In a Rare Move, Video Game Pirates Are Paying for Control Resonant to Keep Remedy Afloat

Control Resonant launched today across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and while pirated copies of the Remedy Entertainment title are already circulating online, an unusual movement is emerging among the very people who usually distribute them for free. On piracy forums and Reddit, a growing number of users are publicly pledging to pay for the game rather than download it illegally, citing the studio’s precarious financial position and the need to support its development team. The gesture comes as Remedy faces mounting pressure to turn Control Resonant into a commercial success, with fans increasingly viewing the title as the developer’s make-or-break release.

Remedy is best known for Max Payne, Alan Wake, Control, and Quantum Break, and its fanbase has long prized the studio’s offbeat storytelling and dark humor. Yet those same games have repeatedly struggled at the box office, leaving the company in a financially vulnerable spot. Alan Wake 2 reportedly took more than a year to reach profitability, and new content for the multiplayer experiment FBC: Firebreak folded within a year of launch. Against that backdrop, the community’s willingness to spend money on a game it would otherwise pirate represents a notable departure from typical behavior.

A Piracy Community Making an Exception

The movement appears to have gained momentum through threads on piracy-focused platforms, where users who normally share cracked copies are instead encouraging others to purchase the game. The sentiment is framed around loyalty to the studio and concern over its survival.

“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.”

A piracy forum user

Similar messages have spread across multiple discussions, with some users admitting they had not originally planned to spend money but are now reconsidering.

“I wasn’t planning to buy it but now I feel like I should. I like Remedy. They do good games.”

A Reddit commenter

Not everyone, however, is convinced that piracy forums are the right venue for such appeals. One user pushed back on the premise, while another acknowledged the studio’s worth but questioned the justification.

“I mean if you’re going to compensate the team outside of Steam for playing their game that’s one thing, but pretending that because you need to eat gives you the right to steal a video game is ridiculous.”

A forum participant

Still, the prevailing view among the discussion is that Control Resonant deserves an exception. The studio’s reputation for innovation and its place within the broader Remedy Connected Universe appear to be the driving factors behind the shift.

Remedy’s Precarious Position

The urgency behind the community’s response is rooted in the studio’s recent commercial history. Remedy’s past launches have consistently underperformed relative to expectations, and the pressure to succeed with Control Resonant is palpable. The game’s reception has been encouraging, though, with the outlet IGN awarding it an 8/10 and praising its inventive world-building.

“Even when combat’s sharp edge eventually dulls, Control Resonant is a great addition to the Remedyverse. While its story follows a more standard framework, its gravitational pull is in the inventive world built around it and the humanization that grounds the paranatural intrigue.”

IGN

The studio’s own leadership has expressed cautious optimism. In August, Jean-Charles Gaudechon, who was installed as CEO in March, highlighted the title’s strong pre-launch momentum, noting 1.5 million wishlists across PC and consoles and placement among the top three pre-ordered PlayStation games in the U.S., Germany, and Brazil.

“We position Control Resonant as a must-have day-one purchase while also building Control into a lasting franchise. In a competitive autumn window, we believe the distinctiveness and quality of the game will make it stand out.”

Jean-Charles Gaudechon, Remedy Entertainment

Looking Ahead

Regardless of the piracy community’s intentions, Remedy’s future hinges on the commercial performance of Control Resonant and the studio’s broader portfolio. Beyond the new title, the company continues its lengthy development work on the Max Payne 1 & 2 remakes, which remain listed as in production. Remedy has also confirmed an unannounced “new project” that has reportedly reached “production readiness,” though no further details have been disclosed.

As speculation mounts over whether the mystery project could be an Alan Wake 3, another Control entry, or something entirely new, the studio has signaled its intent to keep its core franchises alive.

“We have two established own franchises, Control and Alan Wake, which are linked through the Remedy Connected Universe. Remedy will self-publish upcoming games, in which Remedy owns the IP. Growing and expanding the two franchises will be a key part of our future.”

Jean-Charles Gaudechon, Remedy Entertainment

Whether the community’s goodwill translates into meaningful financial support remains to be seen, but the willingness of pirates to pay for a game they would otherwise pirate is a striking signal of the affection fans hold for Remedy’s brand.