Control Resonant Ditches the Parry — Remedy Says Offense Is the Best Defense
Remedy Entertainment has confirmed that its upcoming action-adventure Control Resonant will not include a parry or deflect system, breaking from a mechanic that has become a staple of modern action games. Game director Mikael Kasurinen told IGN that the studio prototyped a parry during development but cut it after testing showed it slowed the pace — players would stop attacking and wait for enemies to strike so they could counter. "Offense is the best defense" is how Remedy described the resulting combat philosophy to GameSpot, a stance the studio says also extends to omitting a deflect system, a related mechanic where a player redirects incoming projectiles rather than blocking them head-on.
In place of reactive defence, players wield the Aberrant — a weapon that can deliver quick dual-blade strikes or transform into a large hammer to smash through enemy fortifications. The idea, Remedy says, is to keep players pressing forward rather than waiting their turn.
Kasurinen, who directed both the original 2019 Control and its sequel, told IGN that treating Control Resonant as a role-playing game experience — not just a linear action title — was important to him from the outset. IGN published the comments as part of its IGN First coverage on 11 August 2026.
Control Resonant is set in a warped Manhattan on the brink of what Remedy calls "paranatural annihilation," and the studio describes it as its most expansive game to date. It launches on 24 September 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, and Mac via Steam. GeForce NOW cloud streaming support will be available at launch, Remedy confirmed in June.
Players who want in early can preorder the US$70 digital deluxe edition on PlayStation 5, which unlocks 48 hours of advance access before the worldwide release date.
For fans of the first Control — a third-person game built around a shape-shifting weapon and a government agency that studies the supernatural — the combat change signals a sequel leaning harder into aggression and momentum. Whether players will miss the parry is a question the 24 September launch will answer.
