Control was crowned IGN's Game of the Year in 2019, and I was among the editors who voted for it. So, when Remedy, the studio renowned for crafting compelling single-player stories in third-person games, announced they were venturing into multiplayer territory with Control, my skepticism was palpable. But that project, revealed as FBC: Firebreak, a three-player PvE first-person multiplayer shooter set six years post-Control, quickly dispelled my doubts. In the hands-off demo I experienced, Firebreak emerged as refreshingly original in a crowded genre, delightfully weird amidst a sea of similar military and sci-fi online shooters, and best of all, it doesn’t demand a massive time commitment like many of its peers. As game director Mike Kayatta aptly 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." A sentiment worth repeating for those at the back.
FBC: Firebreak is a three-player co-op FPS that promises a no-nonsense experience. You can dive in for a quick 20-minute session or linger for hours, with Perk unlocks and new character combinations keeping each run fresh. But what's the premise? You're essentially volunteer first responders within The Oldest House when chaos erupts. Your characters are everyday workers—secretaries, rangers, and other "normal" occupations—answering the call of duty. The Federal Bureau of Control might not label you as expendable, but, well, you get the drift.
FBC: Firebreak - March 2025 Screenshots
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Upon logging in, you select a Job (mission) and a Crisis Kit (loadout), set the Threat Level (difficulty), and Clearance Level, which dictates how many zones you'll traverse. These zones are divided by containment doors leading to the next Job stage. The demo showcased a Job named Paper Chase, set in a seemingly mundane office section of the FBC building, where you and your teammates must combat the spreading Hiss.
Escape is always an option, but to acquire currencies for gear upgrades, you need to make it back to HQ safely. The longer you explore for currency, the tougher your return journey becomes.
Where FBC: Firebreak truly distinguishes itself is in its arsenal. The weaponry is charmingly unconventional, with a homebrew aesthetic. Consider the hand-cranked snowball launcher that can douse fires or soak sticky-note monsters, or the makeshift zapper that can unleash lightning storms with the right nozzle. And let's not forget the large wrench, which, when paired with a squeaky piggy bank toy, pelts opponents with coins. Traditional weapons like machine guns and shotguns are also available, the latter being essential for dealing with the soaked or zapped sticky-note monsters.
The Job's main objective is to eradicate all sticky notes before they overrun the brutalist building. Keep an eye on the upper left corner to track the number of notes left, which increases as the mission progresses, culminating in a showdown with a gigantic sticky-note monster reminiscent of Spider-Man 3's Sandman, but made of Post-It notes.
Beyond the quirky weaponry, Firebreak introduces engaging in-universe mechanics. An office supply shelf refills ammo, a makeshift turret is built from a box, a stereo speaker keeps the Hiss at bay, and a rinse station removes aggressive sticky notes from your face. Unlockable Perks add further variety, such as one that allows missed bullets to return to your clip or another that lets you extinguish flames by jumping up and down. Duplicate Perks amplify their effects, and triplicates allow you to share the benefits with nearby teammates.
Notably, you don't need three players to enjoy the game; solo and duo play are supported. Remedy aims for a lower minimum PC spec while also supporting DLSS4, multi-frame generation, nVidia Reflex, and full ray-tracing. FBC: Firebreak will be Steam Deck verified and launch on day one with Xbox and PC Game Pass, alongside PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. While Remedy has a post-launch content plan in the works, details remain under wraps. Paid cosmetics will be available, but these will be the extent of the microtransactions.
FBC FirebreakRemedy Wishlist
Although I haven't played FBC: Firebreak yet, my initial impressions are highly positive. This game is far from the typical multiplayer shooter, in the best possible way. Its design as a quick, enjoyable online experience without the need for extensive ongoing commitment harks back to a time when such games were the norm.
