Multiplayer chaos and the supernatural reign supreme in FBC: Firebreak

The Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) rarely seems like it has any form of control. Despite its name, the fictional government agency has failed at its duties to control the supernatural entities it encounters in every situation we’ve seen them in—including our run-ins in Control, Alan Wake 2, and now FBC: Firebreak.

Remedy’s first swing at an online cooperative multiplayer game puts you in the shoes of an FBC employee as they fight back against The Hiss—the interdimensional villain first seen in Control—in a variety of mission scenarios alongside two other players. It’s a fantastical mix of cooperative action and crisp first-person gameplay.

We spent three hours in the halls of the Oldest House playing FBC: Firebreak with other members of the media and developers from Remedy. We explored three of the game’s kit loadouts, three distinct jobs, and the variety of progression systems that help you grow stronger as you clean up the FBC’s violent mess.

Taking Control in the Oldest House

FBC: Firebreak has all the trappings of a tight multiplayer experience, plus plenty of flexibility. Each mission—such as repairing fans to cool off giant furnaces, cleaning up supernatural sticky notes that have taken on chaotic energy, and fighting off leeches that are stealing valuable resources—requires players to complete simple objectives before, after, and during firefights with enemies of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments.

The gunplay is sharp and responsive, perhaps even an upgrade compared to the combat found in Control and Alan Wake. At the start, I could pick from a submachine gun, a pistol, and a shotgun. Other guns, like a bolt-action rifle, could be unlocked after leveling up a few times.