Over the past decade, developer Remedy Entertainment has been using IPs likeControlandAlan Waketo craft its own shared universe. These games have been intricately woven together to tell one bigger story. The upcoming co-op shooterFBC Firebreakis the next chapter in this story, and although the concept and gameplay are wildly different from previous entries, it is still very much part ofRemedy’s shared universeat its heart.
Game Rant recently got to seeFBC Firebreakin action during a hands-off preview. Much like Remedy’s other titles, it aims to do things quite differently when compared to other games in the FPS shooter genre. It places an emphasis on players customizing their session each time they fire the game up, significantly deviating from Remedy’s usual narrative-driven experiences.
FBC Firebreak is a Co-Op Shooter With a Simple Premise
Considering Remedy’s style of storytelling can be somewhat complex at times,FBC: Firebreak’s premise is relatively simple. Six years afterthe events of 2019’sControl, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s headquarters, The Oldest House, is still locked down and infested with powerful enemies known as The Hiss. It is up to a volunteer group of first responders, made up of a variety of the Bureau’s internal staff, to eradicate the Hiss by any means necessary.
FBC: Firebreak’s Core Design Philosophy Explained
When makingFBC: Firebreak, Remedy adhered to a design philosophy made up of four central components.
Remedy wanted to ensure the game was more of a player-controlled story, focusing on creating unique experiences among players based on the conditions they select at the beginning of the session. Another key reason behind this was the belief thatfans ofControlorAlan Wakeshouldn’t be expected to have to jump into a completely different genre in order to see how the story progresses, so havingFBC: Firebreakwork as a standalone title was important for the studio.
The game is also playable solo or as a duo, but it is optimized for three-player action. The studio remained tight-lipped about possibleAlan Wake/Controlcrossovers or Easter eggs, but given the game’s setting and Remedy’s track record with crossovers, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if references to both came up fairly frequently.
FBC Firebreak Offers a Variety of Ways to Play
FBC: Firebreak’s gameplay loopwill consist of players choosing jobs (missions) to embark on and then customizing the environment, the objectives, and their equipment before starting the run. Players can choose each job’s threat level (combat intensity) and the clearance level (number of zones in-run), both of which impacts the available rewards.
Gear inFBC: Firebreakis referred to as a player’s crisis kit. They are able to have up to three custom crisis kits (essentially loadouts) at any time, enabling players to vary their playstyles withdifferent long or short-ranged weaponry, tailored further with a range of perks and mods. Crisis kits can also be switched mid-session, offering further variety for players.
FBC: Firebreak Gameplay Breakdown
Game Rant was shown footage of a job called Paper Chase in which players were tasked with destroying thousands of yellow sticky notes that were scattered all over the Bureau. Intrue Remedy style, this threw up some weird and wacky visual imagery, including monsters of varying sizes made up entirely of these yellow sticky notes. The action became frantic, with players scrambling to eliminate huge swathes of Hiss which were constantly spawning, as well as the sticky notes themselves.
The gameplay showed off some interesting weapons, including a powerful shotgun which electrocuted Hiss on impact, and the overall gunplay looked tight and responsive. The environments seemed to retainControl’s sense of verticality, with The Old House’s trademark high ceilings, huge corridors, and sizable offices on display. Upon completing the mission’s objectives, players had to frantically scramble back to the elevator in order to finish the job. The overall message was thatFBC: Firebreakvalues efficiency, with players encouraged to complete objectives and move on as quickly as possible in the face of increasing numbers of Hiss.
FBC: Firebreak is Expected to Arrive in Summer 2025
Remedy also briefly touched onFBC: Firebreak’s post-launch plans. The team stated that all post-launch content for the game would be free, but it would feature paid cosmetic content for those who want it. The game is targeting a summer 2025 release; it will also be playable on PS Plus Extra/ Premium as well asXbox Game Pass on day one. Further details are expected to follow sooner rather than later.
