Remedy's Control launched last year on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC to positive reviews. It went on to receive multiple Game of the Year awards from IGN, Game Informer and EGM, as well as eight nominations and one win for Best Art Direction at The Game Awards. However, despite all of this praise, Control was far from a mega-hit, and became one of the best games of 2019 that few people played.
In a recent financial report from Remedy, the developer implied that Control could get a second release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. If this is true, it could open the game up to a wider audience. It's likely there are many players who simply missed out on Control amidst the slew of late-summer and early-fall releases, and these people might be willing to give this critically acclaimed game a try.
With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X both currently slated for a Holiday 2020 release, the current console generation is coming to a close. If there's anything that can be learned from the end of the previous cycle, it's that this period is when some of the highest quality and best-selling games of the next generation will see their release.
When the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were nearing launch, their predecessors saw such titles as Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of Us and Tomb Raider. Not only were these games a big hit upon their initial launch, but their subsequent re-releases on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were great successes as well. Grand Theft Auto V is the prime example. Despite launching on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, GTA V has become one the top-selling game of the current generation. While Control may not have that kind of success if it launches on upcoming systems, it could still easily find a second life.
Although Sony has kept PlayStation 5 details pretty sparse, Microsoft has been somewhat more open about the Xbox Series X. Players can expect a high-power system with plenty of games to play, but exclusive titles won't be coming for quite some time. Instead, the Xbox family of systems will focus on games that can be played across the entire lineup. This is good news for Xbox One owners who are looking to get more of their money's worth over the next couple of years. However, this could be bad news for fans hoping for new exclusive games to justify a launch window purchase.
What this could mean for Control is an early release on the Xbox Series X. If Microsoft wants to launch their console alongside new and old titles that will motivate early adopters, then a well-reviewed but underplayed game like Control would be a perfect fit. Additionally, Control is a technically impressive game. It uses physics-based combat and environmental effects to establish a unique atmosphere. The graphical and performance capabilities of the Series X will likely be a major improvement on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. This makes it all the more fitting to put an improved and definitive port of Control onto the system. While not much is known about the PlayStation 5, it's likely the same will be true for it as well.
Current Control players and those curious about the game still have new content to look forward to. The first of two paid expansions called The Foundation will be released on March 26, with the second coming later this year. If Remedy chooses to follow the model set by games like Tomb Raider and Dishonored, then it's possible that Control will receive a remastered definitive edition for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. This will allow players to not only experience the game if they missed it in 2019, but also enjoy all of its upcoming DLC in one package.