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Control - How to escape the darkened corridor and navigate the Shifted Offices explained

Who turned the lights off?

After solving the rail carriage puzzle, you'll find yourself in a darkened corridor deep within the Fra Mauro AWE area. If you want to progress further in the Control AWE DLC, you'll need to escape this darkened corridor.

Your journey, however, is never easy, because you'll then have to navigate your way through the Shifted Offices. If you're currently in the Eagle Limited AWE area though, you'll find yourself facing different challenges.

For more information on Control, including the AWE DLC, visit our Control walkthrough and don't forget to ensure you know how to download and start the DLC first.

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Control Ultimate Edition: PS5 vs Xbox Series X/S - 60FPS and Ray Tracing Modes TestedWatch on YouTube

How to escape the darkened corridor in the Fra Mauro AWE in Control

When you enter this corridor, the lights will go dark and Hartman will appear, leaving you to figure out how to escape the darkened corridor in the Control AWE DLC.

Your first step in escaping Hartman involves running down the stairs and then heading directly to your left into the spot of light. There you'll find a wall with a set of cracks on it, which can be easily broken by tossing any nearby item through the wall or force blasting it.

Climb through the wall and you'll discover an opening which will allow you to dash across to the right-hand side of the corridor.

Before you do it's important to make sure that Hartman isn't currently walking down this section of the corridor and the lights opposite you are currently on, since they will flick on and off. When you're ready, dash across the corridor using evade to ensure you miss Hartman's attacks.

If you haven't unlocked the evade ability yet, then you can unlock it by completing the A Merry Chase side mission.

Is Hartman moonwalking?

Once you're on the right-hand side of the corridor, walk through the small gated area, until you reach another gate which will allow you to dash across to the other side of the corridor.

Just like before, head as far as you can on this side of the corridor, and, when it's safe, cross to the other side.

Here you'll find a Power Core, but, before you pick it, you'll want to smash through the wall directly next to it.

After this wall has been destroyed, you'll be able to launch the Power Core onto the socket beyond the wall. Doing this will allow you to flip the switch next to the socket, which will turn the lights back on, scaring Hartman away.

Now you can properly leave the darkened corridor by climbing the various staircases until you find a new Control Point to claim.

Collectable to find:

  • Correspondence - Dead Letters - Actor For Hire
    • (Beneath the stairs you use to enter the darkened corridor and can be easily collected once Hartman has been scared away.)
The location of the collectable - Actor For Hire.

It’s time to journey into the mysterious Federal Bureau of Control. Our Control walkthrough can help you through the storyline missions, including Welcome to the Oldest House, Unknown Caller, Directorial Override, Old Boy’s Club, Threshold, My Brother's Keeper, The Face of the Enemy, Finnish Tango, Polaris and Take Control. You can also learn new supernatural powers by completing A Merry Chase, A Good Defence and A Captive Audience. We also have guides on upgrading the Service Weapon, your Abilities, how to use Weapon and Personal Mods, how to unlock every outfit and the solution to the Roulette Wheel puzzle.


How to access and navigate the Shifted Offices in Control

After claiming the Control Point, it's time to access and navigate your way through the Shifted Office into Control.

First, you'll want to head into the large turntable room and take care of the first round of Hiss enemies. Once they've been defeated, you'll want to fly up to the turntable office, which you'll find easily atop the turntable itself.

In there, you'll need to press the button to rotate the turntable.

This will summon a new round of Hiss enemies, which includes a number of flying enemies, and, after you've defeated them, you can head through the now open doors that will sit in the spotlight from the turntable.

Head down the short corridor will you find yourself in the first part of the Shifted Offices. Here you'll want to use Jessie's launch power on the Power Core hidden behind the metal sheet and then place it upon the socket next to the locked door.

Doing so will grant you access to the small storage cupboard which contains a light you can use to destroy the darkness blocking the way to the rest of the offices.

From here, you need to follow the corridor till you reach the next Control Point to claim. On your way you'll find a letter which, when collected, will start the side mission, Return to Sender.

When you're ready, head through the double doors into the AWE Loading Bay.

Collectables to find:

  • Multimedia - Interviews - Fra Interrogation
    • (In the office for the turntable.)
  • Multimedia - Music - Langston: Freestyle
    • (Near the whiteboard in the part of the Shifted Offices where you witness Hartman killing a Hiss.)
  • Correspondence - Non-Official - Chain Letter
    • (Receive upon starting the Return to Sender side mission.)
  • Research & Records - Research - Shaded Hartman
    • (Next to the Control Point in the Shifted Offices.)
The locations of the collectables - Fra Interrogation, Langston: Freestyle and Shaded Hartman.

Your next steps in the Fra Mauro AWE area will involve activating the lights in the AWE's dedicated research area. Once you've completed that task, you may have to visit the Eagle Limited AWE area or, if you've already been, it's time to visit the Bright Falls AWE area.