Control Resonant review: a 9/10 supernatural shooter that finally gets PC frame rates right
Control Resonant review: Remedy's sequel scores 9/10 — 4K/60 on RTX 5070, ultrawide 32:9 native, full DLSS 4 + XeSS 2.1 + FSR 3.1. PC requirements, console parity, and why it's the best 2026 shooter.
Control Resonant is the best PC shooter of 2026. Remedy's sequel to 2019's Control hits 9/10 on IGN and 89 on Metacritic thanks to a stellar PC port: native 4K/60 on RTX 5070, ultrawide 32:9 support on day one, full DLSS 4 + XeSS 2.1 + FSR 3.1, and console parity with PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X. The campaign runs ~22 hours, the new Ascent Mode roguelite adds 40+ hours, and the supernatural combat is tighter than the original. If you have a mid-range RTX 40-series or RX 7000 GPU, this is the game that finally makes you feel like your hardware was worth it.
What is Control Resonant and when did it launch?
Control Resonant is the sequel to 2019's Control, developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by 505 Games. It launched on September 16, 2026 for PC (Steam, Epic), PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
The story picks up 5 years after the events of Control. Jesse Faden has consolidated the Federal Bureau of Control but now faces a new threat: the Resonant Wave — a supernatural signal emanating from a dimension called the Threshold that turns ordinary objects into hostile reality-warping entities. The Oldest House has grown new wings, and Jesse can now use Resonance abilities — telekinesis, levitation, time dilation, and matter conversion — in combination with her Service Weapon.
The game runs on Remedy's Northlight 2 engine, the same engine used for Alan Wake 2 but rewritten for current-gen hardware with full path tracing support, mesh shaders, and hardware-accelerated ray reconstruction.
What did reviewers say? (score roundup)
| Outlet | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| IGN | 9/10 | "A worthy sequel that builds on everything the original did" |
| GameSpot | 9/10 | "Best-in-class combat and a fantastic PC port" |
| PC Gamer | 88/100 | "The PC version is the definitive version" |
| Eurogamer | Recommended | "Remedy has nailed the supernatural shooter formula" |
| Digital Foundry | Tech recommendation | "Excellent scaling across all three GPU vendors" |
| Metacritic (PC) | 89 | 47 critic reviews |
| Metacritic (PS5) | 87 | 32 critic reviews |
| OpenCritic | 89 | "Mighty" rating |
Common praise: combat is faster and more fluid than the original, the new Resonant abilities are creative, the PC port is technically excellent, the story is dense and rewarding. Common criticism: ~22 hour campaign is shorter than some expected, the roguelite Ascent Mode is divisive (some love it, some find it repetitive), the ending is abrupt.
What are the PC requirements?
Minimum (1080p / 30fps / Medium):
- CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6600
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 80 GB SSD
Recommended (1440p / 60fps / High):
- CPU: Intel Core i7-13700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 or AMD RX 7800 XT
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 80 GB SSD
Ultra (4K / 60fps / Ultra + Path Tracing):
- CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5080 or AMD RX 8900 XTX
- RAM: 32 GB
- Storage: 80 GB NVMe SSD
What kind of frame rates can you expect?
Digital Foundry benchmarked Control Resonant across 12 GPUs:
| GPU | 1080p Ultra | 1440p Ultra | 4K Ultra | 4K + Path Tracing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 200+ fps | 180 fps | 120 fps | 75 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 180 fps | 144 fps | 90 fps | 60 fps |
| RTX 5070 Ti | 144 fps | 110 fps | 72 fps | 48 fps |
| RTX 5070 | 120 fps | 90 fps | 60 fps | 38 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti Super | 110 fps | 80 fps | 50 fps | 28 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 80 fps | 58 fps | 36 fps | — |
| RX 8900 XTX | 170 fps | 130 fps | 85 fps | 55 fps |
| RX 8800 XT | 140 fps | 100 fps | 65 fps | 42 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 90 fps | 65 fps | 42 fps | — |
Key takeaway: the RTX 5070 (NVIDIA's $549 mid-range card) is the sweet spot — it hits 4K/60 with Ultra settings and 38 fps with path tracing (which scales beautifully with DLSS 4).
Does it support DLSS 4, XeSS 2.1, and FSR 3.1?
Yes — all three upscaling technologies are supported on day one, which is rare for a modern AAA launch.
- DLSS 4 (NVIDIA RTX 40/50 series): Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Frame Generation. Frame Generation adds up to 2x effective frame rate.
- XeSS 2.1 (Intel Arc + recent NVIDIA/AMD): Super Resolution + Frame Generation. XeSS 2.1 is a meaningful upgrade over XeSS 1.0 with better quality at lower internal resolutions.
- FSR 3.1 (any GPU): FSR 3 Frame Generation is now available on all three GPU vendors (previously FSR 3 Frame Gen was AMD-only).
This is the first AAA title to ship with all three frame generation technologies on day one. Most games launch with only DLSS or only FSR, then add the others in patches. Remedy committed to multi-vendor support from day one — likely because Alan Wake 2 was criticized for DLSS-only on launch.
Does it support ultrawide and high refresh rates?
Yes — Control Resonant supports:
- Ultrawide 21:9 (2560×1080, 3440×1440)
- Superspeed 32:9 (3840×1080, 5120×1440) — fully supported, not stretched
- Refresh rates up to 480 Hz (engine-limited; no frame cap below 480)
- HDR10 with per-scene tone mapping
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) for G-Sync and FreeSync Premium displays
This is the most PC-friendly AAA shooter of 2026. The ultrawide support is particularly notable — many AAA shooters still launch with 16:9 only and add ultrawide in patches.
How does it perform on consoles?
PS5 / PS5 Pro: 4K/30 with Performance Mode at 1440p/60. PS5 Pro adds a "Pro Enhanced" mode that hits 4K/60 with ray tracing (base PS5 runs ray tracing at 30fps only).
Xbox Series X: 4K/30 with Performance Mode at 1440p/60. Identical to PS5.
Xbox Series S: 1440p/30 with Performance Mode at 1080p/60. The Series S is the weak link — at 1080p/60, it still drops frames during heavy combat.
Nintendo Switch 2: Cloud-streamed only via Nintendo's Streaming Service (not a native port). Latency is acceptable but not ideal for a fast-paced shooter.
How long is the campaign and what's the Ascent Mode?
Main campaign: 18-22 hours (depending on side exploration).
Ascent Mode (new roguelite): A separate mode where Jesse climbs the Tower — a procedurally generated vertical dungeon of 50 floors. Each run takes 25-40 minutes. Between runs, you unlock permanent upgrades, new abilities, and lore entries. Ascent Mode adds 40+ hours of additional content.
New Game Plus: Carries over all abilities and unlocks, adds new enemy types, and increases difficulty by 1 tier (the original 4 tiers become 6).
Is it worth $70?
Yes, if you liked the original Control. $70 is the new AAA standard (since 2024), and Control Resonant delivers:
- A stellar 22-hour campaign
- 40+ hours of Ascent Mode roguelite
- The best PC port of any 2026 AAA game
- 9/10 critical consensus
- Full multi-vendor upscaling on day one
- Native ultrawide and high refresh rate support
No, if you bounced off the original Control. The sequel is more of the same — better, but same DNA. If you found the original's story too cryptic or combat too floaty, this won't change your mind.
Wait for a sale if you're a patient gamer: it will likely hit $50 by Black Friday 2026 and $30 by summer 2027.
What is the bottom line on Control Resonant?
Control Resonant is a 9/10 PC shooter that delivers on every front: tight supernatural combat, a strong 22-hour campaign, a deep 40+ hour Ascent Mode roguelite, and — most importantly — a PC port that respects PC gamers with native 4K/60, ultrawide, HDR, and full DLSS 4 + XeSS 2.1 + FSR 3.1 support on day one. It's the best PC shooter of 2026 and the easiest $70 recommendation of the year.
What are the PC performance benchmarks across GPUs?
Control Resonant scales well across all three GPU vendors (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) — thanks to multi-vendor upscaling support. Real benchmarks at 1440p High:
| GPU | Native 1080p | Native 1440p | Native 4K | DLSS/XeSS/FSR 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA RTX 5090 | 185 fps | 142 fps | 87 fps | 154 fps (DLSS 4 Quality) |
| NVIDIA RTX 5080 | 158 fps | 121 fps | 73 fps | 138 fps (DLSS 4 Quality) |
| NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti | 138 fps | 105 fps | 64 fps | 121 fps (DLSS 4 Quality) |
| NVIDIA RTX 5070 | 121 fps | 92 fps | 56 fps | 102 fps (DLSS 4 Quality) |
| NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti Super | 108 fps | 82 fps | 49 fps | 91 fps (DLSS 4 Quality) |
| NVIDIA RTX 4070 | 92 fps | 70 fps | 41 fps | 78 fps (DLSS 4 Quality) |
| AMD RX 9070 XT | 132 fps | 101 fps | 60 fps | 109 fps (FSR 3.1 Quality) |
| AMD RX 9070 | 115 fps | 88 fps | 52 fps | 95 fps (FSR 3.1 Quality) |
| AMD RX 7800 XT | 89 fps | 68 fps | 39 fps | 72 fps (FSR 3.1 Quality) |
| Intel Arc B770 | 76 fps | 58 fps | 33 fps | 64 fps (XeSS 2.1 Quality) |
| Intel Arc B580 | 58 fps | 44 fps | 25 fps | 49 fps (XeSS 2.1 Quality) |
| NVIDIA RTX 3060 | 49 fps | 36 fps | 21 fps | 42 fps (DLSS 4 Quality) |
Sweet spot GPUs for 1440p/60 (the recommended spec):
- NVIDIA: RTX 4070 / RTX 5070
- AMD: RX 7800 XT / RX 9070
- Intel: Arc B770 (with XeSS)
Sweet spot for 4K/60 with upscaling:
- NVIDIA: RTX 4070 Ti Super (FSR Quality) / RTX 5070 Ti (DLSS Quality)
- AMD: RX 9070 XT (FSR Quality)
Notes:
- Ray tracing ON adds ~22-28% perf cost
- Path tracing (full RT) adds ~45-55% perf cost — only viable on RTX 5080+ at 4K with DLSS
- Frame generation adds 50-100% perceived smoothness with ~6-10ms latency cost
Cost-per-frame analysis — which GPU is the best value?
Cost-per-frame at 1440p High (USD per fps, lower is better):
| GPU | Price (MSRP Sep 2026) | 1440p fps | Cost per fps | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Arc B580 | $249 | 44 | $5.66 | Best budget (1080p) |
| AMD RX 7800 XT | $499 | 68 | $7.34 | Best value 1440p |
| Intel Arc B770 | $349 | 58 | $6.02 | Best mid-range Intel |
| NVIDIA RTX 4070 | $549 | 70 | $7.84 | Solid but not best |
| AMD RX 9070 | $549 | 88 | $6.24 | Best AMD value |
| NVIDIA RTX 5070 | $549 | 92 | $5.97 | Best NVIDIA value |
| AMD RX 9070 XT | $599 | 101 | $5.93 | Best AMD overall |
| NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti | $749 | 105 | $7.13 | Good 4K value |
| NVIDIA RTX 5080 | $999 | 121 | $8.26 | Premium tier |
| NVIDIA RTX 5090 | $1,999 | 142 | $14.08 | Flagship — luxury |
Best $/fps picks:
- Budget (1080p/60): Intel Arc B580 ($5.66/fps) — 49 fps at 4K with XeSS upscaling
- Mid-range (1440p/60-100): AMD RX 9070 ($6.24/fps) — 88 fps at 1440p native
- High-end (4K/60+): NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti ($7.13/fps) — 121 fps at 4K with DLSS Quality
- Skip: RTX 5090 ($14.08/fps) — twice the cost per frame of the 5070 for ~40% more performance
How does Control Resonant compare to other 2026 shooters?
Control Resonant is the best PC port of 2026, but it's not the most ambitious shooter. Comparison:
| Game | Metacritic | Campaign length | PC port quality | RT support | Best on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Resonant | 89 (PC) / 87 (PS5) | 22h + 40h roguelite | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Full RT + path tracing | PC (4K/120) |
| Doom: The Dark Ages | 92 | 18h | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | RT only | PS5 Pro / RTX 5080 |
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | 94 | 35h | ⭐⭐⭐ | None | Switch 2 / Steam Deck |
| Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl | 85 | 60h | ⭐⭐ (poor launch) | Partial | RTX 5080+ |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 88 | 25h | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | RT + frame gen | RTX 5070 Ti |
| The Alters | 87 | 28h | ⭐⭐⭐ | None | Steam Deck / PS5 |
Control Resonant vs Alan Wake 2 (also Remedy, also on Northlight engine): AW2 was the technical showcase of 2023. Control Resonant builds on it with native ultrawide, full multi-vendor upscaling, and 40-hour Ascent Mode. AW2 fans will love Resonant.
Control Resonant vs Returnal (PC port, roguelite shooter): Returnal on PC was PS Studios' best port in 2023. Control Resonant's Ascent Mode is the more ambitious roguelite, and the campaign is more narrative-driven.
What about console performance?
Console parity on PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X — both hit 4K/60 in Quality mode. Comparison:
| Console | Resolution | Frame rate | RT | Quality mode | Performance mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 Pro | 4K (checkerboard) | 60 fps | Partial RT | 4K/60 + RT | 1440p/120 + RT |
| PS5 | 4K (checkerboard) | 60 fps | Partial RT | 4K/60 + RT | 1440p/120 (no RT) |
| Xbox Series X | 4K (checkerboard) | 60 fps | Partial RT | 4K/60 + RT | 1440p/120 + RT |
| Xbox Series S | 1440p | 60 fps | No RT | 1440p/60 (no RT) | 1080p/120 (no RT) |
| Switch 2 (cloud version) | 1080p (cloud) | 60 fps | No RT | Cloud only | Cloud only |
Best console experience: PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X — full RT at 4K/60. PS5 (base) and Xbox Series X are visually identical to PS5 Pro in Quality mode but lose some RT features (variable rate shading).
Xbox Series S caveat: 1440p/60 no RT is the only option. Playable but loses the "next-gen" RT highlights that make the game shine.
No native Switch 2 port: only cloud streaming (1080p/60), requires stable 50+ Mbps internet.
Related articles
Picked from articles covering the same devices and topics.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 first impressions: 36hr battery, satellite SOS, brighter display
Apple Watch Ultra 4 first impressions after 48 hours: 36-hour real battery, satellite SOS works in remote areas, 3,000 nits display, satellite texting $4.99/mo. Verdict vs Ultra 3.
iPhone Duo limitations: 9 things Apple didn't tell you at the keynote
iPhone Duo foldable limitations: no telephoto, 5.5" 60Hz cover, no stylus, no under-display Face ID on cover, no variable aperture, Spring 2027 delay. 9 honest trade-offs Sept 9 confirmed.
iPhone Duo specs: 5.4" cover + 7.6" inner, 44h/31h battery, $1,999 (Oct 23)
iPhone Duo specs (Apple's first foldable, $1,999, ships Oct 23, 2026): 5.4" cover + 7.6" inner display, 44h outer / 31h inner video, A20 Pro, 2 colors (Night Sky + Star White). Touch ID, IP68.
Sources
(4 references)- [1]Remedy Entertainment — Control Resonant launch trailer (Sept 16 2026)(2026-09-16)↩
- [2]Digital Foundry — Control Resonant PC tech review (Sept 17 2026)(2026-09-17)↩
- [3]IGN — Control Resonant review (9/10)(2026-09-17)↩
- [4]PC Gamer — Control Resonant benchmarks across 12 GPUs(2026-09-18)↩