FBC: Firebreak Is the Control Multiplayer FPS I Didn’t Know I Wanted

Control, IGN's 2019 Game of the Year, surprised many when developer Remedy announced a multiplayer spin-off. My initial skepticism about a multiplayer Control vanished after witnessing a hands-off demo of FBC: Firebreak. This three-player PvE first-person shooter, set six years after Control, is a breath of fresh air in an over-saturated market. Its delightfully weird premise and commitment-free gameplay are major draws. As game director Mike Kayatta stated, "We're not about daily check-ins. We're not interested in monthly grinds. We don't want to give anybody a second job." A sentiment many gamers will appreciate.

FBC: Firebreak offers flexible playtime; enjoy short 20-minute bursts or longer sessions. Perk unlocks and character combinations keep gameplay fresh. The setting? The Oldest House, where you play as volunteer first responders facing escalating threats. Your characters, holding "normal" jobs like secretaries and rangers, are, shall we say, expendable.

FBC: Firebreak - March 2025 Screenshots

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Gameplay begins by selecting a Job (mission), Crisis Kit (loadout), Threat Level (difficulty), and Clearance Level (number of zones). The demo showcased "Paper Chase," set in a mundane FBC office. The Hiss infestation requires teamwork to repel. While you can escape quickly, staying longer yields currency for upgrades. The longer you explore, the riskier the escape becomes.

FBC: Firebreak's unique weaponry sets it apart. Expect unusual, homebrew firearms. A hand-cranked snowball launcher extinguishes fires and sticky-note monsters, while a zapper unleashes lightning storms. A wrench, when paired with a piggy bank, pelts enemies with coins. Standard weapons like machine guns and shotguns are also present, particularly useful against the sticky-note monsters.

The core gameplay involves eliminating sticky notes before they overwhelm the building. The number of notes increases as the mission progresses, culminating in a giant sticky-note monster. Beyond weapons, fun in-universe mechanics exist: ammo-replenishing office supply shelves, makeshift turrets, Hiss-deterrent speakers, and a sticky-note-removing rinse station. Unlockable Perks add further variety, such as a perk returning missed bullets and another allowing self-extinguishing through jumping.

Solo and duo play are supported alongside three-player co-op. FBC targets lower minimum PC specs while supporting DLSS 4, multi-frame generation, Nvidia Reflex, and full ray-tracing. Steam Deck verification is confirmed, and day-one inclusion in Xbox and PC Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Extra, and Premium is planned. Post-launch content is planned, with microtransactions limited to paid cosmetics.

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While I haven't played FBC: Firebreak, initial impressions are highly positive. It's a unique multiplayer shooter, refreshingly low-commitment, harkening back to a time when online games didn't demand constant playtime.