Control Resonant: 5 Things We Just Learned

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The Federal Bureau of Control is back, and this time, Control Resonant takes the established characters in a fresh, exciting direction. This sequel is aiming high, with a new protagonist and a shift in genre. These changes could make an already successful game even better, significantly raising the stakes for players.

Remedy has cleverly adjusted its approach with some exciting new features, making Resonant feel as stylish and compelling as Control, and perhaps even better. Many of us were thrilled by the announcement trailer and its wonderfully strange atmosphere, but what exactly did we learn from it?

There’s actually a lot to share, once you start looking into it. We’ve done some research, and have gathered some interesting details about the game before it comes out in 2026.

1. A New Normal for Manhattan

Remember how we said the stakes were getting higher? Well, seven years after the first game, the Oldest House couldn’t contain The Hiss. It’s broken free and transformed Manhattan into a dangerous, deadly city, with its people now possessed and hostile. It sounds like other powerful, supernatural threats are also involved, and we’ll likely have to deal with them to move the story forward.

I’m really excited about moving The Hiss to a new location, like Manhattan. It feels like it’s going to let the next game, whatever it is, be way bigger and more ambitious than the first Control. Imagine The Hiss actually changing the city around you, bending reality to its will! If they can tie that into a compelling story and a ton of side quests, navigating that warped Manhattan could be absolutely incredible. It’s a perfect setting for an action RPG in the Control universe, honestly.

With The Hiss and its allies having changed Manhattan, the city could become a gateway to other dimensions, introducing new dangers and obstacles that the new hero from Resonant will be uniquely equipped to handle.

2. A New Protagonist

Dylan Fader is now in charge, having been released from captivity by the Federal Bureau of Control. The FBC hopes he can help them fight a dangerous new enemy that threatens to overwhelm them. Dylan’s history with The Hiss, combined with the fact that his sister, Jesse, the former director, couldn’t find a solution and is now missing, creates an interesting role reversal compared to the first game. It seems Dylan will have to succeed where Jesse couldn’t.

So, I thought I’d saved Dylan from The Hiss, but it looks like I was wrong. He’s got these new powers now, and they’re actually helping the FBC try to fix the mess in Manhattan and, like, prove they’re not totally awful. It’s kinda frustrating, honestly, because all that work felt pointless if he’s still a key part of everything.

What part does he play in the FBC’s plan to save everyone? How did he wake up from the coma Jesse caused? Is The Hiss still connected to him, or are his abilities a result of its past influence, growing stronger as he’s exposed to it again? And what’s happening with Jesse? Was the AWE mentioned at the end of the Alan Wake crossover related to the trouble she’s in now?

We knew Dylan was once in the running to be Director, but Jesse got the job instead. Now, we’ll finally find out if Dylan had what it takes. It’ll be interesting to see how his new abilities affect the game’s fighting style, which the developers promise stays true to the original while being better than ever.

3. A Fancy Weapon For A Fancy Protagonist

As Dylan navigates the changed streets of Manhattan, he’s not solely depending on the powers granted by the Hiss. He’s using the Aberrant Living Weapon, which is very different from Jesse’s gun – it forces you to fight enemies directly, up close and personal.

We’re eager to see how Remedy combined Dylan’s natural skills with Aberrant’s immense and destructive power. The game’s RPG elements will also let you create unique character builds that match how you like to play, letting you effectively use Dylan’s strengths, speed, and abilities with both skill and force.

As the game goes on, we want players to struggle to distinguish the Living Weapon from its opponents. This feels right considering what we’ve seen in the trailer – enemies that are just as fast and powerful, and can use supernatural abilities of their own.

We believe your character’s equipment and abilities will influence where you can go in Manhattan. Certain skills may be needed to find hidden areas and shortcuts, making exploration easier and encouraging you to upgrade your character – something the developers at Remedy are clearly excited about.

4. Meeting Old Friends

Now that Jesse is confirmed to be back, fans are wondering if other characters from the original game will also appear in the sequel. What characters would logically fit into the new story?

Ahti the Janitor would be a fantastic addition to the story, helping Dylan explore the changed streets of Manhattan. His mysterious background from the first game could also provide clues about the current crisis at the FBC. Exploring his motivations would be a great storyline for him if he appears in Resonant, and it would allow Remedy to expand on a memorable character from the original game.

Emily Pope is a strong candidate to reappear, given her ties to both Dylan and Jesse, and her help in freeing Jesse’s brother from The Hiss. Characters like Helen Marshall and other members of The Board, including former directors, could also enrich the story, offering opportunities for compelling main story elements and side quests.

5. A New Big Bad?

We’re starting to suspect something even more dangerous than The Hiss is responsible for what’s happening to Manhattan. The frequent references to “other forces” suggest there might be other powerful, evil entities from beyond our world creating this bleak and unsettling environment.

The trailer hinted at increasingly strange events towards the end, and given Remedy’s track record, we expect things to get very weird. We’ll have to wait for more details about the potential new enemies in Resonant, and how they might relate to the main characters in Control.

The story suggests Jesse might be acting independently, which is intriguing because Resonant seems to be building a parallel storyline between her and Dylan. It raises questions: Is Jesse being controlled by The Hiss and potentially working against Dylan? Or is another, opposing force influencing her? That would be a surprising development, but we’ll likely have to wait to see what happens next.

That wraps up our highlights from Resonant’s TGA 2025 presentation. We think you’re going to be just as thrilled about this game as we are! We’ll share any further updates with you as soon as we get them, so be sure to check back often!

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2025-12-15 21:13