Remedy Entertainment’s Control is a visual powerhouse, showcasing stunning lighting, destructible environments, and advanced physics. However, to fully enjoy its graphical fidelity without sacrificing performance, optimizing the game’s settings is essential. This guide covers the best graphics settings for Control to help you balance visuals and performance, whether you have a high-end rig or a modest setup.

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1. Choosing the Right API: DirectX 11 vs. DirectX 12

Control supports both DX11 and DX12, each with distinct advantages. DX11 uses less VRAM, making it suitable for older GPUs lacking in memory. On the other hand, DX12 unlocks advanced features like Ray Tracing and DLSS, essential for NVIDIA RTX users. For those with RTX cards, DX12 is the clear choice due to its support for DLSS and Ray Tracing.

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2. Best Anti-Aliasing Settings: DLSS and DLA vs. MSAA

DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) offers the best balance of performance and quality for RTX users, providing a sharper image with lower performance cost compared to MSAA. Philippe Charpini’s mod adds DLA, which applies DLSS’s benefits at native resolution without upscaling. For non-RTX users, MSAA at 2x is a reasonable compromise.

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3. Texture Quality: Managing VRAM Efficiently

Texture resolution impacts VRAM usage significantly. Even at Low, Control retains high-quality textures if VRAM is sufficient. To prevent streaming issues, use the ‘Max’ setting if available via mods; otherwise, Ultra or High are recommended. Monitor VRAM usage closely to avoid automatic downgrades.

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4. Shadows and Lighting: Where to Save Performance

Shadows are one of the less impressive aspects of Control. Set Shadow Resolution and Filtering to Medium for the best balance. Volumetric lighting can cause a noticeable performance hit; a Medium setting preserves decent quality without excessive cost.

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5. Ray Tracing: Prioritizing Effects

Ray-Traced Reflections offer the most noticeable visual upgrade, making them the top priority if you have to pick one effect. Ray-Traced Global Illumination, while visually impressive, has a less noticeable impact during regular gameplay. Enable RT Contact Shadows only if performance allows.

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6. Texture Filtering and Foliage Quality

Keep Texture Filtering at High for minimal performance impact. Foliage Quality on Medium offers a good compromise between performance and aesthetics, as the visual difference between Medium and High is negligible.

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7. Recommended Optimized Settings for 60 FPS at 1440p

• API: DirectX 12
• Anti-Aliasing: DLSS or DLA if available
• Texture Quality: High or Max (with mods)
• Shadow Quality: Medium
• Volumetric Lighting: Medium
• Ray-Tracing: Reflections on, Global Illumination off
• Foliage: Medium

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Conclusion: Stunning Visuals at a Smooth Frame Rate

By fine-tuning Control’s settings based on this guide, you can maintain impressive graphics without compromising performance. Whether you’re exploring the eerie halls of the Oldest House or battling Hiss enemies, optimized settings will ensure a smoother, more immersive experience. Happy gaming, Director!