When a studio tries something new, it’s exciting, but also a bit nerve-wracking. Remedy Entertainment is best known for atmospheric, story-driven games like Alan Wake, Control, and Max Payne. The Finnish powerhouse has shaped gaming over the years with innovative mechanics and design. So few expected their next release to be a co-op first-person shooter with extraction elements. Yet here we are. FBC: Firebreak is a wildcard, set in the Control universe, and marks Remedy’s first multiplayer title.
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Taking place six years after Control, you play as part of a squad called Firebreakers. Your mission is to defend the Oldest House for the Federal Bureau of Control while a long-standing lockdown remains in place.
You and two teammates team up to eliminate ex-co-workers now controlled by the Hiss, the series’ antagonists.
Alternative Storytelling
One of the most noticeable aspects is the lack of strong storytelling. Aside from brief chats in the mission lobby, there’s not much narrative, leaving the gameplay to do the heavy lifting.
You tackle one of five jobs, each split into three sub-tasks. Clear a level and unlock the next, gradually opening a large bunker door that links the mission together.
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Tasks start off simple, almost laughable, but escalate. For instance, stage one might have you collecting nuclear material, stage two pushing it to a point, and stage three launching it via rocket.
Each job is fun initially but lacks variation. You can raise the threat level, adding stronger enemies, and introduce a corruption level that adds modifiers—like temporarily stripping away your shield. Corrupted items can stack, making things much tougher. While objectives remain the same, combat challenges shift.
Daily Grind
Gunplay is solid but requires grinding to unlock better weapons. There are three tiers, and you earn them with mission points. The arsenal includes two shotguns, an SMG, an LMG, and two pistols, not a huge selection.
You can unlock them in any order, provided you’ve got the points. This is a change from the original battle pass-style progression.
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Buffs and perks let you heal faster, complete tasks quickly, or boost shields. They’re fun to experiment with, but only become useful when you increase difficulty. Many are locked behind level progression, so again, a bit of a grind.
Then there’s the Crisis Kit, which is a backpack available in three versions. One comes with a wrench that repairs items, another has a water pump to heal allies, and one gives you a jump cannon to leap higher. These kits are essential. A team running all three can combine their functions in fights or save time by bypassing obstacles.
In the Style of Control
Visually, the game channels Control, but through an FPS lens. That’s no bad thing as it keeps the tone and art direction intact. Weapon sounds are punchy, and the soundtrack adapts well when action kicks off.
FBC: Firebreak is a solid shooter, and being on Game Pass and PS Plus helps. Its £40/€50 standalone price feels steep for just five missions. That said, Remedy has made it less grindy and more accessible since launch.
It clearly has room to grow, and hopefully future updates will bring more missions, enemies, gear, and abilities. Time will tell. Right now, it’s a co-op experience best enjoyed with friends. Once you’ve seen all five missions, there’s not much keeping you unless you’re up for the grind and challenge.
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