Remedy Entertainment is taking "Control Resonant" in a new direction. The upcoming sequel to 2019's Control will introduce a new protagonist, a new setting, and an expanded combat system. However, one of the most significant changes could be the game's overall length.
According to Remedy, players may spend considerably more time exploring the sequel than they did in the original. With a longer main story and substantially more optional content, "Control Resonant" could become the most expansive entry in the franchise yet.
'Control Resonant' Main Story Could Take Around 30 Hours
In a recent TechRadar interview, Lead gameplay designer Sergey Mohov said that Control Resonant will take approximately 30 hours to complete for the "core experience."
That would represent a significant increase over the original Control, whose main story typically takes around 12 hours to finish. The difference becomes even more noticeable for players who want to experience everything the sequel has to offer.
According to estimates from HowLongToBeat, a completionist playthrough of the original "Control" generally takes less than 30 hours.
By comparison, Mohov expects a completionist run of "Control Resonant" to take roughly 50 hours. A much more interactive setting awaits all the willing players.
A Much Larger Setting Awaits in New York City
The expanded playtime could be closely connected to the game's new environment. The original "Control" takes place primarily inside the mysterious Oldest House, a massive and constantly shifting location controlled by the Federal Bureau of Control.
Although the building provided players with a wide range of environments to explore, its setting remained relatively contained. The strange architecture, hidden areas, and supernatural phenomena created a sense of scale without requiring a traditional open-world design.
According to Polygon, "Control Resonant" is taking a different approach by moving the action into New York City.
Instead of offering a massive open world, Remedy has described the sequel as featuring open-ended zones. This structure is expected to give players more freedom to explore their surroundings and determine how they approach objectives.
The wider environment could also provide more opportunities for side missions, environmental discoveries, combat encounters, and optional activities.
For players who want to explore every corner of the game, the expanded setting could help explain the projected 50-hour completionist playtime.
'Control Resonant' Could Feature Remedy's Biggest Control Story
A 30-hour core experience would also suggest that "Control Resonant" could deliver a substantially larger narrative than its predecessor.
Remedy Entertainment has already shown an interest in creating lengthy, story-driven experiences. The studio's 2023 release "Alan Wake 2," for example, takes around 20 hours to complete for players primarily focused on the main story, despite its more structured and linear design.
With "Control Resonant", Remedy appears to be expanding that formula even further.
Elsewhere, former BioWare producer Mark Darrah said that the "Dragon Age" remastered trilogy might not get into development.
