Fans of the Remedy Connected Universe are in for a big surprise. Nearly three decades after Remedy Entertainment’s debut, the company is diving into uncharted waters — by developing a three-player cooperative FPS. This marks a pivotal moment for the studio, known for its narrative-driven, single-player games from Max Payne to Control to Alan Wake. During the October 2024 Xbox Partner Preview, Remedy unveiled its first multiplayer game, FBC: Firebreak, set for a 2025 release on Xbox Series X and PC.
Game Director Mike Kayatta didn’t shy away from setting expectations, assuring fans that Firebreak isn’t just some lightweight spin-off. “It’s not designed to be some kind of lesser, bite-sized Control. FBC: Firebreak is its own, fully formed thing,” Kayatta explained on Xbox Wire.
Communications Director Thomas Puha emphasized that despite the studio’s history, FBC: Firebreak will be ‘easy to get into’ and still showcase that special ‘Remedy creativity.’
“FBC: Firebreak should be easy to get into and quickly understandable, not feel like a second job or that you have to spend an hour setting up your loadouts etc. before you get into a session. This is not that game.”
Set in Control’s universe, players will step into the shoes of Federal Bureau of Control first responders fighting paranatural threats within the eerie Oldest House. But this isn’t your typical PvE shooter. As seen in the world premiere trailer above, the game features Remedy’s signature weirdness. One such thing is special tools called Paranatural Augments, such as a Garden Gnome-turned weapon of mass destruction.
“These are more or less our take on ‘ultimates’ […] I like to think of them as a jaguar in a box. […] you open the box, and you just kind of hope the jaguar doesn’t turn around and eat you or your friends instead,” teased Puha.
The shift to multiplayer has been a long time coming, the project has even been the talk of the town since 2021. Remedy has wanted to explore multiplayer for years, and with FBC: Firebreak, the company is pushing beyond its comfort zone. Still, narrative enthusiasts need not worry, as Puha confirmed they are working on ‘more single-player games.’
“[…] Rest assured, we have more single player games in development, and they will be awesome, but for a long time we have wanted to make a PvE multiplayer game. […] It’s good to take on new challenges.”
Remedy also isn’t keen on calling this project a ‘game as a service,’ but post-launch content is already planned to keep the game ‘fresh.’ Though FBC: Firebreak is still far from its 2025 PC and Xbox release, Remedy believes it will be a ‘big shift’ for the company.
