Remedy Entertainment is not quitting Control Resonant. The studio behind Alan Wake and Max Payne has laid out its plan for the months ahead, and it includes a new photo mode, more outfits for Dylan Faden, and a New Game Plus Plus loop that lets you do 665 runs if you want.
The post-launch roadmap was detailed in a blog post by Remedy. The studio said it was responding directly to player comments and feedback. The headline line comes from the studio’s own announcement: “Do 665 runs if you want!” That is not a typo. It is double the pluses.
Run Numbers
Control Resonant’s current New Game Plus mode lets players keep most of Dylan Faden’s paranatural upgrades in a fresh playthrough. The exception is traversal abilities, which would likely lead to messy sequence breaks.
Remedy’s update will add a second New Game Plus layer, running after the first. The studio wrote: “We’re preparing an update that will add… wait for it… New Game++, which means you can start NG+ run after NG+ run, without needing to erase all your progress.”
The key detail is that players will not need to erase their progress between runs. That is a meaningful change for anyone who wants to push through the game again without starting from scratch.
Timeline
New Game Plus Plus is set to arrive sometime in October. The photo mode, meanwhile, is scheduled for November.
Remedy has been working on the photo mode for a while. The studio said it has consulted “real-life virtual photographers” in building the feature, though it did not name them.
Outfits for Dylan Faden
Remedy also confirmed it is working on more cosmetics for Dylan. The studio said it has seen some “eclectic outfit combinations” from players, and it responded with a promise of more pieces.
“You can look forward to more cosmetic pieces for our favorite former coma patient/prisoner/fashion icon in future updates,” Remedy said. The studio did not put out a release window for those updates, so players treating Resonant like a dress-up sim will have to wait and see.
The outfit promise is a light touch, but it is a real one. Remedy is clearly paying attention to how players are customizing Dylan, and it wants to give them more options.
What the Photo Mode Will Do
Remedy did not say exactly what the photo mode will include, but the promise of consulting real-life virtual photographers suggests it will go beyond basic screenshot tools. The studio has not detailed the features yet, so players will have to wait for the November update to see exactly what they get.
The photo mode is a natural fit for a game that already looks this good. Manhattan’s lopsided buildings and the game’s paranatural settings offer plenty of visual interest for anyone who wants to capture a screenshot.
The Review’s Take on Control Resonant
Eurogamer’s review of the game was less enthusiastic. The review said it is “a more action-RPG oriented follow-up to Control, but in leaving the Oldest House it also leaves behind some of what gave the original its magic.”
That is a fair reading. Control Resonant is an action-RPG, and it has a different setting than the original Control. The review suggests that the shift has cost the game something in character.
What This Means for Players
The New Game Plus Plus loop is the headline feature. If you want to grind through Control Resonant again and again, you can. The photo mode is a quality-of-life improvement. It will let players capture the game’s visuals in a way that screenshot tools do not. The cosmetics are a minor but welcome addition. Dylan Faden is a fashion icon, and players have been dressing him up in creative ways.
The Verdict on the Roadmap
Remedy is not quitting Control Resonant. The post-launch roadmap shows a studio that is paying attention to its players and willing to keep the game alive.
The New Game Plus Plus loop is the most interesting feature. It gives players a reason to keep playing. The photo mode is a welcome addition. The cosmetics are a minor but pleasant touch.
The Eurogamer review is a fair warning. The game has a different feel than the original Control. It is a more action-RPG oriented follow-up, and it has left behind some of what gave the original its magic.
Control Resonant is out now on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S. The post-launch plan is a reminder that the game is still evolving.
The ‘Do 665 runs if you want!’ line is a delightfully absurd way to sell a loop. It is a joke that Remedy is making.
The photo mode is a much-needed addition. The cosmetics are a minor but pleasant touch. The New Game Plus Plus loop is the headline feature.
Key Facts
- New Game Plus Plus: Coming sometime in October
- Photo Mode: Scheduled for November
- More Dylan Faden cosmetics: No release window given
The Three Updates
- New Game Plus Plus
- Photo Mode
- More Dylan Faden cosmetics
The blog post was posted today, and the details are already being discussed online. Players who have finished the campaign will have something to look forward to in the coming months, even if the exact timing of New Game Plus Plus is still open.
Source material: “Control Resonant's post-launch plan includes a Photo Mode and New Game Plus Plus coming next month: "Do 665 runs if you want!",” Eurogamer.
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