Control: Resonance officially launched today on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. As expected, however, the game was cracked on its release day, with pirated copies already circulating online.
However, on overseas game piracy forums, some players have expressed their intention to purchase legitimate copies to support the Remedy team.
Remedy Entertainment is known for games like Max Payne, Alan Wake, Control, and Quantum Break, but its audience tends to be relatively niche. Fans of the studio appreciate Remedy's unconventional storytelling, slightly dark humor, and consistent high quality. However, sales of Remedy's recent titles have been underwhelming; Alan Wake 2 took over a year to become profitable, while the multiplayer experimental title FBC: Firebreak saw its new content discontinued less than a year after launch.
With fans uncertain about Remedy's future and increasingly feeling that the studio truly needs Control: Resonance to succeed, many pirates on piracy forums and Reddit are commenting that they will make an exception for this game and purchase it legitimately.
One fan wrote: "This is one of the few games I'll actually buy. Remedy is on the brink of bankruptcy, and this game is make-or-break for them. I love their games, and I must do what I can to help them survive."
One reply read: "I wasn't planning to buy it, but now I feel like I should. I love Remedy Entertainment; they make great games."
Another reply stated: "Yeah, same here. Remedy makes fantastic games, and the studio deserves my money. I hope they continue making more games."
"I think it's best not to pirate this game if possible. Remedy's games are unique and creative, and they need the funding."
However, not everyone agrees.
One reply read: "That's a nice sentiment, but this is the piracy subreddit. Look, I need to eat, which is why I pirate, but they definitely deserve success."
Nevertheless, players believe that among all games where piracy should be avoided, Control: Resonance is particularly one to steer clear of. "I mean, if you're willing to pay the developers outside of Steam, that's another matter. But claiming you have the right to pirate games just because you need to eat is simply absurd."