Remedy’s Control Resonant Shifts Combat to Aggressive, Up-Close Fighting

Remedy is once again reshaping its identity with Control Resonant, a follow-up that keeps the world and signature “polymorphic” weapon concept from the first Control—but dramatically changes the moment-to-moment combat. Instead of leaning into levitating gunplay and tight, corridor-style firefights, the game shifts toward aggressive, up-close fighting as you take control of Dylan, Jesse Fayden’s brother, in a chaotic version of New York.

Release window, platforms, and editions

In the original Control, players embodied Jesse Fayden, wielding a polymorphic firearm and telekinetic abilities inside a tough, fast TPS built around compressed spaces and shifting architecture. Control Resonant preserves the core “essence” of that setup, but it swaps the familiar pacing: you move through a far more open-feeling New York that’s been twisted into a topsy-turvy nightmare, while combat prioritizes close-quarters exchanges over ranged shooting.

That change is more than a cosmetic tweak. Dylan also has a polymorphic weapon—called the Aberrant—positioning the sequel to focus on stylized combos, evasive movement, and melee brawling as the foundation of its gameplay. Remedy’s designers have framed this as a deliberate evolution rather than a genre detour for its own sake, especially because the studio is better known for shooters.

Why Remedy is betting on melee this time

Gameplay director Sergey Mohov says the studio’s inspirations are broad and not limited strictly to video games. He also identifies the original Control as the primary reference point: the team began by asking what makes Control “Control,” aiming to preserve a similar spiritual and experiential through-line from the first game.

At the same time, the team wanted a more direct, aggressive fighting style centered on the body-to-body action. In Mohov’s words, the inspiration list is eclectic—he cites DMC 2 and DMC 3, and points to PlatinumGames titles in general—adding that while players may recognize components seen elsewhere, the studio does not intend for the final result to be a straightforward copy of any single series.

Devil May Cry and Bayonetta influence, but not a clone

That balancing act—keeping Control’s identity while borrowing structure from stylish action games—has a clear logic for fans of “character-driven” combat systems. The comparison most players will draw is to Capcom’s Devil May Cry series, with DMC 5 highlighted as a particularly strong benchmark for the genre’s peak spectacle. The game is also described as taking cues from PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta style.

Remedy’s approach is essentially to use references to guide what works and what doesn’t, then assemble a combat system that feels distinct—one that aims to be familiar in energy without becoming “exactly the same” as any prior title.

Dylan’s New York and what to expect at launch

Control Resonant is expected to arrive on September 24, 2026 for PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series. With the sequel’s combat centered on melee maneuvers, dodges, and combo-driven skirmishes—even in a larger, more open New York setting—it’s shaping up as a meaningful pivot in how Remedy delivers its action.

For players who loved the first game’s telekinetic atmosphere and polymorphic gunplay, the big question will be whether Remedy can keep the original’s “Control” feel while embracing a brawler-forward structure. Early framing suggests that’s exactly the goal: treat Control as the backbone, then build a more aggressive fighting experience around Dylan and the Aberrant.