Remedy Entertainment has officially lifted the review embargo for Control Resonant, the highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed action RPG. Powered by the studio’s proprietary Northlight Engine, the title represents a significant leap in visual fidelity, particularly with its support for advanced lighting technologies. For PC gamers, the critical question is not just how the game looks, but how it performs across a wide spectrum of hardware. This analysis examines the real-world performance of Control Resonant, focusing on GPU bottlenecks, the impact of Path Tracing, and the transformative role of AI-driven upscaling technologies like DLSS 4.5.
Test System and Hardware Configuration
To provide a comprehensive overview, benchmarks were conducted using a high-end configuration featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor paired with 32GB of DDR5 RAM running at 6000MHz. The testing suite included a diverse range of graphics cards to cover current and previous generations. On the AMD side, the Radeon RX 6900 XT, RX 7900 XTX, and the newer RX 9070 XT were evaluated. For NVIDIA, the lineup included the RTX 2080 Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and the flagship RTX 5090. All tests were performed on Windows 10 64-bit using the latest available drivers: GeForce 616.92 and Radeon Adrenalin Edition 26.9.1.
It is important to note that Control Resonant does not include a built-in benchmark tool. Therefore, performance data was gathered from a demanding open-world area, which proved more intensive than the prologue sequence inside the Bureau. This choice ensures that the results reflect the sustained performance players will experience throughout the majority of the game.
GPU-Bound Performance at Rasterized Settings
Control Resonant is distinctly a GPU-bound title. Even at 1080p resolution with Ultra settings and without Ray Tracing or Path Tracing, the most powerful GPUs in the test suite were pushed to their limits. This indicates that for owners of modern CPUs, the graphics card will be the primary bottleneck rather than the processor.
At 1080p, most tested GPUs achieved over 60 FPS on Ultra settings. Notably, even the older NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti provided a smooth experience, provided it was paired with a G-Sync monitor to manage frame pacing. Moving to 1440p, the performance gap widened. At this resolution, only the top five GPUs in the test group maintained a stable 60+ FPS frame rate on Ultra settings without advanced lighting features.
Native 4K performance is significantly more demanding. Without upscaling, only the NVIDIA RTX 5090 was capable of delivering a smooth gaming experience at 4K/Ultra. For other cards, native 4K is impractical without the aid of AI upscalers.
The Impact of Path Tracing and AI Upscaling
The most visually impressive feature of Control Resonant is its support for Path Tracing. While the game also supports standard Ray Tracing, Path Tracing offers superior reflections, shadows, and lighting, making environments appear significantly more realistic. However, this fidelity comes at a steep performance cost. At Native 4K/Ultra, the NVIDIA RTX 5080 dropped to just 20–22 FPS when Path Tracing was enabled, effectively halving the frame rate compared to rasterized rendering.
This is where AI technology becomes essential. The implementation of NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution (SR) provides a massive performance boost. With DLSS 4.5 set to Performance mode at 4K/Ultra, the RTX 5080 achieved a playable 52–57 FPS. This dramatic improvement is one of the most significant boosts observed in recent titles, making high-fidelity Path Tracing accessible to a broader audience.
I’ve never seen this kind of performance boost in any other game. I’ve double- and triple-checked these results. They are legit.
Furthermore, the game supports DLSS 4.5 Multi-Frame Generation. Because the base frame rate exceeds 45 FPS when using SR, frame generation can be utilized without introducing major input lag. The implementation is notably stable, with minimal visual artifacts even during fast camera movements, a common issue in other titles like Alan Wake 2.
Visual Fidelity and Character Rendering
Visually, the environments in Control Resonant are exceptional, featuring high levels of detail that align with expectations for a modern path-traced title. However, there is a notable discrepancy in character rendering. The main protagonist, Dylan, appears significantly less detailed than the environments, with facial features and hair quality that lag behind the graphical fidelity of the first Control game. This inconsistency is the primary visual criticism of the title, though it does not detract from the overall environmental beauty.
Conclusion
Control Resonant runs excellently on PC, provided players are willing to utilize upscaling technologies. Without Ray Tracing or Path Tracing, the game is accessible to a wide range of GPUs, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, DLSS 4.5 is virtually mandatory for a smooth experience. With Path Tracing enabled, the game looks stunning, offering some of the best lighting visuals in the current generation. While the protagonist’s visual design is a step back, the overall technical performance and stability are impressive, with no major stuttering issues reported during testing. For PC gamers, this title showcases the power of AI-driven rendering to make next-gen lighting features viable on current hardware.