When Remedy Entertainment, renowned for their captivating single-player narratives in third-person games, announced they were venturing into multiplayer with FBC: Firebreak, skepticism was natural. However, after witnessing a hands-off demo of this three-player PvE first-person shooter set six years post-Control, my doubts quickly dissipated. FBC: Firebreak stands out as a refreshingly original and delightfully weird addition to the multiplayer gaming scene, which is often dominated by generic military or sci-fi shooters. One of its most appealing aspects is its lack of demand for a significant time commitment, as game director Mike Kayatta emphasizes, "We're not about daily check-ins. We're not interested in monthly grinds. We don't want to give anybody a second job."

FBC: Firebreak offers a three-player cooperative FPS experience that promises flexibility. You can dive in for a quick 20-minute session or indulge for a few hours, with Perk unlocks and new character combinations ensuring each run feels fresh. The game situates you back in The Oldest House, where you play as volunteer first responders equipped with an array of bizarre weaponry. These characters, drawn from everyday occupations like secretaries and rangers, step up when the situation demands it, though the Federal Bureau of Control might consider them expendable.

FBC: Firebreak - March 2025 Screenshots

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Upon logging in, you select a Job (mission), a Crisis Kit (loadout), and set the Threat Level (difficulty) along with the Clearance Level, which dictates the number of zones you'll navigate. These zones are separated by containment doors, leading you to the next stage of the Job. In the demo, I saw the mission "Paper Chase," set in a seemingly mundane office section of the FBC building. Your task, alongside two teammates, is to combat the spreading Hiss. You can escape quickly if you wish, but to access currencies for gear upgrades, you'll need to safely extract with them, making exploration a risky yet rewarding endeavor.

FBC: Firebreak distinguishes itself with its unique arsenal. Many weapons boast a charmingly unconventional, homebrew feel. Take, for instance, the hand-cranked snowball launcher, which can extinguish fires or soak sticky-note monsters, or the jury-rigged zapper that can unleash lightning storms on enemies when equipped with the right nozzle. There's even a large wrench, enhanced by a squeaky piggy bank toy, that unleashes a coin-swirling attack on opponents. Traditional weapons like machine guns and shotguns are also available, the latter being essential for dealing with the sticky-note monsters after they've been soaked or zapped.

The core of "Paper Chase" involves eliminating sticky notes before they overrun the building. The number of notes to destroy, shown in the upper left corner, increases as the mission progresses, culminating in a battle against a giant sticky-note monster reminiscent of Spider-Man 3's Sandman, but composed of Post-It notes.

Beyond the quirky weaponry, FBC: Firebreak integrates fun, in-universe gameplay mechanics. You can refill ammo from office supply shelves, construct makeshift turrets from boxes, use stereo speakers to keep the Hiss at bay, and rinse stations to remove aggressive sticky notes. Unlockable Perks add further variety, such as one where missed bullets might return to your clip, or another allowing you to extinguish yourself by jumping. Combining duplicate Perks enhances their effect, and triplicates allow sharing with teammates.

While FBC: Firebreak is designed for three players, solo and duo play are also supported. Remedy aims for accessible minimum PC specs, yet the game will also support advanced features like DLSS4, nVidia Reflex, and full ray-tracing. It will be Steam Deck verified and available on day one for Xbox and PC Game Pass, as well as PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. While a post-launch content plan remains under wraps, paid cosmetics will be the extent of microtransactions.

FBC FirebreakRemedyTBA 2025 Wishlist

Although I haven't played FBC: Firebreak yet, the game's concept and execution in the demo are promising. It's clear this isn't your average multiplayer shooter, and its design as a 'get-in and get-out' online experience harks back to a time when such flexibility was the norm in gaming.