(Image credit: Remedy Entertainment)
An alarm reverberates through the Executive Sector of the Oldest House. A member of the Firebreak team signals progress and assistance by activating a Safe Room, alarming the Hiss into an aggressive awakening. It’s akin to igniting an ant hill with kerosene – chaos erupts.
“The first question that we ask ourselves when making creative decisions is whether it’s something that could only exist within the Control universe”
A colleague loads a shotgun, preparing for battle as flames consume the room. Meanwhile, another strives to repair a decontamination shower. It’s chaos. The siren ceases, water flows, and blood is spilled—a typical day for volunteers at FBC: Firebreak.
It’s been six years since Control and its enigmatic director, Jesse Faden, contained but didn’t obliterate the Hiss. “The Hiss is still in the Oldest House, and the lockdown can’t be lifted as long as any trace remains,” recalled Faden in 2019. But the cryptic tales within the Bureau’s headquarters remain untold until the revelation of FBC: Firebreak, expected in summer 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
Mike Kayatta, game director, elucidates, “The Hiss, it turns out, are kind of like ants. It’s war you can’t win through sheer attrition.” Hence, Director Faden endorses the Firebreak Initiative, deploying employees into unchecked Hangars of the Oldest House for perilous missions.
In FBC: Firebreak, your battle doesn’t involve extraordinary powers. You’re the unheralded heroes fighting after hours. “Bureaucrats by day, heroes by necessity,” says Kayatta. Remedy’s journey into co-op FPS territory doesn’t forgo its metaphysical trademark, veering into first-person while retaining the essence of their celebrated games.
At our Future Games Show, one peculiar mission, Paper Chase, unveils clues. In this hilariously odd reality, sticky notes morph into monstrous entities. “Sticky notes have transformed, consuming people and resurrecting them as monsters,” shares Kayatta with a laugh.
For Remedy, what’s bizarre is merely standard. In FBC: Firebreak, each Job is unique, shaped by its location in the Oldest House. New and returning sectors challenge players with distinct crises and enemies. Kayatta mentions, “Each Job introduces dynamic mechanics—enemies, and environment criteria shifting your strategy.”
A task like Paper Chase involves clearing an infestation of sticky notes, progressing through zones rife with enemies and reanimated corpses. Coordination is vital to navigate such chaos.
By zone three, you’ll face Sticky Ricky, an ominous culmination of sticky notes. Jobs deepen to test your mettle, as emphasized by Kayatta, “The threat deepens in these sectors, spiraling into chaos.”
The mission criteria are dual-tiered—you execute the FBC’s orders and ensure your survival, as per Kayatta: “Competitive triumph lies in balancing mission objectives and survival.” Remedy hints that its Jobs will introduce trademark high-strangeness and other developments freely post-launch.
Embracing session-based multiplayer, Remedy orchestrates a team adept in genre and experience. Precise movement, cinematic combat, and visual brilliance manifest through the Northlight Engine— from Control and Alan Wake 2.
Yet, beyond aesthetics, Remedy innovates with a system that invites perpetual replay. Weapon customization refines your approach without complexity, and volume control over personal armament and skills accommodates diverse tactics.
Research Perks, a key feature, shift your gameplay profoundly. Experiment with almost 50 perks available, like bullet recall or Black Rock shoes emitting disorienting clouds. Balance among perks evolves naturally, inviting collaboration between teammates.
Free Job updates accompany paid cosmetics—equitable access to content was paramount for Remedy. All players will explore without barriers simultaneously.
With crossplay between PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X synchronized at launch, FBC: Firebreak is prepared to breach the online co-op space.
The decision to build fewer, superior maps implies quality trumps quantity in Firebreak. Remedy’s distinct ability to intertwine surreal charm with teamwork differentiates them.
Take the ingenious concept of decontamination showers—team collaboration has intertwined risk-reward into its efficacy. A next-level take on basic game elements truly pushes the experience forward.
As we await FBC: Firebreak’s release this summer, curiosity around how Remedy will channel its inventive energy into the competitive online territory remains high. For updates, follow GamesRadar+ for insights from our visit to the studio.