FBC: Firebreak Explained – Gameplay, Story, and More

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Remedy Entertainment, a Finnish game studio, is venturing into new territory with their first co-op shooter game, titled “FBC: Firebreak“. This release coincides with a surge of interest in cooperative shooting games, as numerous multiplayer shooters are set to debut. Despite the unusual style that Remedy is known for, as seen in their game “Control“, non-players should not be deterred. Here’s a list of 15 things to consider before purchasing “FBC: Firebreak“.

The Remedy Connected Universe

In the gritty underbelly of The Oldest House, which serves as the headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Control and is reminiscent of brutalist architecture, resides the storyline of Firebreak. This game is part of Remedy Entertainment’s interconnected universe, a world that long-time fans of Remedy will recognize as the home of both Control and Alan Wake. Although Firebreak incorporates the unique quirkiness and unpredictability that Remedy is known for, players don’t need to have played any of their previous games to fully enjoy this new title. The storyline, for instance, deviates from Remedy’s conventional narrative approach as it is a multiplayer game, allowing ample opportunity for gamers to strategize and communicate during gameplay.

Who is Firebreak?

As a gamer, I’m part of an impromptu squad known as Firebreak. We’re a diverse group of volunteers, mostly first responders but also folks from various departments within the Bureau – from secretaries to middle management. Our mission? To eliminate these chaotic trans-dimensional creatures called Hiss that are wreaking havoc within The Oldest House, a place where concrete and office blocks keep shifting. The Firebrand and Control Bureau (FBC) is equipping us with an arsenal of weapons, specialized gear, and quick on-the-job training. But remember, every mission comes with the risk that we might not make it back.

What is FBC: Firebreak?

This marks Remedy’s debut into creating an online multiplayer cooperative shooting game. In

This is not live service

At the heart of Remedy’s approach for FBC: Firebreak, simplicity is key. They aim to minimize any barriers between launching the game and diving into action, which is why they’ve opted for a one-time flat fee instead of a live service model. This means no seasons, battle passes, or pay-to-win microtransactions. There won’t be any grind, whether daily or monthly. Their goal is to ensure players can quickly join in and enjoy themselves with friends without the game becoming a tedious task.

An experience centered on jobs

In this game, the tasks given by FBC are referred to as jobs, but they’re essentially the familiar objectives you’re accustomed to. However, each job will have unique features: for instance, a crisis related to Hiss that the Firebreak team needs to eliminate, or a specific area within The Oldest House where the squad must navigate, with specific tasks tied to environments and threats. Remedy Entertainment aims to make each job feel different, but there are adjustable parameters players can customize before starting, which we’ll discuss shortly…

Threat level

Fundamentally, adjusting the difficulty level in Firebreak (Firebreak’s setting) affects the aggressiveness of the opponents you and your team encounter during missions. The higher the intensity of the combat, the greater the rewards for completing tasks successfully.

Clearance level

Firebreak’s second feature involves pre-set clearance levels that can be selected before a mission. In essence, this feature divides each task into distinct zones, and the chosen clearance level dictates the number of these zones you and your team must battle through to accomplish the mission successfully. This concept is similar to threat level, with predefined clearance levels setting the scope and type of rewards your squad can acquire. High clearance levels, as confirmed by Remedy, may also grant access to Altered World Items, which for those unfamiliar with Control, are ordinary objects tainted by interdimensional power.

Crisis kits

To put it another way: In Firebreak (FBC), the term “loadouts” refers to the different crisis kits available in the game, each offering unique playstyles for three distinct character classes. For example, the Fix Kit comes with a wrench that can not only repair machinery but also serve as an effective weapon against the Hiss. The Jump Kit revolves around electricity, with charge impactors and boomboxes useful for positioning and managing crowds. Lastly, the Splash Kit focuses on water manipulation, allowing players to modify their surroundings using crank-operated fluidic ejectors and humidifiers.

Requisitions

In the game Firebreak (FBC), there are items called Requisitions that you can collect. These sets include cosmetics, equipment, and weapons. There are two types of Requisitions: those earned through gameplay, which are normal, and Classified Requisitions, which are cosmetic-only microtransactions. The unique aspect is that no Requisition has a time limit; they can be unlocked in any order since they will always be available for players to work towards unlocking multiple Requisitions at the same time.

Perks

In addition to using the currency you’ve earned, you can also invest it in enhancing features known as bonuses. These bonuses can significantly alter your gameplay experience. For instance, you might choose to load your weapons with electric bullets for a shocking effect, or opt for bullets that automatically reload when they miss their target. Other perks could allow you to shrug off radiation or put out fires by jumping repeatedly. Interestingly, these bonuses can be combined, increasing their power when two identical ones are activated at once. Additionally, if you activate three bonuses simultaneously, their effects become shared among your teammates. Lastly, as you gain expertise with your equipment, the effectiveness of any active perks will also increase.

Release date, platforms, and price

On June 17th, 2025, the highly anticipated game Firebreak is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Developed by Remedy Entertainment,

Post-launch content included

Remedy clearly stated that they won’t adopt a live service model for the game FBC: Firebreak. This means no subscription or regular payments will be required after its launch. They have officially declared that all additional content, such as new jobs, boss characters, weapons, customizations, and cosmetics, will be free. However, it’s likely that they may offer some cosmetic items for purchase to maintain the game’s financial health.

Deluxe Edition

Firebreak’s Deluxe Edition, priced at $49.99 / £39.99, comes with the standard game plus two high-quality voice packs, an assortment of exceptional cosmetic items such as weapon skins and armor sets. Additionally, you’ll receive a confidential requisition packed with numerous premium cosmetics for weapons and armor.

Cutting edge tech

At first glance, Firebreak’s visual design leans towards realism, but it seems that Remedy has chosen this art style to emphasize their unique blend of strangeness and humor. However, regardless of the artistic approach, PC gamers can take advantage of advanced technology if their systems are capable – features like full ray tracing, DLSS 4 with multi frame regeneration, and reflex.

PC requirements

At first glance, you may assume that the game’s visually focused design won’t put much strain on your hardware. However, it appears that FBC: Firebreak‘s minimum requirements are quite high, with a recommendation for an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X processor or equivalent and at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card. Additionally, the game requires 16GB of RAM. Since the developers have not yet disclosed all PC requirements, we can only hope that they will reveal less demanding specifications as more information becomes available.

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2025-05-27 16:13