CONTROL Resonant System Requirements — PC Specs, RT & DLSS 4.5

Official · Steam PC benchmark tests Updated Nov 7, 2026

Quick answer

CONTROL Resonant Steam / PC requirements: 64-bit Windows 10/11, 16 GB RAM, and a fast SSD with ~100–120 GB free. Minimum tier targets 1080p/30; Recommended targets 1440p/60. Ray Tracing / Path Tracing and DLSS 4.5 sit above the entry floor. Same Steam install rules as Epic — SSD is effectively mandatory.

Full tiers below · settings deep-dive: Best PC settings · studio: Remedy Entertainment.

Mandatory Hardware Requirement: SSD Required Installing CONTROL Resonant on a traditional mechanical Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is strongly discouraged. The game streams high-resolution asset geometry and real-time zone physics seamlessly as you move across Manhattan. HDD installs lead to severe texture pop-in, audio desynchronization, long loading screens, and hitching during fast Shift traversal maneuvers.

Official PC Hardware Specification Tiers

Specification TierMinimum (1080p / 30 FPS Low)Recommended (1440p / 60 FPS Medium)Ultra / Path Tracing (4K / 60 FPS High)
OSWindows 10 / 11 (64-bit)Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)Windows 11 (64-bit)
Processor (CPU)Intel Core i5-8500 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 7 3700XIntel Core i7-13700K / AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Memory (RAM)16 GB RAM16 GB RAM32 GB RAM
Graphics (GPU)Nvidia GTX 1070 / AMD RX 5600 XT / Intel Arc A580Nvidia RTX 3070 / AMD RX 6700 XT / Intel Arc A770Nvidia RTX 4080 / RTX 50-Series Target
VRAM6 GB VRAM8 GB – 12 GB VRAM16 GB+ VRAM
Storage100 – 120 GB SSD Space100 – 120 GB SSD Space100 – 120 GB NVMe M.2 SSD Space
DirectXVersion 12Version 12Version 12

Performance Benchmarks & Graphics Features

1. Rasterization Performance

Standard rasterized graphics (without Ray Tracing enabled) are extremely well-optimized. Mid-range graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT comfortably maintain 60+ FPS at 1080p and 1440p resolutions using Quality upscaling presets.

2. Ray Tracing & Path Tracing Impact

Remedy’s Northlight engine offers toggles for Ray-Traced Reflections, Ray-Traced Indirect Lighting, and Full Path Tracing. Path Tracing creates photorealistic glass reflections and atmospheric lighting across Manhattan’s rain-slicked streets, but carries a massive performance tax. Enabling Path Tracing requires modern GPUs with dedicated RT cores and hardware upscaling (DLSS 4.5 or FSR 3.1) to achieve playable frame rates at 1440p and 4K.

3. Upscaling & Frame Generation (DLSS 4.5 & FSR)

  • Nvidia DLSS 4.5 Stack: Supports Super Resolution, DLSS Frame Generation, and Ray Reconstruction. Running DLSS on Quality or Balanced mode is strongly recommended for all RTX owners playing above 1080p.
  • AMD FSR & Intel XeSS: Available across all GPU vendors. While FSR provides great resolution upscaling, benchmark tests report slightly higher input latency compared to Reflex-supported Nvidia stacks during rapid dodge timing window exchanges.

Storage Space & Patch Installation Notes

While the initial download size on Steam and Epic Games Store sits around 100 GB, we advise leaving at least 120 to 125 GB of free SSD space. Game Updates (such as Update 1.4.0 and Hotfix 1.4.2) require temporary storage buffer space to unpack and apply file overwrites cleanly during patches. Check patch notes for recent performance fixes at patch notes hub.

Recommended Optimization Settings for Mid-Range PCs

If you encounter frame rate dips in dense combat zones like Downtown or during heavy Mold explosions in The Park, adjust these specific settings first:

  1. Ray Tracing: Set to OFF or Medium before touching base texture quality.
  2. DLSS / FSR Upscaling: Set to Quality at 1440p, or Balanced at 4K.
  3. Volumetric Fog & Volumetric Lighting: Lower from High to Medium (yields a 12-15% FPS boost with minimal visual difference).
  4. Shadow Resolution: Set to High (Ultra shadows carry heavy VRAM costs).
  5. Reflex Low Latency: Enable On + Boost to minimize input lag during Perfect Dodge timing windows.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is CONTROL Resonant playable on Steam Deck or ROG Ally?

The game is playable on high-performance handheld PCs like the ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go at 720p/900p low settings with FSR Performance enabled (targeting 30-40 FPS). On original Steam Deck hardware, performance can dip below 30 FPS in dense combat zones. Adjust settings using our dedicated Best PC settings guide.

Does the game support ultrawide monitors?

Yes! Full 21:9 and 32:9 ultrawide aspect ratios are natively supported with configurable field-of-view (FOV) sliders and ultrawide UI alignment.

How does PC performance compare to console modes?

PC raster performance at Recommended specs closely matches PS5 and Xbox Series X Performance Mode (1440p60). High-end PCs with RTX 4080/4090 GPUs outperform PS5 Pro by delivering full Path Tracing at 60+ FPS. Compare console performance targets at PS5 performance modes guide and Xbox hub guide.

Related resources: Best PC settings guide · PS5 performance modes · Patch notes hub · Xbox hub

PC spec decision rules & upgrade mistakes

Minimum specs run the game; recommended specs match ray-traced Manhattan fights without stutter.

Decision rules

  • Borderline GPU: Start 1080p Performance—Best PC settings.
  • 16 GB RAM: Close browser overlays; stutter often memory not VRAM.
  • Steam Deck / handheld: Use official Proton notes and lower RT—Journey on Windows.

Common mistakes

  • Outdated GPU drivers: Patch 1.4.0 calls out specific AMD builds.
  • Expecting Game Pass PC: Buy Steam/Epic—Game Pass status.
  • 4K on minimum tier: Unreal frame times spike in West Incursion.

Buy routing

Verify disk space → choose storefront → optional NVIDIA bundle—NVIDIA bundle.

Sources & further reading

Developer: Remedy Entertainment · Official hub: control-resonant.com · Series context: Control (video game) · Walkthrough / trophy cross-checks: PowerPyx.