It was always the plan to make a Dylan-focused game, says Control Resonant art director, but creating a 'high level' world came first — 'We create the world, and then there are opportunities to have these different lenses into it, or different stories'

1. Gaming

It was always the plan to make a Dylan-focused game, says Control Resonant art director, but creating a 'high level' world came first — 'We create the world, and then there are opportunities to have these different lenses into it, or different stories' News By Demi Williams Contributions from Rob Dwiar published 5 June 2026

Building Control's world allowed Remedy to create more "organic characters"

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Remedy Entertainment)

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Reddit
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Threads
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter

• Control Resonant art director Elmeri Raitanen confirms it was always the plan to make a game starring Dylan next
• Raitanen explains that creating the world of Control was the priority
• This allowed the team to create more "organic characters"

Remedy Entertainment has confirmed that it was always the plan to make a Control game starring Dylan.

That's according to Control Resonant art director Elmeri Raitanen, who told TechRadar Gaming in an interview at a preview event just before this year's Summer Game Fest that a game starring Dylan as the playable protagonist was a concept the studio always had in mind.

However, Raitanen said building Control's "high level" world came first and foremost, even when making the first game starring Dylan's sister Jesse, because it allowed for more creative opportunities.

Latest Videos FromWatch full video here:

"The high-level idea in building the world of Control, and the Control franchise, of course, is that we want to be like 'world first', as I think it creates more organic characters," Raitanen explained.

"So we create the world, and then there are opportunities to have these different lenses into it, or different stories. So, the first one was Control [which] was Jesse's angle into it, and now we're looking at the other side of the fate and coin, so to speak, so Dylan's point of view."

You may like

• Remedy says Control Resonant's shapeshifting weapon was conceptualized for the first game when it considered enabling Jesse's gun to turn into a sword — 'We really needed to make sure that this is something that works and is fun on a very visceral level'
• 'When you look at horror franchises or movies or games, the sci-fi space is huge' — Directive 8020 executive producer says the simple reason for the game's space setting was because it's 'just fun'
• 'We know exactly where we are going and exactly what we want to do' — The Division 3 senior producer suggests fans shouldn't worry about the departure of the game's executive producer, confirming its roadmap has been 'planned and secured for some time'

He stressed, "It has always been the high-level plan of Control as a world, [and how] we approach these things."

Lead level designer Anne-Marie Grönroos also added that there is a "symmetry" between the two games, explaining that Jesse is an outsider who steps inside the Oldest House in the first game, whereas in Resonant, Dylan is the one who leaves and experiences Manhattan for the first time as an adult, and it's someplace "he doesn't belong."

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

"Then things that are mundane to us and actually strange to him," Grönroos said.

Control Resonant launches on September 24 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

Remedy has previously confirmed that while Jesse will appear alongside her brother in the sequel, she won't be playable.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

The best gaming consolesAll the best consoles of this generation

➡️ Read our full guide to the best gaming consoles1. Best overall:PlayStation 5 Slim2. Best budget:Xbox Series S3. Best handheld:Nintendo Switch 24. Most powerful:PlayStation 5 Pro

Demi WilliamsContributor

Demi is a freelance games journalist who helps cover gaming news at TechRadar. She's been a games writer for five years and has written for outlets such as GameSpot, NME, and GamesRadar, covering news, features, and reviews. Outside of writing, she plays a lot of RPGs and talks far too much about Star Wars on X.

With contributions from

• Rob DwiarManaging Editor, TechRadar Gaming and Streaming

View More

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Gaming Remedy says Control Resonant's shapeshifting weapon was conceptualized for the first game when it considered enabling Jesse's gun to turn into a sword — 'We really needed to make sure that this is something that works and is fun on a very visceral level'    Gaming 'When you look at horror franchises or movies or games, the sci-fi space is huge' — Directive 8020 executive producer says the simple reason for the game's space setting was because it's 'just fun'    Gaming 'We know exactly where we are going and exactly what we want to do' — The Division 3 senior producer suggests fans shouldn't worry about the departure of the game's executive producer, confirming its roadmap has been 'planned and secured for some time'    Mobile Gaming The Division Resurgence developer says they're 'very satisfied with the touch controls' of the 'more tactical' game    Gaming Directive 8020 executive producer says the Turning Points system was added for players who 'want to keep everyone alive' but also for 'a big percentage of our hardcore fans' that will replay the game to get all endings    Gaming Why space was the perfect setting for the long-awaited new horror game, Directive 8020    Latest in Gaming Gaming This year's PC Gaming Show will provide looks at more than 50 games and also feature a behind-the-scenes look at one of my most anticipated games of the year — here's how to tune in    Gaming Mark Rosewater has made me excited for Magic's next Universes Beyond set    Gaming One of my all-time favourite JRPGs has been announced for the Xbox Game Pass lineup for June ahead of the Xbox Games Showcase    Gaming 'Nintendo products are fully compliant with these requirements' — A new Nintendo Switch 2 model featuring a removable battery will be released in the EU soon to meet regulations    Gaming Industry The Future Game Show Summer Showcase airs tomorrow and will offer an extended look at Exodus, plus new trailers and big game announcements — here's when you can tune in    Gaming Remedy says Control Resonant's shapeshifting weapon was conceptualized for the first game when it considered enabling Jesse's gun to turn into a sword — 'We really needed to make sure that this is something that works and is fun on a very visceral level'    Latest in News Gaming This year's PC Gaming Show will provide looks at more than 50 games and also feature a behind-the-scenes look at one of my most anticipated games of the year — here's how to tune in    Gaming Mark Rosewater has made me excited for Magic's next Universes Beyond set    VPN Privacy & Security Russian Roskomnadzor accused of launching active DDoS attacks on VPN services — here's what we know so far    Gaming One of my all-time favourite JRPGs has been announced for the Xbox Game Pass lineup for June ahead of the Xbox Games Showcase    Pro ‘This is a fundamental shift in how we prepare for pandemics’: Researchers used AI and known genetic codes to develop a ‘fundamentally new’ vaccine that ‘could help speed up the roll out vaccines to benefit people all over the world’    Computing Components If you own a Creative Katana V2X speaker, there's something you must know    LATEST ARTICLES

1. 1It was always the plan to make a Dylan-focused game, says Control Resonant art director, but creating a 'high level' world came first — 'We create the world, and then there are opportunities to have these different lenses into it, or different stories'
2. 2Remedy says Control Resonant's shapeshifting weapon was conceptualized for the first game when it considered enabling Jesse's gun to turn into a sword — 'We really needed to make sure that this is something that works and is fun on a very visceral level'
3. 3Inside the "disappearing battery" revolution — how forest-powered supercapacitors could keep wireless sensors running for years
4. 4Ex-Google CEO is key to Ukraine's most formidable drone weapon to date - $5000 Hornet can carry 5Kg of explosives on a 200Km, one-way trip
5. 5I just watched a robot kick a child and I'm over it — let's keep robots away from people until these bots are 100% safe