Control was a critical darling when it released in 2019. The third-person action game developed by Max Payne creators Remedy Entertainment garnered mostly positive reviews. However, the game wasn't a commercial juggernaut, given that it had to compete with Gears of War and Borderlands sequels during its launch window.
It's possible that many gamers have only heard of Control because of its infamous next-gen update strategy. That negative association (and performance issues on older hardware at launch) may have turned off potential buyers. But now, the good news for anyone curious about the game is that it's probably already in their collection -- or could be very soon.
Control is an original action game starring a female protagonist, Jesse Faden. It features two things in Remedy's wheelhouse: third-person action and an eerie setting, which evokes classics like The X-Files and the work of David Lynch. It could, uncharitably, be called Quantum Break done right.
Control will be available as part of Humble Choice's March lineup to subscribers. It's one of two high-profile AAA games in the March bundle, with XCOM: Chimera Squad, a spin-off of Firaxis's popular strategy game series, also available. Humble Choice subscriptions are usually $20, but are currently marked down to $12 for new subscribers. One advantage that Humble offers over other services is that customers get to keep the games they download, even if they cancel their subscriptions.
However, Humble Choice isn't the only service offering gamers access to Control. Xbox Game Pass subscribers have been able to play Control on PC since January 21, while Console and Android Game Pass subscribers have had access to it since December 3.
Game Pass is an essential investment for Xbox owners, but it is worth noting that games come and go frequently. If a game like Control draws your interest, it's a good idea to download and start playing it as soon as possible. Microsoft isn't great about giving players advance warning that titles are leaving the service, with official notices that titles are leaving soon only going up two weeks in advance.
Not to be outdone, PlayStation Plus subscribers gained access to the PlayStation 4 edition of Control as part of February's line-up of free games. On top of that, they get the game's Ultimate Edition, which is the only version of the game that gets a free next-gen upgrade, a policy that stands in sharp contrast with other major games. Ultimate Edition lives up to its name, including the game's two DLC expansions, AWE and The Foundation.
Ultimate Edition is the complete version of the game, but it's worth noting the PS4 version does suffer from performance issues. It's technically inferior to the PC version, but it does include all of Control's DLC at no extra charge. However, the next-gen upgrade for PlayStation 5 users does level the playing field considerably for those who have been lucky enough to obtain the new system.
The game is available, along with PlayStation 5 exclusive Destruction AllStars and PS4 game Concrete Genie, until March 1. New subscribers need to sign up for a PS Plus subscription before then and claim the games before they're replaced by March's (currently unannounced) selections.
As gaming continues to move towards a digital future, subscription services are becoming indispensable. There are certainly negatives to a potential all-digital future, but it's undeniable that players have a wider variety of games at their fingertips (and for a more reasonable price) than in the days when physical disks and cartridges were the only option.
Services like Game Pass and PS Plus don't let you own games, but they do provide access, serving a similar function to what Netflix does for TV and movies, complete with exclusive content. For older gamers, subscription services are akin to a Blockbuster Video membership, but with a better selection than Millennials and Gen-Xers were able to take advantage of back in the day. For players who missed out on games like Control and have passed it up even at sale prices, these offer a low risk way to give them a try.