Verified answer
Do I need to play the first Control?
Quick answer
No. Remedy presents Control Resonant as a standalone story and a new entry point centered on Dylan Faden. Playing Control provides more context for Jesse, Dylan, the FBC, and the Oldest House, but it is not required.
What this means
Standalone does not mean disconnected. The sequel continues the Faden sibling story, yet its essential premise is meant to be understandable inside Resonant without homework or an external lore summary.
Official source
PlayStation Blog — story briefing
Continue with the relevant guide
Open the related Control Resonant guide for the current topic summary, connected systems, and any later verified changes.
This answer is reviewed against pre-release official information. It states unknown boundaries explicitly and will be revised when Remedy or a first-party store publishes a newer fact.