Control Resonant PS5 Performance Review Points to Frame Rate Drops, Image Quality Issues, and PS5 Pro Gains
Remedy Entertainment appears to be taking a much bigger swing with Control Resonant, shifting away from the tightly controlled, enclosed spaces that defined the original Control and moving into a more open Manhattan setting. This time, Dylan Faden explores wider urban environments with more freedom, larger draw distances, and more complex scenes. That ambition sounds exciting, but early PS5 performance findings suggest the Northlight engine may be under pressure with the game’s expanded open-world design.
On the standard PlayStation 5, Control Resonant offers two main visual options: performance mode and quality mode. Performance mode targets 60 frames per second, which should be the ideal way to play for anyone who values smoother combat and faster traversal. However, the game reportedly renders at a native 864p before being upscaled to 1440p using FSR technology. The result is playable, but not always clean.
Image clarity seems to be one of the biggest concerns. Shimmering on objects, visible artifacts, and softer details can make the presentation look less polished than expected, especially in larger outdoor areas. The broader Manhattan environments also appear to expose limitations in shadow quality and distant detail, making some scenes feel less stable visually.
Frame rate performance in Control Resonant’s PS5 performance mode is generally close to the 60 fps target, but it is not flawless. Fast movement through the city can trigger traversal stutters, and combat-heavy moments place additional strain on the system. One early boss encounter involving melee attacks reportedly causes noticeable frame rate drops, showing that the game still needs optimization before or after release.
Quality mode improves the overall image considerably. On the base PS5, this mode upscales from 1260p to 4K, delivering a sharper and more detailed picture. Shadows and reflections look better than in performance mode, giving the game a more cinematic appearance. However, ray tracing is absent on the standard console, and the trade-off is a 30 fps target. Even then, demanding moments can push performance into the 20 fps range, particularly during intense boss fights.
The PS5 Pro version appears to offer a more convincing experience. In performance mode, Control Resonant still uses a native 864p base resolution, but it upscales to 2160p with help from PSSR. This reportedly produces a much cleaner image than the base PS5 version while also maintaining a steadier 60 fps during action sequences and paranormal encounters.
Quality mode on PS5 Pro brings additional visual benefits. Running at a native 1224p with a 30 fps target, this mode introduces ray-traced reflections and shadows. These upgrades help scenes look more grounded and atmospheric, with sharper shadow definition and improved lighting details. For players who care most about visual fidelity, the PS5 Pro version seems to offer a noticeable step up.
There is also a balanced mode on PS5 Pro for players using 120 Hz displays. This option targets 40 fps at 1080p while keeping ray tracing effects enabled. In theory, it offers a middle ground between smoothness and visual quality. However, early impressions suggest its frame rate is less consistent than the other modes, which may make it less appealing for players who prefer stable performance.
The bigger question is whether Remedy’s Northlight engine is fully suited to this new direction. The studio has delivered visually striking games in the past, but larger environments and open-world structures bring different technical demands. Alan Wake 2 also faced performance and optimization challenges, and Control Resonant may be dealing with similar growing pains.
There is still room for improvement. Post-launch patches could help stabilize frame rates, reduce stutter, improve upscaling quality, and refine overall image clarity. Remedy has a history of supporting its games after release, so players may see meaningful updates over time.
For now, Control Resonant looks like an ambitious sequel with impressive ideas, but its PS5 performance may depend heavily on which console and graphics mode players choose. The base PS5 version appears playable but compromised, especially in image quality and demanding combat scenes. The PS5 Pro version delivers stronger results, with cleaner upscaling, better frame rates, and ray tracing support that gives the game’s supernatural Manhattan setting more visual impact.
