Control Resonant's PS5-exclusive early access is frustrating Xbox and PC players

Remedy Entertainment announced Control Resonant for September 24, but the launch news got immediately overshadowed by a controversy. The Digital Deluxe Edition comes with 48 hours of early access — but only on PS5. Xbox and PC players buying the same premium edition get nothing extra, because the early access is tied to PlayStation's marketing deal for the game.

Fans pushed back hard. "Great, now I know what September game to skip until holiday sales," wrote one. Another drew a clear line: platform-exclusive content is one thing, but selling the same Deluxe Edition on every platform while locking early access to one is something else entirely. Several players said they'd hold off on pre-ordering or skip the launch window altogether. The broader early access model already draws criticism as a way to monetize FOMO around a game's actual release date — adding platform exclusivity on top of that has pushed some fans past their tolerance.

The timing makes things worse. Control Resonant launches the same day as Silent Hill: Townfall, and at least one fan said the early access situation made Townfall the obvious pick for September 24. The month is already stacked with major releases, as publishers are rushing titles out before GTA 6 takes over in the fall. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 lands in October, which is standard for that franchise and one of the few series that can survive launching near GTA 6 without serious damage.

Remedy's new CEO Jean-Charles Gaudechon recently admitted that Alan Wake 2 and Control underperformed commercially and said he's actively looking to grow the audience for both franchises. Whether a move that's already alienating a chunk of the existing fanbase helps or hurts that goal is the real question heading into September.