Control 2 is set to continue Remedy Entertainment's quickly growing connected universe. The mind-bending world that Remedy has crafted through the years is a bold form of storytelling, interweaving the Control and Alan Wake universes into one overarching narrative. From the goofy to the horrifying, Remedy's extended universe has balanced an exciting blend of genres, and Control 2 is bound to have plenty of surprises in store, as well.
Alan Wake 2 was one of the most blatant crossovers of the two series yet. The Federal Bureau of Control played a significant role in the base game, while Control protagonist Jesse Faden is featured in the Night Springs DLC. Seeing the two worlds become even more intertwined was thrilling, but Alan Wake 2 has faced one controversial decision that Control 2 already feels bound to avoid. Despite the two series being so connected, Alan Wake 2 remains an Epic Games exclusive on PC, keeping it from ever coming to Steam. However, Control 2 feels bound to not have this problem.
Control 2's Genre Shift May Be a Risk Worth Taking After Alan Wake 2
Control 2 is reportedly shifting genres a little from the first entry, and after Alan Wake 2's financial reports, that might be a risk worth taking.
Control 2 Having a Wider Reach in Audience Feels Inevitable
Alan Wake 2's Epic Games Exclusivity May Have Hurt It in the Long Run
Since Alan Wake 2 was published by Epic Games, it only makes sense for it to remain an exclusive, but it also hinders the game's overall reach with PC players. This was a controversial decision, but Control 2 having a different publisher than Alan Wake 2 could be a promising sign for the former's launch. With the stories of the Control and Alan Wake series becoming more connected with each chapter, keeping the latter from a Steam release can be frustrating for some. However, Control 2 is likely to have a much larger reach.
As of November 2024, Alan Wake 2 has still not turned a profit. Its Epic Games exclusivity could unfortunately be keeping the title from making back its development costs, since it can't reach a larger PC player-base.
Control 2's Publisher is a Promising Sign
Just as its predecessor was, Control 2 is once again being published by 505 Games. Of course, it's important to note that Remedy has yet to confirm that the game will also be available on Steam. However, it feels like a given, considering that the first Control was made available on the platform with 505 Games as the publisher.
At this point, a Steam release is to be expected, and that bodes well for Control 2 and its sales. Alan Wake 2 has been one of Remedy's best-rated games yet, but being kept out of the Steam ecosystem has likely not been helpful for the title. Control 2 being given a bigger stage than its predecessor will likely only serve as a huge benefit to the highly-anticipated sequel.
Control 2 having a different publisher than Alan Wake 2 could be a promising sign for the former's launch.
Control's Lore is About to Expand Even Further
Although the Alan Wake series kickstarted what is now Remedy's connected universe, Control sits at the center of the overarching story. Control remains the heart of this universe's lore, and Remedy's eagerness to dive deeper is exciting. The next project scheduled by the developer is FBC: Firebeak, a multiplayer spin-off of Control. Although the co-op title doesn't serve as a mainline game, the teased presence of Jesse Faden promises some compelling lore expansion on the horizon.
FBC: Firebreak will be Remedy's first self-published title.
As the wait for FBC: Firebreak continues, Control 2 will hopefully be the next Remedy title set for launch. There still may be a bit of a wait for questions about Control 2 to be answered, but its place on more platforms than Alan Wake 2 is likely locked in. Only time will tell, of course, but it would be surprising if Control 2 sidestepped Steam.
Control
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
- Released
- August 27, 2019
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- 505 Games
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Third-Person Shooter, Supernatural
