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

Control was crowned IGN's Game of the Year in 2019, and I was among the editors who voted for it. So, when Remedy, a studio renowned for crafting compelling single-player narratives in third-person games, announced they were venturing into multiplayer territory with Control, I was initially skeptical. The project, named FBC: Firebreak, turned out to be a three-player PvE first-person multiplayer shooter set six years after the events of Control. However, after witnessing a hands-off demo, my doubts were quickly dispelled. Firebreak stands out as refreshingly original in a crowded market, delightfully quirky amidst a sea of generic military and sci-fi online shooters, and best of all, it doesn't demand a massive time commitment like many of its peers. As game director Mike Kayatta emphasized, "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 worth repeating for those in the back.

FBC: Firebreak is a three-player co-op FPS that promises a no-nonsense experience. You can dive in for a quick 20-minute session or spend a few hours, with Perk unlocks and new character combinations keeping the gameplay fresh for repeat runs. But what exactly are you doing back in The Oldest House, armed with an array of bizarre weaponry? You're stepping into the shoes of volunteer first responders when things go awry. Your characters are everyday workers—secretaries, rangers, and others—who answer the call of duty. The Federal Bureau of Control might not call you expendable, but let's face it, you are.

FBC: Firebreak - March 2025 Screenshots

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When you log in to play, you select a Job (mission) and a Crisis Kit (your loadout), set the Threat Level (difficulty), and choose your Clearance Level, which determines the number of zones you'll navigate in a run. These zones are separated by containment doors, leading you to the next stage of the Job. The mission I saw, called Paper Chase, unfolds in a seemingly mundane office section of the FBC building. The Hiss are spreading, and it's up to you and your two teammates to push them back.

You can make a quick exit if you wish, but to acquire currencies for upgrading and purchasing new gear, you must escape safely with them. The longer you explore for currency, the more challenging it becomes to return to HQ unscathed.

FBC: Firebreak distinguishes itself from other multiplayer shooters with its unique arsenal. Many of the guns have a charmingly unusual, homebrew feel, like the hand-cranked snowball launcher that can extinguish fires (or your fiery friends) and douse the sticky-note monster (more on that later). There's also a cobbled-together zapper that, when equipped with the right nozzle, can unleash lightning storms on a room full of enemies. And don't forget the large wrench, which, when fitted with a squeaky piggy bank toy, sends a swirl of coins flying at your opponents. Of course, there are still staples like machine guns and shotguns—the latter being essential for dealing with the sticky-note monsters after you've soaked or zapped them.

Speaking of those sticky-note monsters, the entire purpose of the Paper Chase Job is to eliminate them before they overrun the brutalist building. Keep an eye on the number of sticky notes left to destroy in the upper left corner; it will increase as the mission progresses, culminating in a showdown with a gigantic sticky-note monster reminiscent of Sandman from Spider-Man 3, but made of Post-It notes instead of sand.

But it's not just about the quirky weapons. FBC: Firebreak also features fun in-universe gameplay mechanics, such as an office supply shelf that replenishes your ammo, a makeshift turret you assemble from a box, a stereo speaker that repels the Hiss, and a rinse station that removes aggressive sticky notes from your face. Unlockable Perks add more variety and excitement to the gameplay. Examples include a Perk where missed bullets have a chance to return to your clip, and another that lets you extinguish yourself by jumping up and down. If you get two of the same Perk, you receive a stronger version; with three, you can share the effect with nearby teammates.

You don't need three players to enjoy FBC: Firebreak; solo and duo play are also options. Remedy is targeting a lower minimum PC spec than usual, but on the high end, FBC will support DLSS4 with multi-frame generation, nVidia Reflex, and full ray-tracing. It will be Steam Deck verified and launch on Xbox and PC Game Pass on day one, alongside PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. While Remedy has a post-launch content plan in the works, details are not yet available. There will be paid cosmetics, but these will be the extent of the microtransactions.

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While I haven't played FBC: Firebreak yet, it certainly passes the eye test. This is far from a typical multiplayer shooter, and in the best possible way. The fact that it's designed as a get-in and get-out online game, without requiring a massive ongoing time commitment, is a refreshing nod to the days when such flexibility was the norm.