Pirates Are Paying for Control Resonant to Save Remedy

Control Resonant is out now, but even pirates are making an exception to support Remedy, a studio that desperately needs a hit.

Ever seen pirates voluntarily pay for a game? That's exactly what's happening with Control Resonant, Remedy's latest, which launched today on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Cracked copies are already floating around, but something unusual is happening on piracy forums and Reddit: a growing number of pirates are saying they'll actually buy this one.

Why the sudden change of heart? Remedy is beloved for Max Payne, Alan Wake, Control, and Quantum Break, but the studio has struggled commercially. Alan Wake 2 took over a year to turn a profit, and FBC: Firebreak's new content dried up in under a year. Fans are worried Remedy might not survive if Control Resonant flops.

One pirate wrote: "One of the very few games I'm going to be buying, Remedy are on the brink of bankruptcy, this is their make or break title, I love their games and gotta do what I can to keep them afloat." Another replied, "I wasn't planning to buy it but now I feel like I should. I like Remedy. They do good games." A third added, "Remedy makes amazing games, that's a studio that deserve my money, and I hope they continue to make more games."

Not everyone is on board. One commenter pointed out, "That's great idea, but this is a piracy reddit." Another admitted, "Agreed, I gotta eat so this is being pirated but they do deserve success." Still, the overall sentiment is that Control Resonant is one game worth paying for if you can.

If you're on the fence, IGN gave it an 8/10, saying, "Even when combat's sharp edge eventually dulls, Control Resonant is a great addition to the Remedyverse." The game had 1.5 million wishlists across PC and consoles as of August, and was a top-three pre-ordered PlayStation title in the U.S., Germany, and Brazil.

Remedy CEO Jean-Charles Gaudechon called it a "must-have day-one purchase" and emphasized building Control into a lasting franchise. Beyond this, Remedy is working on Max Payne 1 & 2 remakes and an unannounced project that's reached "production readiness." Could it be Alan Wake 3 or another Control? We'll have to wait and see.

So, will you be picking up Control Resonant to support Remedy? Or are you waiting for a sale? Let us know in the comments!