Initial release date: June 17, 2025
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Engine: Northlight Engine
Publisher: Remedy Entertainment
Genre: Shooter game
License: proprietary license
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Matches are quick (5 min)
- Gun play felt good minus the SMG
- Connected to Control but no story or lore
- PVE
- Play Solo or three player Coop
- Plenty of Perks to unlock
- Plenty of Weapons upgrades
- Tutorial levels you up for grenade unlock
- Three starting Kits (heros)
- Easy to learn mechanics
- Not weird enough for a Remedy game
- Light on content at launch
- Kits use different yet important gameplay mechanics
- This game needs cutscenes
- Nice visuals and art
- Sound design and music seriously lacking
- Got dropped from a few matches
- Map design good
- Needs more tutorials
- Played on Xbox Series X via Gamepass
- The Oldest House
- No Jessie Faden
- Visual screen flickering
Introduction
As far as Remedy games go I beaten all three Max Paynes (3 was Rockstar). I beaten all Alan Wakes including their DLCs. Beaten Quantum Break. Lastly, beaten Control which brings me to FBC: Firebreak. Why Remedy?
So FBC: Firebreak is a solo or three person squad first person shooter player versus environment (PVE) video game. As far as I know FBC: Firebreak is the second FPS game Remedy made behind CrossfireX which I never played.
Presentation
As for FBC: Firebreak’s presentation goes it’s good and not so good. The core concept of you playing as a Firebreaker to clean up Federal Bureau of Control’s headquarters, “The Oldest House” is a good concept. The core gameplay is fun, short albeit confusing at times.
There were a few visual screen flickering bugs on the Xbox Series X gamepass version. I was disconnected from a few matches due to host drops? Frames weren’t consistent and didn’t seem to run at 60 all the time or does it?
You don’t start out overpowered but more underpowered in FBC: Firebreak. I completed the tutorial that unlocked grenades and an “athlete” perk right off the bat for my kits. I’m thinking with some time I could unlock everything at a good pace.
The biggest misshap with this entire game has to be story or any real fleshed out connection to Control. I collected the intel from the bosses and listened to the banter within the menu screens but that’s not good enough. And where’s the weirdness? This is Remedy here we’re talking about. The overall presentation was too tame for me.
Story
You play a Firebreaker sent in to clean up the Federal Bureau of Control’s headquarters, “The Oldest House” post the events of the Control video game. That’s pretty much it. There is no real story in this game.
Gameplay
It’s fun. The core gameplay of shooting various Hiss was solid with shotguns and revolvers. Grenades had impact. The SMG was too light and floaty feeling. Each Map Mission has different priorities whether it’s killing paper sticky notes or loading leech pearls onto a shuttle.
You can customize your Firebreaker with unlocks for new voices, helmets, gloves and more. Perk trees are filled with unlocks that will take time to uncover but well worth implementing.
My favorite Kit was the Splash kit due to it being a healer class of sorts. Next for me was the Fix Kit due to being able to fix shit super fast that bypasses those stupid QTEs. The least Kit I enjoyed was the Jump Kit. There are plenty of Requisition unlocks for weapon upgrades and grenades etc.
You can customize the match’s length as well difficulty which will net you more of less XP depending on where you put the slider. Maps are designed really good. You have down time to buy in-match ammo and whatnot. This isn’t a shoot to thrill all match type of PVE game.
Visuals
The visuals were pretty good with art reminiscent of Control’s just with bolder colors. Textures and light could’ve been bumped up since I don’t think this game ran at sixty frames locked.
Sound
The weakest part. The music was bad and that’s coming from a guy who doesn’t care about music in the majority of games he beaten. Yet, the music was low, uninspired and washed out. The dialogue and voice acting was subpar and generic.
FBC: Firebreak: It's a decent PVE coop shooter built into Control's universe without the story or weirdness of Control. Matches are fast to complete which is great. Gunplay felt solid. Terrible sound design. Try it on Gamepass for yourself. – Jason
