CONTROL Resonant Faces Huge Pressure as Release Nears

Remedy’s highly anticipated sequel has major expectations to meet, with Control’s success, Alan Wake 2’s performance, and a crowded release window all adding pressure.

Remedy Entertainment’s upcoming Control Resonant looks like one of the studio’s biggest releases to date, but the much-anticipated sequel is also coming under a fair amount of strain. Control Resonant will have a lot to prove when it eventually arrives, with a busy release schedule around it, growing expectations for Remedy’s franchises, and the commercial performance of past games all playing a part.

But for many players, talk of sales could seem secondary to what actually makes Remedy’s games distinctive. Control created a unique supernatural universe; Alan Wake 2 became one of the studio’s most critically regarded releases. For those who’ve been following Remedy’s interconnected universe as fans, CONTROL Resonant offers a chance to push that concept even further.

CONTROL Resonant feels especially important, given that Control has become one of Remedy's biggest commercial successes. The original game reportedly sold over five million copies, one of the studio's most successful releases. Its continuing sales momentum has also helped it stay relevant years after its debut, which could set a high bar for its sequel.

Remedy’s games traditionally have been slow-burn hits, not instant blockbusters. For example, Alan Wake 2 was touted as the company’s fastest-selling title, selling almost 1.4 million copies in just six months. But it took much longer to recoup its development costs, so big sales out of the gate don’t necessarily translate into instant profitability.

What makes Control Resonant especially interesting is its history.

The sequel arrives after a game that's already built a considerable audience, and after Remedy has built a far wider interwoven universe around Control and Alan Wake. The question now is whether the sequel can tap into that growing audience to drive faster, bigger sales. Much of the pressure is self-inflicted, from Remedy’s own leadership.

Earlier this year, the company’s new CEO spoke about the commercial success of Control and Alan Wake, saying both franchises should have reached more players. The statements were not necessarily a judgment of each game, but they did reflect an intention to make Remedy’s main properties far more successful.

There was some initial skepticism about the appointment itself, as the new leadership was from across the broader games business, including experience at Electronic Arts. The CEO, however, seemed to grasp the weight of the position and even admitted that after being hired, people had messaged him with basically a warning not to screw up what Remedy had built.

This distinction matters. There doesn't seem to be a sense that Remedy is suddenly going to become a standard live-service publisher, or aggressively monetize every component of its games. Instead, the focus seems to be on figuring out how to bring Remedy's unique games to a wider audience while maintaining what makes them unique.

That could make Control Resonant a particularly interesting test. Control is Remedy’s biggest-selling game so far, so the obvious expectation is that its sequel will ultimately top it.

That doesn't mean the game has to sell five million copies out of the gate, but it does set a commercial benchmark that will undoubtedly hover over the project. Interestingly enough, Alan Wake 2 could also one day challenge Control. The sequel has already sold more than three million copies, and if it continues to sell steadily for the next few years, the deficit may easily close.

This says something crucial about Remedy games: they may not be massive commercial hits out of the gate, but they may keep finding audiences long after release. Long-tail performance is both a strength and a potential worry. Remedy has shown it can sell its games for years, but it has also had projects that struggled to make that audience profitable immediately.

Alan Wake 2 is probably the best example. The game has been very well received and has sold quite well, although it reportedly took about two years to repay production costs before it started to make a significant profit. That’s a long time for a significant project to be in recovery mode. The situation around Alan Wake 2 was likewise weird.

The game didn't initially launch with a physical edition, and its publishing relationship with Epic Games affected how consumers could buy it. Control Resonant looks more consumer-friendly in many ways, which might give it a stronger commercial footing from the start. That may help, especially as the game nears a brutally competitive release window.

Numerous significant releases flank its launch window, meaning players will have a tremendous number of games competing for dollars and attention. Control Resonant is due to launch with Silent Hill: Townfall and will be around the same time as big releases like Marvel’s Wolverine and Fire Emblem. Other releases could also compete for niche audiences, including Trails in the Sky.

The schedule soon gets even more jam-packed with titles like Gears of War and a handful of additional important releases shortly thereafter.

That makes for a tricky balancing act for a game like CONTROL Resonant. It doesn't have to outsell every game around it to be successful, but it needs to establish itself soon enough that people don't just move on to the next big release. Remedy has told reporters that internal data for CONTROL Resonant has been positive, particularly in pre-orders and general curiosity. 

The company has said that the game is doing well relative to other titles released at the same time. That is encouraging, though it is difficult to know exactly how the internal comparisons were calculated. Pre-orders signal audience enthusiasm, but they don’t necessarily reveal the full story of long-term sales.

The comparison with Silent Hill: Townfall might be particularly interesting, since both games target players interested in supernatural terror and psychological experiences. Silent Hill is still a household name throughout the world, and while CONTROL Resonant has the advantage of an existing fanbase and more action-based gameplay,

Meanwhile, Wolverine and Fire Emblem may bring even more commercial competition. It doesn't have to target the same audience to affect Control Resonant. Players have limited time and money, and a crowded release calendar means some games will unavoidably garner more attention than others. And that’s why launch momentum can be so important.

Remedy doesn’t absolutely need Control Resonant to be an overnight hit. Still, the sequel will probably need to show more early momentum than the studio’s prior titles if it’s going to live up to the mounting hype around the franchise. But there’s another layer to this than just the sales data. Remedy is constructing a connected environment around its games.

Control and Alan Wake have become increasingly interwoven, with people, ideas and plot elements spilling across between the two franchises.

For those who like exploring the studio's backstory, this relationship has become one of the most fascinating parts of Remedy's current trajectory. The potential issue is that linked universes depend on every component working. If a key installment falters critically or commercially, it can potentially throw future ventures off course. In that way, CONTROL Resonant is more than just a stand-alone sequel. That's another big piece of Remedy's overall creative strategy.

That makes its success vital for fans who want to see the universe expand further through games and, presumably, other media down the road. Remedy has previously shown interest in growing its franchises beyond a single game, and the long-term ambition seems to be bringing these tales and characters together in increasingly ambitious ways.

For fans, this is undoubtedly the most exciting moment. If Control Resonant is a success, it may mean Remedy keeps investing in this universe instead of abandoning it. With all the business pressure, there are plenty of reasons to be positive about CONTROL Resonant. One of the most promising aspects of its marketing so far has been Remedy's focus on gameplay.

Instead, the company has focused heavily on combat, creatures, bosses, RPG systems, and level design rather than the story, characters, or deeper backstory.

 That would seem strange, given how essential narrative is to Remedy’s games, but it might be a deliberate approach. For longstanding fans, the lore will probably still be one of the primary draws. Control and Alan Wake players already care about the odd characters, puzzles, and otherworldly ideas that make up the universe.

Remedy doesn’t necessarily have to convince those players to buy that sequel. That's where the fight's potential significance lies. If you’re not familiar with Control, the gameplay can immediately look intriguing and provide an entrance point that the original game or even Alan Wake 2 may not have delivered. Control Resonant is a fresh take on combat, giving Remedy a chance to pull in gamers who might otherwise have dismissed its titles.

Same goes for the level design. Remedy has always been good at creating memorable worlds, and Control Resonant seems to be taking that talent to new heights. That is why you should care before you know anything about the story beneath these systems.