- Matthews is hiding in the Security Station at the FBC Field Office in Central — he won’t confirm his identity right away.
- The quest triggers as a random radio call from Zoe, usually after rescuing Arish during Evacuation Measures.
- Use the right dialogue options to get him to confess — wrong choices end the conversation early.
- After he admits who he is, call Zoe and choose to report him or cover for him.
- Neither choice affects the main story — the outcome is the same either way.
Matthews is an FBC Ranger who went missing in the West Incursion Zone and supposedly abandoned his squad. Zoe asks Dylan to track him down, but the game gives you no map marker — just a vague tip that someone spotted him at the Field Office. He’s not hard to find once you know where to look, but getting him to talk takes the right approach. This guide covers his exact location, the dialogue sequence to unlock his confession, and what both choices mean when you report back to Zoe.
When Does the Matthews Quest Start?
You don’t pick this up from a quest board. It starts as a random radio call from Zoe while you’re exploring the world. She tells Dylan that someone reported spotting her old college friend Matthews alive at the FBC Field Office in Central. The call usually triggers shortly after you rescue Arish from the Evacuation Building during the Evacuation Measures main story quest.
If the call hasn’t come in yet, keep progressing the story. It arrives on its own — there’s nothing to activate manually.
Where to Find Matthews in Control Resonant
Matthews is inside the Security Station at the FBC Field Office in Central. Open your Central map and look for the Field Office — it sits below the West Incursion Zone Checkpoint and above the Central Supply Route Station.
Here’s the exact route:
- Head to the southern part of the FBC Field Office.
- Look for an orange building marked SECURITY STATION — it’s near the sign pointing toward the Evacuation Zone.
- Climb the yellow stairs to the Security Station door at the top. You want the upper entrance, not the ground-level door.
- Go through the room with the two pool tables and turn into the breakroom at the back.
- Matthews is the soldier standing next to the refrigerator in the corner.
He looks like a generic FBC Ranger and won’t give his name. You need to push him through a dialogue chain to get him to admit who he is. You’ll also need your Clearance Level 1 keycard to get through the correct door — see our Level 2 keycard guide if you’re short on clearance.
How to Make Matthews Reveal His Identity
Matthews denies everything from the first line. The goal is to get him to the point where Dylan accuses him of abandoning his team. Be careful — options like “Sorry for bothering you” or “I’ll leave you alone” end the conversation without confirming anything. Avoid those.
Use these dialogue options in order:
- “Were you in the West Incursion Zone?” — Opens the confrontation and gets him on edge.
- “I heard a team went missing” — Applies more pressure without giving him an easy out.
- “Are you sure?” — Select this when it appears. It calls his bluff.
- “You’re lying” — Calls him out directly for hiding his identity.
- “Did you abandon your team?” — This is the line that breaks him. He admits he is Matthews, that his squad disappeared in the West Incursion Zone, and that he walked away from his post.
After he confesses, he breaks down and tells Dylan to leave him alone. He mentions he has a kid and was just trying to stay alive — the closest thing to a real explanation he offers. Exit the Security Station and the call with Zoe connects automatically.
Should You Report Matthews to Zoe?
Once you leave the building, Zoe asks whether the ranger was actually Matthews. You get two choices.
Tell Zoe “He’s Alive” (Report Him)
Dylan tells Zoe that Matthews is alive and deserted his team. Zoe reacts with anger and disappointment — she says Matthews will be reported and dismissed from the FBC. She then shifts the conversation to the West Incursion Zone and gives Dylan the next lead. You can follow up with “Will he be fired?” for more detail on what happens to him, or “Were you and Matthews close?” to get some lore about Zoe’s past relationship with him.
Tell Zoe “It Wasn’t Him” (Cover for Him)
Dylan lies to Zoe and protects Matthews’ secret. She accepts it at face value since Dylan never got a direct confirmation. This choice opens some additional optional dialogue that gives more background on Zoe’s personal history with Matthews. Despite the lie, Zoe still moves the conversation on to the West Incursion Zone as the next objective.
Which Choice Should You Pick?
It genuinely doesn’t matter for the main story. Both choices lead to the same outcome — Zoe points Dylan toward the West Incursion Zone, the interaction closes, and nothing changes in the broader narrative. The Matthews encounter is designed to add texture to Zoe’s character and nudge players to explore the West Incursion Zone next. Covering for him gets you a bit more Zoe lore; reporting him gets a slightly more direct conversation. Pick whichever feels right.
What Happens After the Matthews Encounter?
Whether you report Matthews or not, Zoe closes the conversation and directs your attention to the West Incursion Zone. From here, you’ll be heading toward the Incursion Fault to unlock the Shift ability and eventually facing the Dancer boss in the Patterned Theater. See our guide on how to get the Shift ability for the full walkthrough on that chain.
The Matthews encounter has no follow-up quest and no second appearance. Once the call with Zoe ends, the thread is done.
More Control Resonant Guides
- The Complete Set Walkthrough (Subwoofer Choice)
- Into the Sinkhole Walkthrough
- The Dancer Boss Guide
- Crossing the Threshold Walkthrough
- Urban Survival Quest Walkthrough
- All Secret Hideout Locations
- The Co-Director Boss Guide
- Beginner Tips
Control Resonant is available on PC and console via the official site, PlayStation Store, Xbox, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Matthews in Control Resonant?
Matthews is hiding in the breakroom of Security Station 01 at the FBC Field Office in Central. He’s the soldier standing next to the refrigerator. Take the yellow stairs to the upper entrance, go through the pool table room, and he’s in the back.
How do I get Matthews to admit who he is?
Work through his denials using the dialogue options: ask if he was in the West Incursion Zone, tell him he’s lying, and finally accuse him of abandoning his team. That last option gets the confession. Avoid soft exits like “Sorry for bothering you” or the conversation closes early.
Does reporting Matthews affect the story?
No. Both choices — reporting him or covering for him — result in the same narrative outcome. Zoe moves the conversation to the West Incursion Zone either way and the main story continues unchanged.
What quest does this unlock?
The Matthews encounter doesn’t unlock a quest. It’s an FBC Task tied to the West Incursion Zone progression. After the call, Zoe focuses Dylan’s attention on the West Incursion Zone, which leads toward the Incursion Fault and the Dancer boss fight.
Can I miss the Matthews encounter?
The trigger call comes in automatically while exploring after Evacuation Measures. If it hasn’t happened yet, keep playing. You can still visit the Security Station and speak to Matthews even if the call comes in during a fight and you miss the audio.
