Control was IGN's Game of the Year in 2019, and I, along with many other editors, voted for it. However, when Remedy, a studio renowned for its compelling single-player narratives in third-person games, announced they were venturing into multiplayer territory with a Control-themed game, I admit I was skeptical. The project, titled FBC: Firebreak, is a three-player PvE first-person multiplayer shooter set six years after the events of Control. After witnessing a hands-off demo, my doubts were quickly dispelled. Firebreak stands out as a refreshingly original game in the crowded multiplayer shooter genre, offering a delightfully weird experience that contrasts sharply with the typical military and sci-fi themed games. Perhaps most appealingly, it doesn't demand the extensive time commitment that many of its counterparts do. As game director Mike Kayatta succinctly put it, "We're not about daily check-ins. We're not interested in monthly grinds. We don't want to give anybody a second job." A sentiment worth repeating for all to hear.
FBC: Firebreak is a three-player co-op FPS designed for flexibility, allowing players to jump in for a quick 20-minute session or extend their playtime for hours. The game promises continuous freshness with Perk unlocks and new character combinations for repeated runs. But what exactly are you doing back in The Oldest House, armed with an array of bizarre weapons? You're stepping into the shoes of volunteer first responders when chaos erupts. Your characters range from secretaries to rangers, ordinary individuals answering the call of duty. The Federal Bureau of Control may not call you expendable, but in this context, you certainly are.
FBC: Firebreak - March 2025 Screenshots
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When you log in to play, you select a Job (or mission) and a Crisis Kit (your loadout), set the Threat Level (difficulty), and choose the Clearance Level, which dictates how many zones you'll navigate in a run. Zones are segmented by containment doors, leading to the next phase of the Job. The specific Job I saw, "Paper Chase," unfolds in a seemingly ordinary office section of the FBC building. Your mission: to combat the spreading Hiss alongside your teammates.
While you can opt to escape as soon as possible, to acquire currencies for upgrading and purchasing new gear, you must safely exit with them. The longer you explore for currency, the more challenging it becomes to return to HQ unscathed.
FBC: Firebreak distinguishes itself from other multiplayer shooters through its unique arsenal. Many of the weapons are charmingly unconventional with a DIY feel, such as a hand-cranked snowball launcher that can extinguish fires (or your fiery friends) and drench the sticky-note monster. Another quirky weapon is a makeshift zapper that, when equipped with the right nozzle, can unleash lightning storms on enemies. There's also a large wrench that, when paired with a squeaky piggy bank toy, showers opponents with coins. Despite these eccentric choices, traditional weapons like machine guns and shotguns remain, particularly useful after you've drenched or zapped a sticky-note monster.
The Job's primary goal is to eradicate the sticky notes before they engulf the entire building. Keep an eye on the number of sticky notes left to destroy, displayed in the upper left corner, as this count increases throughout the mission. Eventually, you'll confront a colossal sticky-note monster, reminiscent of the Sandman from the end of Spider-Man 3, but constructed from Post-It notes instead of sand.
Beyond the quirky weaponry, Firebreak incorporates fun, in-universe gameplay mechanics. Examples include an office supply shelf that replenishes your ammo, a makeshift turret assembled from a box, a stereo speaker that repels the Hiss, and a rinse station to cleanse aggressive sticky notes from your face. Unlockable Perks add variety and excitement to the gameplay. Notable Perks I observed include one where missed bullets might return to your clip, and another allowing you to douse flames by jumping up and down. Collecting multiple copies of the same Perk enhances its effect, and three copies enable you to share the Perk's benefits with nearby teammates.
It's worth noting that you don't need three players to enjoy FBC: Firebreak; solo and duo play are also available. Remedy is targeting a lower minimum PC spec than usual, but for those with high-end systems, FBC supports DLSS4 with multi-frame generation, nVidia Reflex, and full ray-tracing. It's also Steam Deck verified and will launch on Xbox and PC Game Pass on day one, alongside PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. While there are plans for post-launch content, Remedy hasn't revealed details yet, but paid cosmetics will be part of the microtransactions.
FBC FirebreakRemedy Wishlist
While I haven't played FBC: Firebreak myself yet, it certainly looks promising. It's clearly not your average multiplayer shooter, and in the best possible way. The game's design as a quick-in, quick-out experience, without the need for a substantial ongoing time commitment, is a refreshing nod to a time when this was the standard in gaming.
