Good morning! Gather makeshift armor using whatever office supplies at hand, join my team, and head down into the fray against extraterrestrial threats. Share showers with my comrades after the harrowing ordeal of dodging terrifying attacks by these invaders. Use a water cannon to defend myself as they attempt to tear me apart. Then, back to the elevator for another day’s work at the Oldest House – just an ordinary 8-to-5 filled with intense battles!
The recently released “Firebreak” from Remedy Entertainment represents a distinct departure for this renowned Finnish studio, marking a new and unique direction in their creative journey.
Bypassing storytelling finesse and dramatic film sequences, FBC: Firebreak offers a cooperative gameplay experience designed for repeated playthroughs with varying modifiers. Throughout the game, several systems are incorporated to purposefully create obstacles, ensuring chaos can easily ensue if you’re not vigilant.
As an analyst, I find it necessary to provide a work-in-progress review for FBC: Firebreak, given that it’s a multiplayer title. I wish to ensure that the game’s servers remain stable and allow me ample time to delve deeper into its intricate progression system.
Over the next few days, I plan to re-evaluate this review and assign it a star rating based on my current impressions. Here are my initial thoughts:
This review was created with a product sample given generously by Remedy Entertainment. They didn’t preview the content prior to its release.
What is FBC: Firebreak?
- It’s a first-person co-op shooter from Remedy Entertainment.
- The game launched on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.
- It sells for $40 in the U.S, and is also on Xbox Game Pass and PS+.
Firebreak, a first-person cooperative shooter, was developed and published by Remedy Entertainment. It falls within the Remedy Connected Universe, an ongoing setting that includes everything related to Alan Wake and Control, and is set sometime following the events of 2019’s Control game.
Friendly Reminder: This game incorporates extensive backstory and specialized vocabulary similar to Control, which could potentially make understanding it easier if you’re already acquainted with that title. However, fear not! Even without prior knowledge, you’ll still be able to pick up the basics and enjoy the experience.
| Category | FBC: Firebreak |
|---|---|
| Release date | June 17, 2025 |
| Developer | Remedy Entertainment |
| Publisher | Remedy Entertainment |
| Genre | First-person shooter, co-op |
| Players | 1-3 |
| Install size | 18.75GB |
| Playtime | N/A (replayable co-op missions) |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PlayStation 5 |
| Xbox Game Pass | Yes |
| Reviewed on | Windows PC |
In the game titled “Firebreak: Fireteam”, players assume control over a three-member team, kitting out with firearms, special artifacts, and everyday office equipment, with the objective of repelling waves of extraterrestrial Hiss invaders that keep streaming into the Oldest House.
Subsequently, players will be tasked with accomplishing various tasks ranging from the routine, such as repairing fans to maintain a comfortable temperature in a room, to the peculiar, like ensuring that an indoor ski lift is adequately stocked with mannequins to keep it content.
FBC: Firebreak review — Story and characters
- The story and narrative in FBC: Firebreak are extremely barebones.
- You fight Hiss in the Oldest House as part of the Federal Bureau of Control.
- There isn’t much more to go on at this time.
In the ancient building known as The Oldest House, previously seen in Control, the staff are putting up a resistance against endless floods of Hiss invaders who keep surging forward.
Although the storyline in this setup appears quite minimalistic, it lacks intricate layers and relies heavily on background conversations among the Firebreakers as they maintain the Oldest House. References to Jesse Faden’s actions or the eerie Threshold Kids TV program are made occasionally, but for the majority of the time, the narrative primarily revolves around these ambient dialogues.
It appears there’s an intentional decision to maintain a minimal budget, and while this isn’t inherently problematic, I found myself yearning for a deeper narrative or more background information to enhance the experience.
FBC: Firebreak review — Gameplay and features
- Different tools and weapons will help a team in unique ways.
- There are numerous interacting gameplay systems with fire, water, electricity, radiation, and more.
- Levels open up and get larger on replay with higher Clearance levels.
In terms of the gameplay, there seems to be a bit more refinement compared to the demo version I tested in May, but overall, it feels like the same title. At Summer Game Fest 2025, I had the chance to try out the final review build of FBC: Firebreak, and my gaming experience from that event has been mirrored here.
It’s possible for you to play solo, but it’s more beneficial to have at least one partner, and ideally a team of three is strongly suggested. This is primarily because when playing together, team members can utilize distinct uniforms (Kits).
Playing alone is an option, but it’s much more enjoyable if you have at least one other player as a teammate. Ideally, a team of three players would be perfect for the best experience.
A Fix-It Set will enable a player to fix equipment at a faster pace, activating lights and turrets promptly. At the same time, a Splash Kit offers essential water, making it simpler to eliminate Sticky Notes (a significant danger) and clean off friends from various messes like fire, radiation, and explosive Pink (yes, that’s its name).
The core of this game lies in numerous mechanisms which often lead to conflicts among players and the game world, creating an atmosphere similar to that found in Helldivers 2, filled with possibilities for disorder.
A humidifier disperses water throughout the area, providing relief from heat for everyone. However, when a character equipped with a Splash Kit employs a specific skill, they can target it with scalding water, transforming the peaceful sauna into a lethal danger zone for both enemies and allies.
In the process of recovering missing resources and unique specimens by breaking down modified objects, you’ll receive distinctive bonuses that are beneficial for studying fresh abilities. With each advancement, you gain access to more perk slots, thereby expanding your tactical options as time goes on.
This system motivates players to take on tougher challenges and mission sizes, with the levels themselves increasing the scope of the mission as they progress. For instance, the Job Paper Chase starts off as a quick, straightforward task at Level 1, but by Level 3, it transforms into a thrilling race against time to defeat a colossal boss.
At first glance, acquiring the top-tier weapons and skills seems incongruous with the small variety of Professions offered upon release.
Currently, Remedy is indicating that there will be additional missions rolled out gradually, however, the process for obtaining the top-tier gear in the game feels repetitive and laborious at this point. While I’m willing to replay a few missions, the excessive effort required to acquire the finest weapons and abilities seems disproportionate to the limited number of Jobs available at launch.
FBC: Firebreak review — Visuals and audio
- FBC: Firebreak runs on Remedy’s proprietary Northlight engine.
- The game looks great, with detailed textures and ray tracing available.
- Performance is solid, but don’t change graphics options mid-match.
Firebreak, Remedy’s Northlight engine’s first-person introduction, operates smoothly, as expected. On an RTX 3070 graphics card and SATA SSD, I played the game primarily at high settings, with ray tracing and ray reconstruction activated, consistently achieving a steady 60 FPS without any noticeable problems.
Every time I adjusted settings in the game’s graphics menu during gameplay, the frame rate significantly decreased (dropping to 15 frames per second or less), regardless of what was happening in the game.
In this game, the smooth and pristine visuals of Control reappear, accompanied by a world that invites hands-on exploration. When used tactically, fire extinguishers burst into action, temporarily weakening enemies. Additionally, water sprinklers can be triggered, causing them to release a refreshing blast that cools the game’s surroundings.
Every time I modified anything within the game’s graphics settings while actively playing, my frame rate plummeted significantly (down to 15 FPS or less), even during periods of low activity in the game.
To ensure a smooth experience while testing your setup with ray tracing both on and off, always modify the settings when you’re navigating within the primary menu.
Veteran collaborator Petri Alanko is back to create the soundtrack for Firebreak, and his work is commendable, boasting several pulse-quickening tracks that effectively intensify the action as a horde of Hiss rush towards you.
To enhance clarity, consider reducing the volume of background game sounds slightly. This adjustment will help the music and character dialogues become more prominent.
FBC: Firebreak review — Accessibility and approachability
- FBC: Firebreak only has a handful of accessibility options like subtitle size.
- More customization options are needed in future updates.
- Newcomers should be able to jump in without playing Control.
As a tech-savvy individual, I’ve discovered some fantastic customization features within Firebreak that cater to accessibility. For instance, you can adjust the size of subtitles for easier reading or minimize camera shake originating from different sources, ensuring a smoother gaming experience.
To be honest, it feels quite sparse compared to the rich features I’ve encountered in other contemporary shooter games lately.
In the game “Firebreak”, though it takes place within the universe of “Control”, its concise storyline allows players who haven’t experienced Jesse Faden’s initial adventure to follow along without any trouble.
Veteran players are likely to enjoy exploring fresh settings and finding hidden references along the way, while novice players can comfortably join in the fun as well.
FBC: Firebreak review — My final thoughts
✅You should buy this if …
- You enjoy co-op games and first-person shooters.
Firebreak offers an enjoyable multiplayer experience, especially when played with a couple of friends. I’m consistently uncovering intriguing ways the game mechanics complement each other. If you’ve previously enjoyed cooperative games that focus on battling waves of enemies while completing objectives, you’re likely to find this game entertaining.
❌You should not buy this if …
- You prefer playing shooters by yourself.
Playing FBC: Firebreak on your own is theoretically feasible, but it’s not the intended experience. As you progress to higher difficulties and Clearance levels, you’ll find that these settings are virtually unplayable solo. The game mechanics heavily rely on interactions between players, allowing them to help or hinder each other.
Previously mentioned, I’m currently working on providing a detailed review as I need additional time to delve into the game’s progression system and verify that the servers function smoothly. In due course, you can expect an update including my concluding thoughts and a rating.
From a candid standpoint, I haven’t foreseen my ultimate impressions about Firebreak undergoing significant alterations, given its genre as a multiplayer, persistent online game. I preferred to observe the initial launch and gather player feedback before offering a rating and concluding thoughts.
So far, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Firebreak (FBC). It offers an enjoyable experience when playing with one or more friends, offering numerous intriguing gameplay mechanics that interact in creative ways.
Discovering that I could find leech pearls when hissing was being irradiated gave me an incredible feeling, and there have been many more such thrilling instances since then.
Simultaneously, it can’t be argued that the process is a lengthy and grueling journey, especially given that the game isn’t designed to resemble another job.
Remedy is set to debut two fresh job positions later this year, expanding the current roster. Although I’m not anticipating elaborate cinematic sequences, I would appreciate it if the team could flesh out a bit more narrative background, particularly in a meta sense, as we move towards Control 2.
Firebreak is currently playable on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5. You can access it through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium subscription services as well.
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2025-06-17 20:40