FBC: Firebreak
{{Short description|2025 video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = FBC: Firebreak
| image = FBC Firebreak Cover.jpg
| developer = Remedy Entertainment
| publisher = Remedy Entertainment
| series =
| director = Mike Kayatta
| producer =
| designer = Anssi Hyytiäinen
| programmer =
| artist = James Tottman
| writer = Mike Kayatta
| composer = Petri Alanko
| platforms = {{ubl|PlayStation 5|Windows|Xbox Series X/S}}
| engine = Northlight
| released = 17 June 2025
| genre = First-person shooter
| modes = Multiplayer
}}
FBC: Firebreak is a 2025 first-person shooter video game developed and published by Remedy Entertainment. Set six years after the events of Control, it follows a special unit of soldiers named Firebreak. It is Remedy's first multiplayer game.
FBC: Firebreak was released for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S on 17 June 2025. The game received mixed reviews from critics.
Gameplay
FBC: Firebreak is a team-based player versus environment first-person shooter, in which a group of three players-taking on the role of the Federal Bureau of Control's "Firebreak" containment teams-must venture into the Oldest House to eliminate various human enemies controlled by the extradimensional Hiss. The game is set after the events of Control.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/10/control-spin-off-co-op-first-person-shooter-fbc-firebreak-announced-for-ps5-xbox-series-and-pc|title=Control spin-off co-op first-person shooter FBC: Firebreak announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC|first=Sal|last=Romano|work=Gematsu|date=17 October 2024|accessdate=17 October 2024}}
Development and release
The project was announced in June 2021 under the codename of "Condor" in a press release by Remedy Entertainment.{{Cite news |first=Andy |last=Chalk |date=2021-06-29 |title=Remedy is working on a new, 'bigger budget' Control game and multiplayer spinoff |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/remedy-is-working-on-a-new-bigger-budget-control-game-and-multiplayer-spinoff/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}} It was intended to be co-published and developed by 505 Games, the publisher on the first Control game.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/29/22556013/remedy-condor-control-multiplayer-spinoff-game|title=Remedy's Project Condor is a multiplayer spinoff of Control|first=Cameron|last=Faulkner|work=The Verge|date=30 June 2021|accessdate=19 October 2024}} In February 2024, Remedy Entertainment announced it had bought the rights to the Control franchise, including the publishing rights for the game, from 505 Games for €17 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/remedy-has-taken-back-control-of-the-control-series-from-505-games|title=Remedy Has Taken Back Control of the Control Series From 505 Games|first=George|last=Yang|work=IGN|date=21 March 2024|accessdate=19 October 2024}} In April 2024, it was confirmed by Remedy that the initial budget for the game was stated to be €25 million. It was also confirmed to be pay-to-play, as opposed to many other multiplayer games.{{Cite web|date=29 April 2024|title=Remedy's Control multiplayer game has entered full production|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/remedys-control-multiplayer-game-has-entered-full-production/|access-date=18 October 2024|website=Video Games Chronicle|first=Tom|last=Ivan}} Commenting on the nature of the game, game director Mike Kayatta said that FBC was "not designed to be some kind of lesser, bite-sized Control. FBC: Firebreak is its own, fully formed thing".{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/remedys-new-game-is-fbc-firebreak-a-co-op-shooter-in-the-control-universe-180702570.html|title=Remedy's new game is FBC: Firebreak, a co-op shooter in the Control universe|first=Anna|last=Washenko|date=18 October 2024|accessdate=19 October 2024|work=Engadget}}
FBC: Firebreak was revealed during the Xbox Partner preview in October 2024. A gameplay trailer was released in March 2025, along with further details of the lack of live service aspects. Remedy said that the game is designed to be easy to pick up and play, with no daily check-ins, battle passes or other fear of missing out elements to retain player engagement.{{Cite web |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=2024-10-17 |title=Xbox Partner Preview {{!}} FBC: Firebreak – Learn More About Remedy's First Ever Multiplayer Game |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/10/17/fbc-firebreak-control-xbox-partner-preview/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Xbox Wire |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hore |first=Jamie |date=2025-03-20 |title=FBC Firebreak rejects live service tedium and embraces unique co-op chaos |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/fbc-firebreak/control-co-op-game-preview |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Erskine |first=Donovan |date=2025-03-20 |title=FBC: Firebreak wants players to have fun without feeling like they've got a second job |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/143478/fbc-firebreak-preview |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Shacknews |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sinha |first=Ravi |date=2025-03-24 |title=FBC: Firebreak Won't Have Battle Passes, Limited-Time Events, or Daily Check-Ins |url=https://gamingbolt.com/fbc-firebreak-wont-have-battle-passes-limited-time-events-or-daily-check-ins |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=GamingBolt |language=en-US}}
The game was released on 17 June 2025{{cite web|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|date=24 April 2025|title=FBC: Firebreak, Remedy's Co-Op FPS Set in the World of Control, Has a Release Date|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/fbc-firebreak-remedys-co-op-fps-set-in-the-world-of-control-has-a-release-date|website=IGN|access-date=24 April 2025}}{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Keith |date=2025-03-21 |title=Remedy Entertainment's FBC: Firebreak Arrives Summer 2025 |url=https://www.theouterhaven.net/remedy-entertainments-fbc-firebreak-arrives-summer-2025/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=The Outerhaven |language=en-US}} for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S as a "mid-priced" title, with post-launch content at no additional cost. It was released at launch for PlayStation Plus, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. It is also both Remedy's first multiplayer game and their first self-published game.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/remedys-control-multiplayer-game-revealed-as-fbc-firebreak/1100-6527233/|title=Remedy's Control Multiplayer Game Revealed As FBC Firebreak|first=Mark|last=Delaney|work=GameSpot|date=18 October 2024|accessdate=18 October 2024}}
Reception
{{expand section|date=June 2025}}
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (PC) 65/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/fbc-firebreak/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=FBC: Firebreak for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
(PS5) 65/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/fbc-firebreak/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=FBC: Firebreak for PlayStation 5 Reviews |website=Metacritic |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
(XSXS) 65/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/fbc-firebreak/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |title=FBC: Firebreak for Xbox Series X/S Reviews |website=Metacritic |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
| OC = 36% recommend{{cite web |url=https://opencritic.com/game/18457/fbc-firebreak |title=FBC: Firebreak Reviews |website=OpenCritic |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
| Destruct = 7.5/10{{cite web |last=Duwe |first=Scott |date=17 June 2025 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/fbc-firebreak-review/ |title=FBC: Firebreak review – Some potential for good friendship fun, for free—for now |website=Destructoid |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
| DT = 2.5/5{{cite web |last=Colantonio |first=Giovanni |date=20 June 2025 |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/fbc-firebreak-review/ |title=FBC: Firebreak review: co-op Control spinoff is a lot of work for little payoff |website=Digital Trends |accessdate=20 June 2025}}
| EuroG = 3/5{{cite web |last=Donlan |first=Christian |date=20 June 2025 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/fbc-firebreak-review |title=FBC Firebreak review - a really weird game |website=Eurogamer |accessdate=20 June 2025}}
| GSpot = 8/10{{cite web |last=Delaney |first=Mark |date=18 June 2025 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fbc-firebreak-review-controlled-chaos/1900-6418376/ |title=FBC: Firebreak Review - Controlled Chaos |website=GameSpot |accessdate=18 June 2025}}
| GRadar = 2/5{{cite web |last=Stone |first=Abbie |date=17 June 2025 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/fbc-firebreak-review/ |title=FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special" |website=GamesRadar |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
| IGN = 6/10{{cite web |last=Thwaites |first=Sarah |date=27 June 2025 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/fbc-firebreak-review |title=FBC: Firebreak Review |website=IGN |accessdate=27 June 2025}}
| PCGUS = 60/100{{cite web |last=Lane |first=Rick |date=17 June 2025 |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/fbc-firebreak-review/ |title=FBC: Firebreak review |website=PC Gamer |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
| PSQ = 6/10{{cite web |last=Bayne |first=Aaron |date=17 June 2025 |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/fbc-firebreak |title=FBC: Firebreak Review (PS5) |website=Push Square |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
| SN = 8/10{{cite web |last=Erskine |first=Donovan |date=17 June 2025 |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/144733/fbc-firebreak-review-score |title=FBC: Firebreak review: The trials and tribulations of the working class |website=Shacknews |accessdate=17 June 2025}}
| TR = 1.5/5{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Dashiell |date=19 June 2025 |url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/fbc-firebreak-review |title=The first hour of FBC: Firebreak is absolutely miserable, and it doesn't get much better from there |website=TechRadar |accessdate=19 June 2025}}
}}
FBC: Firebreak received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. OpenCritic determined that 36% of critics recommended the game.
Push Square{{'}}s Aaron Bayne said that "those opening levels, which every player must grind through, feel lifeless, and it honestly takes a while before the semblance of a spark is found in Firebreak." Eurogamer{{'}}s Christian Donlan praised the game's unique premise, but feels that it needs more substance to satisfy the Remedy Entertainment fanbase.
The game attracted more than 1 million players by June 26, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/despite-limping-on-steam-charts-with-a-24-hour-peak-of-less-than-200-fbc-firebreak-hits-1-million-players-milestone-and-lets-face-it-its-probably-game-pass/|title=Despite limping on Steam charts with a 24-hour peak of less than 200, FBC: Firebreak hits 1 million players milestone—and, let's face it, it's probably Game Pass|first=Harvey|last=Randall|work=PC Gamer|date=June 28, 2025|accessdate=June 28, 2025}}
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.playfirebreak.com/}}
{{Remedy Entertainment}}
Category:Cooperative video games
Category:First-person shooters
Category:Multiplayer video games
Category:Remedy Entertainment games
Category:Video games about the paranormal