FBC Firebreak Preview: A New Chapter in Remedy's Connected…

Over the past decade, developer Remedy Entertainment has been using IPs like Control and Alan Wake to craft its own shared universe. These games have been intricately woven together to tell one bigger story. The upcoming co-op shooter FBC Firebreak is the next chapter in this story, and although the concept and gameplay are wildly different from previous entries, it is still very much part of Remedy's shared universe at its heart.

The Best War Games recently got to see FBC Firebreak in 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.

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By LB Beistad

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 after the events of 2019's Control, 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 making FBC: Firebreak, Remedy adhered to a design philosophy made up of four central components.

Only in Control: While it is a standalone game, FBC: Firebreak is still very much a part of Remedy's shared universe, and the team was keen to ensure the game's general look and feel, as well as the aesthetic, reflect this connectivity with sights and sounds that could only be found within the world of Control.
Pick Up and Play: The game is first and foremost a co-op shooter. Remedy deemed it extremely important for players to be able to get straight into the action as quickly as possible, without the pitfalls of others in the genre, such as daily check-ins and battle passes. The fewer barriers between players booting FBC: Firebreak up and actually launching into a mission, the better.
Better Together: Remedy wanted players to benefit from sharing the experience with their allies, ensuring that everything players do within the game organically will help the entire team progress in some shape or form.
Fun on Repeat: Having fun is at the core of FBC: Firebreak, and the developer has tried to ensure that the minute-to-minute systems and mechanics are engaging and enjoyable, full of impactful moments in-game. The gameplay experience is highly customizable to ensure each session is as diverse as players want.

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 that fans of Control or Alan Wake shouldn't be expected to have to jump into a completely different genre in order to see how the story progresses, so having FBC: Firebreak work 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 possible Alan Wake/ Control crossovers 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 loop will 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 in FBC: Firebreak is 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 with different 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

The Best War Games 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. In true 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 retain Control'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 that FBC: Firebreak values 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 on FBC: 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 as Xbox Game Pass on day one. Further details are expected to follow sooner rather than later.

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