Control is one of my favorite adventure games of the last decade, a mind-bending journey through an ever-changing building where you can use telekinesis to fight some pretty bizarre enemies. It was a graphically demanding game when it released in 2019, but a lot can change in less than six years: Control: Ultimate Edition is now available on iPhone and iPad for just $5, following its announcement last October. This is a universal purchase, which means if you buy it, it will also work on iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
Developer Remedy promises it’s the complete package Control experience, with DLC episodes included. Remedy rebuilt the user interface and controls to work on touchscreen devices; the company claims to have modified the aim and the various puzzles to make them more effective on the iPad and iPhone. But of course, the game also works with controllers. If you really want the best gaming experience, finding a way to play with physical controls is probably a good idea.
The game will work on iPhones with at least an A17 Pro chip. This includes the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, as well as all iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 series. Many iPad models can also run the game – any iPad with an M series chip or the A17 Pro will work. This means that the current base iPad, with its A16 processor, is left behind. But any iPad Air or Pro from the last four years or so should be good to go.
I tried a test version of Control when I recently reviewed the new iPad Air and, unsurprisingly, the tablet’s M4 chip was more than powerful enough to deliver a smooth experience. My main complaint is that when sprinting you have to hold the L3 button the entire time you run rather than just clicking it once, which is how it works on other platforms. Otherwise, it looks and runs smooth, although I can’t vouch for its performance on hardware older than the 2024 M4.
Control marks the latest “AAA” title to be released on iPad and iPhone. Apple has actively courted developers for its platforms in recent years, and although most games aren’t available on Mac or iOS when they launch, more and more eventually appear. There are several recent Resident Evil titles for iPad, as well as other games like Death Stranding And Assassin’s Creed Mirage have also been worn recently. There are others on Mac as well, including demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 And Lies of P. Apple’s platforms won’t be an avid gamer’s first stop yet, but having top-tier games to complement the many indie titles available helps round out the options for Apple users.
This article was originally published on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/control-ultimate-edition-is-out-for-the-iphone-and-ipad-150532940.html?src=rss
