(Image credit: Remedy Entertainment)
An emergency siren resounds through the Executive Sector of the Oldest House. It signals hope — a member of the Firebreak team has activated a Safe Room, communicating to the director that progress is being made amidst the turmoil below. Yet, this act disrupts the slumbering Hiss, akin to pouring kerosene onto an ant hill; chaos erupts in the form of swarming foes.
“The first question that we ask ourselves when making creative decisions is whether it’s something that could only exist within the Control universe,” expresses the creative minds behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, a team member readies a pockmarked shotgun, standing vigilant as flames engulf their surroundings. Nearby, another crew member urgently repairs a malfunctioning decontamination shower, battling to rid their suit of sticky notes. As tension mounts, the siren halts. Water cascades — then violence. It’s a standard day for volunteers of the FBC: Firebreak initiative.
Six years have passed since Control, since last encountering Jesse Faden, the beleaguered director of the Federal Bureau of Control. Though she contained a formidable paranatural threat, a trace of the Hiss persists. “The Hiss is still in the Oldest House, and the lockdown can’t be lifted as long as any trace of it remains,” said Faden in 2019. Control 2 has just begun, leaving us pondering the Bureau’s ongoing battles. Fortunately, FBC: Firebreak is poised to reveal part of this mystery upon its release in summer 2025 on PC (Steam), Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
“The Hiss, it turns out, are like ants,” remarks Mike Kayatta, game director. “A war of attrition is impossible to win against them.” Due to dwindling resources, Faden launches the Firebreak Initiative, deploying brave first responders prepared to face peril head-on.
In FBC: Firebreak, you and two allies step into the roles of the Bureau’s unsung heroes. “Bureaucrats by day, warriors by night,” Kayatta explains. Without parautilitarian powers, it’s a gritty task, yet crucial.
Remedy’s first cooperative FPS, Firebreak, remains true to its iconic metaphysical style. Kayatta highlights, “We ensure that each concept is unique to the Control universe.” On our journey, nocturnal sticky notes multiply, consuming those in their path and resurrecting them — an eccentricity typical of Remedy.
Revealed during our Future Games Show: Spring Showcase, “Paper Chase” is a mission fraught with strangeness. Clearing sticky note infestation is the objective, a seemingly simple task escalating as you traverse its sectors. Failure to manage this extraterrestrial phenomenon risks losing a Firebreak operative to the transforming Hiss.
By zone three, you’ll confront Sticky Ricky, a monstrous sticky note formation necessitating seamless team coordination to defeat. Kayatta elaborates, “Crises intensify the deeper you delve.”
While completing Jobs garners reputation in the FBC, surviving the ordeal is a personal triumph. Remedy aims to imbue each mission with high-strangeness, remarkable combat sequences, and exquisite visuals, doubly impressive given their first foray into online co-operative play.
A dedicated team of 50 at Remedy Entertainment harnesses the powerful Northlight Engine to deliver a visually dynamic and mechanically polished experience. Diverging from trends, Firebreak is about quality content over quantity.
Offering engaging ‘Research Perks’ and customizable weapons instead of senseless leveling, Firebreak caters to intrigue without restrictive playstyles. “We’ve created a versatile system for everyone,” says Kayatta, delighted with perks impacting gameplay.
From Resonance Build’s collaborative potentials to altering Threat and Clearance levels, Firebreak invites strategic control of experiences, eschewing monotonous procedures for dynamism.
The Jump Kit appeals to crowd-controlling enthusiasts; the Fix Kit brings melee action; the Splash Kit incorporates elemental strategy. Remedy pursues a shooter allowing freedom and collaboration rather than rigid narrative expansion.
Supporting future content with a principle of free Jobs, Remedy lays its path carefully, ensuring universal access to core features while using cosmetics for financial sustainability. The team’s ambition rests in delivering fluid experiences, not constraining players to progress quotas.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PlayStation Plus integration enriches crossplay prospects, balancing focus on crafting excellence in standalone adventures.
Remedy’s inventive surprises include pivotal elements like decontamination showers, crucial yet tricky to operate, blending humor with survival instincts. Such features underscore Firebreak’s appeal, embodying creative highs and gaming novelties.
The imminent reveal of FBC: Firebreak promises revelations on its unorthodox, fascinating gameplay. Await the eruption of this mind-bending co-op experience this summer, available on all major platforms and ecosystem services.