Can Remedy’s FBC Firebreak Break the Mold of Formulaic Co-Op Games?

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As a gaming enthusiast, I must say, the surge of cooperative games has taken an exhilarating turn! Each week brings a fresh trend – be it four friends chasing ghosts or earning points by doing the most ridiculous things together. The sheer fun these games offer is indisputable, hence, I penned down a separate article and christened them as “Friendship Fiasco Games.

Dive into FBC: Firebreak, a creation by renowned developer Remedy Entertainment. At first glance, it seems to adhere to a common template. But what makes it unique among its contemporaries?

It’s a Remedy Game

One significant motivation to keep an eye on FBC: Firebreak lies in the element of trust. Remedy Entertainment, known for creating Max Payne, has built a solid reputation. The fact that they’re working on a shooter resembling Left 4 Dead might seem surprising, but remember they created Alan Wake and Control. This track record alone makes me eager to explore it when it becomes available.

It’s a 3-Player Co-Op

In contrast to many other four-player cooperative games, FBC: Firebreak is set up as a three-person team co-op. In this game, you and two others assume roles within the Federal Bureau of Control’s Oldest House, acting as the cleanup crew. Your responsibilities include battling waves of Hiss enemies and occasionally managing an outbreak of Sticky Notes to prevent them from overrunning the facility.

Yep, you read that right.

Control and Alan Wake Crossover

It’s likely you’ve picked up that FBC: Firebreak, much like Alan Wake and Control, resides within the same fictional universe. Being part of FBC isn’t about crafting reality with a typewriter or soaring through the skies tossing concrete blocks, as Jesse Faden does. Instead, you’re an ordinary employee finding yourself in the thick of the Bureau’s debatable work policies. (Remember, it’s best not to share this information with the Board.)

Being part of the Remedy Connected Universe (RCU) guarantees an unusual cooperative gaming experience. Judging from previews, there’s a swarm of Sticky Notes, a transformed Teapot serving as a weapon, and other peculiarities. These items aren’t mere eccentricities; they are Altered Items, common objects with extraordinary powers. Remedy employs them to infuse the world with an SCP-like atmosphere, and FBC: Firebreak appears brimming with such elements. A Boom Box causing area damage and a Garden Gnome, for instance, say it all.

The Weirdness of It All

One of the main attractions of FBC: Firebreak lies in its appeal to fans of the Remedy Connected Universe. However, if you’re like me and enjoy the unusual, there’s plenty here that will capture your interest as well. While it may seem similar to games such as Back 4 Blood, Killing Floor, or the infamous vampire game, Remedy’s strange, bureaucratic universe provides a unique spin on the familiar formula.

Unusual artifacts akin to SCP, concealed records, and a mischievous yet sinister Garden Gnome – there’s enough enigma here to captivate even the most hardened team members in a cooperative gaming environment.

Absolutely, I’d rather opt for something unique like FBC: Firebreak, instead of another run-of-the-mill team-based shooter featuring zombies and conventional firearms. In this game, you’re not battling the undead, but rather, you’re combating Sticky Notes trying to engulf your entire being. You’re just an ordinary office worker with a 9-5 job, trying to prevent the impending doom of the end times. Frankly, that sounds quite engaging!

On June 17th, the game titled “Firebreak” will be available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. If you’re a PlayStation Plus member, you’ll get to enjoy playing this game for free right from its launch!

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2025-04-25 19:13