While it's exciting to know that Remedy Entertainment does plan on making a direct sequel to Control, the contents of a sequel are hard to gauge because the first game's ending is so open-ended. Control has a gratifying ending that sees Jesse accomplish some of her original goals while succeeding in a much larger mission, but the Bureau's troubles are far from over by the end of the game. On the contrary, Jesse has a lot of work to do in restoring the Hiss-ravaged Bureau and restoring her bond with her brother Dylan. While these problems seem like fertile ground for a sequel, Remedy may decide to gloss over them instead with the help of a time skip.
Control takes place at a very specific point in time, unlike many other games set in the real world. Collectible papers prove that Control canonically takes place in late 2019, right around the time that Control itself actually released. The sequel will have to address this highly specific release date in one way or another, and it could engage with it by launching Jesse's story a few years forward, rather than picking up where the first game left off. Control 2 could benefit from a time skip in a variety of concrete ways, meaning Remedy might be tempted to jump forward.
Why a Time Skip in Control Could Happen
Setting Control itself in specifically in 2019 was a clever storytelling device on Remedy's part, since it allowed for a stark contrast between Jesse's modern attire and the mid-20th century technology used by the Bureau. It also grounded Control in reality, which made the game's paranatural phenomena all the more strange and alluring. However, the time period also raises questions about the sequel. Remedy might be tempted to make a tradition out of keeping Control games tied to real-world time, but that means several years will pass between Control and its sequel.
That vast window for change in the Control world may seem hard for Remedy to fill, but it could actually be a practical way to refresh Jesse's story and put her in a creative new situation. By skipping several years forward, Remedy can wrap up Control's remaining story threads in part or in whole, whether that means restoring Dylan's health and freedom off-screen or fully cleansing the Bureau of the Hiss threat without the player's intervention. Using a time skip of a few years to reset Control's narrative would allow Remedy to focus on exploring new frontiers, rather than retreading old ones.
The Benefits of a Control Time Skip
Jesse Faden herself could gain a lot from Control 2 taking place in its release year. If she has had several years to acclimate to working for the Bureau, her increased familiarity with Objects of Power and the Service Weapon could enhance her abilities significantly, making her more powerful than ever in the face of paranatural foes. A time skip would also give Jesse the opportunity to cement a new role for herself as the Director that defies or reflects the work of her predecessors, establishing unique new relationships with people like Dylan that make a mark Control 2's narrative.
The Bureau as a whole would also gain a lot from a time skip of a few years. It would give the Bureau an opportunity to hire lots of new employees, meaning Control 2 could feature several new characters who are still novices in the world of the paranatural. Additionally, a large time skip would give the Oldest House lots of time to shift and change, adding new floors and Thresholds that result in an entirely different game map from the original Control's Oldest House.
All in all, making Control 2 take place in its launch year like the first game seems like it could have a very positive effect on the game. Whenever the game gets revealed, Control fans will want to pay careful attention to its timeline. Whether it takes place a few weeks or a few years after the first game, the game's place in time will make a world of difference.
A sequel to Control is in development.
