Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 13, 2026

FBC: Firebreak

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.

Last revised
Jun 13, 2026
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≈ 4 min
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Wikipedia ↗
FBC: Firebreak
DeveloperRemedy Entertainment
PublisherRemedy Entertainment
DirectorMike Kayatta
DesignerAnssi Hyytiäinen
ArtistJames Tottman
WriterMike Kayatta
ComposerPetri Alanko
SeriesControl
EngineNorthlight
Platforms
Release17 June 2025
GenreFirst-person shooter
ModeMultiplayer

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.

FBC: Firebreak was released for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S on 17 June 2025. The game received mixed reviews from critics and failed to meet the sales expectations of Remedy.

On 18 March 2026, the final major update for FBC: Firebreak, titled "Open House", was released. Remedy announced the cessation of new content development to refocus on narrative-driven titles like Control 2 (codenamed Resonant), while promising to maintain relay servers for the foreseeable future.1

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.2

Players utilize "Crisis Kits", which include customizable loadouts of specialized firearms, grenades, and "Paranatural Augments"—bizarre items that grant unique abilities similar to Objects of Power.3 The game features a wave-based survival mode called "Endless Shift", which takes place in shifting arenas inspired by locations from the original Control. Following the "Open House" update, a "Friend's Pass" system was implemented, allowing owners of the full game to invite players who do not own it to join their cooperative sessions for free.4

Development and release

The project was announced in June 2021 under the codename of "Condor" in a press release by Remedy Entertainment.5 It was intended to be co-published and developed by 505 Games, the publisher on the first Control game.6 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.7 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.8

Throughout late 2025 and early 2026, Remedy attempted to reinvigorate the player base with two major patches: the "Rogue Protocol" update in January 2026, which overhauled mission scaling, and the "Open House" update in March 2026. The latter coincided with a permanent price reduction to $19.99 for the base game. During this period, former EA executive Jean-Charles Gaudechon was appointed as the new CEO of Remedy, succeeding interim CEO Markus Mäki in March 2026.9

Reception

FBC: Firebreak received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.101112 OpenCritic determined that 24% of critics recommended the game.13

Sales

FBC: Firebreak attracted more than 1 million players by 26 June 2025.24 Despite high initial engagement via Xbox Game Pass, the title suffered from rapid player attrition.

In February 2026, Remedy reported a €14.9 million non-cash write-down for the fiscal year 2025, directly attributed to the game's poor commercial performance. The company issued a profit warning, noting that while the game "succeeded technically," consumer sales were significantly lower than anticipated, particularly on Steam.925

References

References

  1. Kerr, Chris (18 March 2026). "Remedy releases final major update for underperforming shooter FBC: Firebreak". Game Developer. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  2. Romano, Sal (17 October 2024). "Control spin-off co-op first-person shooter FBC: Firebreak announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  3. "FBC Firebreak - OUT NOW". Remedy Entertainment. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  4. Forbes-Calvin, Alex (19 March 2026). "Remedy rolls out last FBC: Firebreak content update". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  5. Chalk, Andy (29 June 2021). "Remedy is working on a new, 'bigger budget' Control game and multiplayer spinoff". PC Gamer. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  6. Faulkner, Cameron (30 June 2021). "Remedy's Project Condor is a multiplayer spinoff of Control". The Verge. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  7. Yang, George (21 March 2024). "Remedy Has Taken Back Control of the Control Series From 505 Games". IGN. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  8. Ivan, Tom (29 April 2024). "Remedy's Control multiplayer game has entered full production". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  9. "In 2025, Remedy's revenues have increased, amounting to €59.5 million". WN Hub. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  10. "FBC: Firebreak for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  11. "FBC: Firebreak for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  12. "FBC: Firebreak for Xbox Series X/S Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  13. "FBC: Firebreak Reviews". OpenCritic. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  14. Duwe, Scott (17 June 2025). "FBC: Firebreak review – Some potential for good friendship fun, for free—for now". Destructoid. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  15. Colantonio, Giovanni (20 June 2025). "FBC: Firebreak review: co-op Control spinoff is a lot of work for little payoff". Digital Trends. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  16. Donlan, Christian (20 June 2025). "FBC Firebreak review - a really weird game". Eurogamer. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  17. Delaney, Mark (18 June 2025). "FBC: Firebreak Review - Controlled Chaos". GameSpot. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  18. Stone, Abbie (17 June 2025). "FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"". GamesRadar. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  19. Thwaites, Sarah (27 June 2025). "FBC: Firebreak Review". IGN. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  20. Lane, Rick (17 June 2025). "FBC: Firebreak review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  21. Bayne, Aaron (17 June 2025). "FBC: Firebreak Review (PS5)". Push Square. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  22. Erskine, Donovan (17 June 2025). "FBC: Firebreak review: The trials and tribulations of the working class". Shacknews. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  23. Wood, Dashiell (19 June 2025). "The first hour of FBC: Firebreak is absolutely miserable, and it doesn't get much better from there". TechRadar. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  24. Randall, Harvey (28 June 2025). "Despite limping on Steam charts with a 24-hour peak of less than 200, FBC: Firebreak hits 1 million players milestone". PC Gamer. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  25. "Remedy delivers good news after Firebreak miss". TweakTown. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
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