Control Resonant: Pope’s Research Walkthrough

Pope’s Research is one of the late-game side stories in Control Resonant, which will require Dylan to set up Probe Relays around the Unknown zone and create bridges for travel. Unlike most of the side stories, completing Pope’s Research is mandatory, as you’ll need to travel between different islands in the Unknown and progress the story to its conclusion. Here are all the locations of Pope’s Research balloons and where to place the Probe Relays for each one.

Before you start Pope’s Research quest, keep these important tips in mind.

After picking up a Probe Relay, you’ll see an icon on the mini-map (radar) leading you to the location where you’ll need to place it.

Probe Relays will always be placed inside red sand circles on the ground.

Completing one Research Balloon will often lead to the next one.

How to Start Pope’s Research in Control Resonant

After The Hedron Link main story quest, players will talk to Pope, who’ll ask Dylan to head to the Unknown Region to cut down the other Hedron Links. This will begin Sever the Hedron Links main story mission, as well as Pope’s Research side story in Control Resonant.

Players will need to deploy Probe Relays from eight Research Balloons that Pope has deployed throughout the Unknown Zone. I’ve marked the location of all of them on the image above, so players can reference them when reading the solutions below.

Pope’s Research Balloon #1

• Location: Oldest House Rooftop

The first Pope’s Research Balloon in Control Resonant can be found after accessing the Oldest House’s rooftop through the main elevator. Right after you leave the elevator, turn left to spot the Research Balloon carrying a payload. Climb the cargo platform under the balloon, release it, destroy the box, and you’ll need to place the two probe relays on the Oldest House rooftop.

The first Probe Relay can be placed nearby, inside the red circle.

To place the second Probe Relay, you’ll need to get up to the upper platform using the staircase next to the previous red circle.

Place the second Probe Relay, and it will spawn a Gravity Well that you can use to enter the Unknown zone.

Pope’s Research Balloon #2

• Location: Unknown Zone’s Mainland

The next Pope’s Research Balloon you’ll need to target is located at the northern end of the main Unknown zone. You’ll be able to spot it from afar by the distinct color of blue balloons carrying cargo.

There might be some enemies around the research balloon, so make sure to dispatch them before setting up Probe Relays. Once the coast is clear, pick up and place the first probe relay on the nearby building. Make sure to use the Elevate ability to safely get across.

The second Probe Relay can be placed in a red circle nearby, which you can spot while walking in the direction of Hedron’s eye, visible in the sky. Once you’re done, another Gravity Well will pop up that you can take to one of the smaller islands in the Unknown zone.

Pope’s Research Balloon #3

While falling down to the next island, you’ll spot Pope’s Research Balloon right underneath Dylan.

After defeating any enemies nearby, pick up the first Probe Relay and head inside the alley across the street. After exiting the alley, you’ll spot one of the red circles on the patterned road. You’ll need to use the Shift ability while holding the Probe Relay to align yourself to the road before placing it down.

The second Probe Relay can be placed nearby, at the end of the road outside the courtyard where the research balloon was. Once you place the second Probe Relay, another Gravity Well will spawn, taking players to the next island.

Pope’s Research Balloon #4

• Location: Island east of Evac Building

While you’re falling down to the island, you’ll be able to spot another one of the balloons near the under-construction building part of Pope’s Research quest in Control Resonant.

There will be enemies around the payload, so make sure to deal with them before picking up the Probe Relays. Now, pick one up, and you’ll need to use Shift to walk the downward-sloping road next to the payload. Walk across the market street, and you’ll spot the first red circle on the patterned road.

Now, pick up the second Probe Relay and place it on the red circle near the checkpoint beacon. This will spawn a Gravity Well that will take you to the Patterned Evac Building.

Pope’s Research Balloon #5

• Location: Patterned Evac Building Island

You’ll be able to spot Pope’s Research Balloon while falling towards the Patterned Evac Building Island. There will be a lot of enemies around the research balloon. While it’s not mandatory, it’s better to deal with them before attempting to place the Probe Relays.

Whenever you’re ready, pick up the first Relay Probe and head up the orange container platform in front of the Evac Building’s entrance. You’ll need to rely on Elevate and Air Dashes to reach across the gap and place the Probe Relay on top of the building in the red circle.

For the second Probe Relay, you’ll need to head up the black container platform right beside the balloon’s cargo. Once you get on top, you’ll spot the red circle on the building just across the container platform.

The third Probe Relay will be placed near the checkpoint beacon, on the center-north edge of the area. Once you do that, a Gravity Well will spawn that will take players directly to the Patterned Field Office. It’s recommended to drop off on the mainland Unknown Zone, unless you want to tackle “The Unknown Resonant” quest first.

Pope’s Research Balloon #6

To get to the sixth Research Balloon, you’ll need to head to the northwest section of Unknown on the mainland (to the location I’ve marked on the map above).

You’ll be able to jump across Patterned platforms to reach the island in the distance. As soon as you touch the building’s rooftop surface, use the Shift ability to immediately align Dylan to its surface. Now, fall down from the building towards the Pope’s Research Balloon in Control Resonant.

After accessing the balloon’s cargo, take one Probe Relay across the street towards the area with enemies and ground patches covered in Hiss-spikes. Use Shift to walk across the vertical landscape into the alleyway. At the end of the alley, turn left to place the Probe Relay into the red circle.

For the next Probe Relay, head down the road, turn left, and you’ll easily spot the red circle on street level. This will spawn a Gravity Well that will take players to the next Island.

Pope’s Research Balloon #7

• Location: Island east of Field Office

Similar to previous balloons in Pope’s Research quest in Control Resonant, you’ll be able to spot another while falling towards the island.

After taking care of enemies around the balloon, release its cargo and take on Probe Relay all the way up to the end of the vertical road in front of Dylan. You’ll need to rely on Shift ability here.

After placing down the first probe, grab the second one, and you’ll need to climb the easy-to-reach building on the left. Once you’re on top, use a combo of Air Dash and Elevate abilities to cross the gap and land on the building across the street (to the right).

Here, you’ll be able to install the second Probe Relay next to the Checkpoint Beacon and take the Gravity Well back to the Oldest House’s rooftop.

How to Set Up the Final Probe Relays & Investigate Point 0

Now, the final objective of the Control Resonant Pope’s Research quest will lead players to the center of the mainland Unknown, where they’ll need to set up four Probe Relays. This is much easier, as the final set of Probe Relays will be placed on ground level, in a cross-shaped (+) formation. Feel free to refer to the image above for the locations of the red circles.

Once you’re done, a helix of taxis will spawn in the sky with a platform in the middle. You’ll need to use the surrounding buildings to get close to the helix.

Once you’re close enough, use Elevate and Air Dashes to get close to the platform in the center of the vehicle, and use the Reach ability to zip onto it. Now, press the appropriate button, and Dylan will hear some patterned screaming.

Right after the interaction, you’ll complete the Pope’s Research side story in Control Resonant and get a Resonant Token as a reward that will unlock any ability of your choice from any Resonant boss.

Released

September 24, 2026

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence