Control earned IGN's Game of the Year award in 2019 – a decision I supported as one of the many editors who voted for it. Even so, I was initially skeptical when Remedy, a studio celebrated for its compelling single-player, third-person narratives, announced a Control multiplayer project. That project became FBC: Firebreak, a three-player PvE first-person shooter set six years after the events of Control. My skepticism vanished quickly during the hands-off demo. Firebreak feels genuinely original in an oversaturated market, delightfully strange compared to the sea of generic military and sci-fi online shooters. Perhaps its greatest strength is that it doesn't demand the massive time investment typical of similar games. As game director Mike Kayatta stated, "We're not about daily check-ins. We're not interested in monthly grinds. We don't want to give anybody a second job." Well said, Mike.
FBC: Firebreak is a three-player cooperative FPS that promises to be refreshingly straightforward. You can jump in for a quick 20-minute session or play for several hours, with unlockable Perks and new character combinations keeping repeated runs engaging. So, what is your role, returning to The Oldest House with an arsenal of bizarre weapons? Essentially, you are a volunteer first responder within The Oldest House when containment breaks down. Your characters are FBC staff—secretaries, rangers, and other "ordinary" personnel—who answer the call to duty. The Federal Bureau of Control wouldn't call you expendable, but... you're expendable.
FBC: Firebreak - March 2025 Screenshots
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When you log in, you select a Job (a mission) and a Crisis Kit (your loadout) before setting the Threat Level (difficulty) and Clearance Level, which determines the number of zones you'll traverse in a single run. These zones are separated by containment doors, leading you to the next stage. The mission I observed, called Paper Chase, takes place in a seemingly ordinary office section of the FBC. With the Hiss spreading, you and your two teammates must cooperate to push them back.
You can extract as soon as possible, but to acquire the currency needed for upgrades and new gear, you must escape safely with it. The longer you explore for currency, the more difficult it becomes to return to HQ unscathed.
The gear is where FBC: Firebreak truly distinguishes itself from other multiplayer shooters. Many of the weapons are wonderfully unconventional, often with a homemade, cobbled-together aesthetic. One example is a hand-cranked snowball launcher used to extinguish fires (or teammates who are ablaze) and douse the sticky-note monster (more on that shortly). Another is a jury-rigged zapper that, with the right attachment, can call down lightning storms on a room full of enemies. There's even a large wrench fitted with a squeaky piggy bank toy, which pelts opponents with a swirl of coins. For those who prefer traditional firearms, staples like a machine gun and a shotgun are available—the latter being particularly effective after you've drenched or electrified one of the sticky-note monsters.
Many of the guns are charmingly unusual, and most have a homebrew feel.“
Ah, yes, the sticky-note monsters: the primary objective of this Job is to eliminate all the sticky notes before they overrun the brutalist building. You can track the remaining sticky notes via the counter in the upper left corner. This number actually increases as the mission progresses, culminating in a boss fight against... a giant sticky-note monster. Imagine Sandman from Spider-Man 3, but composed entirely of Post-It notes instead of sand.
Beyond the bizarre weaponry, the game incorporates fun in-universe mechanics. These include office supply shelves that restock your ammo, makeshift turrets assembled by dumping parts from a box onto the floor, stereo speakers that repel the Hiss, and rinse stations that wash aggressive sticky notes off your face. Unlockable Perks add further variety and strategic depth. For instance, one Perk gives missed bullets a chance to return to your magazine, while another lets you extinguish yourself by jumping up and down. Collecting two of the same Perk creates a more powerful version; with three, you can share the Perk's effect with nearby teammates.
You don't need a full squad of three to play; solo and duo options are available. Meanwhile, Remedy is targeting lower minimum PC specs than usual, while also supporting high-end features like DLSS4 with multi-frame generation, nVidia Reflex, and full ray-tracing. The game will be Steam Deck verified and will launch day one on Xbox and PC Game Pass, as well as PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. A post-launch content plan is in place, though details are not yet ready to be shared. Paid cosmetics will be available, but they represent the extent of the microtransactions.
FBC FirebreakRemedy WishlistTo be fair, I haven't had a chance to play FBC: Firebreak myself, so I must temper my enthusiasm. However, it certainly passes the initial eye test. This is clearly not your average multiplayer shooter, and that's a very good thing. The fact that it's designed for quick, satisfying sessions without requiring a huge ongoing time commitment is a refreshing nod to a time when that was the standard.
