The "Altered State" trailer is Control Resonant's final pre-launch showcase — debuted at gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, 2026, set to The Prodigy's "Omen," and the best look yet at Dylan Faden tearing through an overrun Manhattan. It confirmed the September 24 digital launch, showed off the game's fastest combat footage yet, and arrived alongside two more firsts: the only public hands-on demo before launch, and a real-world fashion collaboration.

If you're counting down the days to launch, here's everything the trailer showed, what it confirms about gameplay, and how it fits into the final month before release.

Quick Facts

| Question | Answer | |---|---| | What is it? | "Altered State" — story/gameplay trailer for Control Resonant | | When did it debut? | August 25, 2026, at gamescom Opening Night Live | | What's the music? | "Omen" by The Prodigy | | Who's the protagonist? | Dylan Faden, brother of Control (2019)'s Jesse Faden | | What does it show? | Dylan wielding the Aberrant in an overrun Manhattan | | Release date confirmed? | Yes — September 24, 2026 (digital, unchanged) | | Can I play it early? | Gamescom demo (Aug 26–30) or PS5 Digital Deluxe 48h early access |

What the "Altered State" Trailer Actually Shows

The trailer frames its story simply: Manhattan is overrun, and Dylan Faden is humanity's last hope. That's the narrow story window Remedy chose to reveal — but the footage packs in a lot of gameplay detail.

According to Remedy and PlayStation's official descriptions, the trailer highlights four pillars: fluid movement, stylish combat, powerful executions, and unpredictable encounters. If you've been following our combat systems preview, you'll recognize all of them — but the trailer shows them faster and more aggressively than any previous footage:

  • Airborne movement everywhere. Earlier hands-on coverage described Dylan's toolkit as two air dashes, a double jump, and brief levitation. The trailer leans hard into that verticality — Dylan spends as much time airborne as on the ground.
  • The Aberrant shifting forms mid-combat. The shape-shifting weapon morphs between configurations as Dylan strings combos together.
  • Executions as the centerpiece. Melee hits restore the Combat Ability resource, abilities stun enemies, and stunned enemies are open to executions — which temporarily boost melee damage. The trailer's execution shots are its most brutal moments.
  • Reality-bending environments. Altered architecture and paranatural distortions consistent with the Remedy Connected Universe — the DNA Control (2019) and Alan Wake 2 share.

For a deeper breakdown of how these systems work together — and how they differ from Jesse's ranged-heavy kit in the original Control — see our full combat systems preview.

The Trailer Didn't Change Any Release Plans

One thing the trailer didn't do: move any dates. The September 24, 2026 worldwide digital launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store was reaffirmed, not revised.

That matters because the gone gold announcement on August 18 locked the launch build — and this trailer doubles as the start of Remedy's final marketing push. If you're planning your launch week, our release date guide has the full schedule, including the PS5 Digital Deluxe 48-hour early access window starting September 22.

The First (and Only) Public Hands-On Demo

Alongside the trailer, Remedy confirmed something bigger: a playable Control Resonant demo at gamescom itself, at the Level Infinite booth in Hall 6, from August 26 through August 30, 2026.

This is the only officially confirmed pre-launch hands-on opportunity. No home demo, no beta, no playtest — the gamescom booth is it. For the full picture on demo and beta availability (and why you shouldn't trust any "beta signup" page you find online), see our demo, beta and playtest guide.

CONTROL Resonant x ZA/UM Atelier: Real-World Merch

The third announcement to land alongside the trailer: a five-piece fashion collection from ZA/UM Atelier (the studio behind Disco Elysium's art direction) inspired by the institutional wardrobe of the Federal Bureau of Control.

The collection emphasizes "utility, longevity, and thoughtful design," was on display at gamescom from August 26–30, and is available for pre-order now via ZA/UM Atelier. It's a made-to-order line, not a mass retail drop — expect premium pricing and longer fulfillment windows.

It's a small signal, but a telling one: Remedy is treating Control Resonant as a franchise-scale launch, with merch partnerships that Control (2019) never had.

What This Means for the Final Month

With the game gone gold, the marketing machine accelerating (Remedy said as much in its half-year financial report — the game is a top-3 pre-ordered PS5 title in the US, Germany, and Brazil), and the last trailer now public, the pre-launch runway is short:

| Date | Milestone | |---|---| | Aug 25 | "Altered State" trailer debut | | Aug 26–30 | Gamescom playable demo (Level Infinite, Hall 6) | | Early September | Pre-load expected to open (Xbox & PC already live) — preload guide | | September 22 | 48h early access begins — PS5 Digital Deluxe only | | September 24 | Worldwide digital launch (PS5, Xbox, PC) | | October 15 | Physical editions arrive (delayed from launch) |

Everything we know about the game — story, editions, platforms, combat — is consolidated in our everything we know so far hub.

FAQ

When did the Altered State trailer come out?

August 25, 2026, during gamescom Opening Night Live in Cologne. It was published online the same night.

What song is in the Control Resonant trailer?

"Omen" by The Prodigy. Remedy has a history of licensing iconic tracks for trailers — Control (2019)'s launch marketing used a similar approach.

Does the trailer show new story details?

The core story frame — Manhattan overrun, Dylan as humanity's last hope — is confirmed. Beyond that, Remedy kept story specifics close to the chest. For everything narrative-related, see our story recap.

Will there be another trailer before launch?

Nothing is confirmed. Remedy hasn't announced additional pre-launch milestones between gamescom and September 24, so "Altered State" may be the final trailer.

Can I still play the gamescom demo?

The gamescom demo ran August 26–30 at the Level Infinite booth in Hall 6 — it requires a gamescom ticket and ended when the show closed. For everyone else, the earliest way to play is the PS5 Digital Deluxe Edition's 48-hour early access starting September 22.

Is the ZA/UM collection limited?

It's a made-to-order collection, so there's no hard cap announced — but made-to-order runs typically have a fulfillment window. If you want a piece, ordering during the pre-order period is the safe play.

Bottom Line

The "Altered State" trailer is the clearest signal yet that Control Resonant's combat identity is speed — Dylan is an airborne, execution-hungry brawler, a deliberate contrast to Jesse's methodical gun-and-telekinesis kit. Combined with the gamescom demo, the ZA/UM collection, and top-3 preorder rankings on PS5, the final month of buildup is officially underway. See you on September 22 — or September 24, depending on your edition.