets, a scythe, and a hammer. The combat style is comparable to Devil May Cry or Nier: Automata. Dylan Faden is described as a "powerful supernatural entity" struggling to regain his humanity, replacing Jesse Faden as the playable character.
Annapurna Pictures is co-funding the sequel with Remedy Entertainment. The game is part of the Remedy Connected Universe and is described as the developers' most expansive title to date. The preview provided hands-on time with the opening hours, demonstrating the shift in tone and gameplay mechanics from the original game.
