Control Resonant Showcases Supernatural Combat, Exploration, and Boss Battles in New Gameplay Reveal

Remedy Entertainment has unveiled new gameplay details for Control Resonant during the latest State of Play, offering a deeper look at exploration, traversal mechanics, combat progression, and its formidable boss encounters. The upcoming sci-fi action thriller is set to launch on PlayStation 5 in 2026.

A Distorted Manhattan

The new footage highlights protagonist Dylan navigating the West Incursion Zone, an early-game area warped by supernatural forces tearing reality apart. While Control Resonant is not fully open-world, it features expansive, self-contained zones filled with side activities, hidden encounters, and optional discoveries.

The West Incursion Zone exemplifies this design philosophy. Architecture folds into itself, gravity shifts unpredictably, and familiar cityscapes become hostile terrain. Despite the nonlinear exploration opportunities, a strong central narrative anchors the experience, guiding players through the escalating crisis.

Supporting Dylan throughout the mission is Zoe De Vera, an FBC Field Agent who serves as his handler. Her presence is more than functional; she plays a key narrative role, challenging Dylan to confront his identity and humanity amid the supernatural chaos engulfing Manhattan.

Traversal in a Broken Reality

Movement in Control Resonant is deeply integrated into its core design. Dylan possesses supernatural abilities that allow him to navigate warped environments. His ability, Reach, enables traversal across spaces that no longer obey conventional physics.

Players will encounter Gravity Anomalies, zones where orientation and gravitational pull are distorted. By activating Shift, Dylan can redirect momentum mid-movement, adapting to inverted roads, tilted skyscrapers, and surfaces suspended in impossible positions. In these moments, players must redefine what qualifies as “ground” and identify viable traversal paths across fractured architecture.

The Aberrant and Combat Customization

Central to combat is Dylan’s weapon, the Aberrant — a shapeshifting, otherworldly melee tool. As demonstrated in the gameplay footage, it can transform into multiple forms, including Hammer, Blades, Scythe, and Fists. Additional forms remain undisclosed.

Combat progression focuses on synergy and flow. Players unlock new Aberrant forms, supernatural abilities, and combo chains over time. A deeper customization system allows for specialization, enabling players to tailor their loadouts before engagements. Whether favoring aerial mobility or grounded power strikes, the system is designed to support diverse combat approaches.

Resonants: Power Through Confrontation

The showcase also introduced Resonants, powerful boss-level enemies that were once individuals of great influence, now corrupted by the force destabilizing reality. These encounters serve as major gameplay milestones.

Defeating a Resonant is not merely a narrative victory — it directly expands Dylan’s arsenal. Each fallen Resonant grants a new combat ability, reinforcing a progression loop centered on high-stakes confrontations. This mechanic underscores the game’s title, as control over Resonant powers becomes central to both gameplay and narrative escalation.

A Stranger Journey Ahead

According to Remedy, the West Incursion Zone represents only a fraction of the broader experience. As Manhattan continues to unravel, players can expect increasingly surreal environments and escalating threats.

With its emphasis on environmental traversal, customizable combat systems, and narrative-driven progression, Control Resonant aims to evolve the studio’s signature blend of supernatural action and psychological tension.

For future updates, you can check out their official X account.