Firebreak from FBC poses the daring query: 'What if you were purely intoxicated?' as they devise their eccentric arsenals and equipment.
Geeking Out on Firebreak: A Chaotic Spin-Off of Control
Jump straight into the chaotic carnage that is FBC: Firebreak, a game that’s as absurd as it is fun – and a far cry from the moody, atmospheric world of Control. With madcap missions, terrifying sticky-note monsters, and objectives that'll try to off you, it's the perfect FPS madness to play with friends.
Game director Mike Kayatta, speaking at the PC Gaming Show 2025, hinted at Firebreak's striking difference from Control. "We leaned more into the absurd angle," he says, "since Control was carefully crafted for a single-player experience." Firebreak, on the other hand, is built for cooperative play, focusing on teamwork and distinctive playstyles.
The game is all about its trifecta of saved loadouts, or Crisis Kits, each tailored to a different playstyle. There's the wildcard bursting bullets like a raging bull, the ninja with a pogo stick and defibrillator for precision and mobility, and the drunken brawler armed with a simple, one-button wrench – my personal pick.
But Firebreak's absurdity doesn't stop at its weapons or gameplay. It delves deep into the Oldest House, offering followers of Remedy world-building and an intricate narrative, albeit without the direct storytelling found in Control.
Confused? Don't be. Firebreak isn't a return to Control, but rather a spin-off that invites new players to experience the Remedy universe at their own pace. As Kayatta puts it, "This isn't a push back on those kinds of games, but we just wanted to see if there was a way to open the doors and give that step in."
Gaming Insider
Stay updated on the latest gaming news, reviews, and the hottest deals, curated by the PC Gamer team.
Firebreak may seem strange at first, but as Elie Gould, news writer extraordinaire at PC Gamer, notes, "Even if Firebreak isn't what Remedy is today, I do hope that it will be part of what Remedy is in the future."
Gaming Showdown 2025: Every game, trailer, and announcement Breakin' down
Elie GouldElie Gould is a news writer and undisputed horror gaming queen. When she's not shrieking or huddling in a corner, Elie can be found testing her mettle in metroidvanias or ogling her massive Pokémon TCG collection. Elie has previously worked at TechRadar Gaming as a staff writer, studied at JOMEC in International Journalism and Documentaries, and spends her spare time filming docs about Smash Bros. or diving into indie game tales.
- This year's Gaming Showdown at PC Gamer saw Elie Gould, the news writer, expressing her hope that Firebreak, despite seeming strange initially, would, in the future, become a significant part of Remedy Entertainment.
- Firebreak, during the PC Gaming Show 2025, was described by game director Mike Kayatta as a game that leans more into absurdity compared to Control, being tailored for cooperative gameplay and diverse playstyles.
- As a journalist following Remedy's work, Elie Gould believes that while Firebreak might not reflect the current direction of the studio, it could potentially shape the future of the company.
- The international gaming community will likely find excitement in the chaotic, cooperative spin-off, Firebreak: a game derived from Control, offering a differently paced experience for fans to explore and enjoy.
