FBC Firebreak: Remedy’s First Co-op FPS Puts Emergent Gameplay Over Live Service Grind

In an era where multiplayer shooters chase endless content updates and grind-heavy battle passes, Remedy Entertainment’s FBC Firebreak takes a refreshingly unorthodox path. Launching June 17, this isn’t just Remedy’s debut multiplayer FPS-it’s a bold rejection of live-service excess, favoring focused, replayable co-op fun. With roots in both the surreal worlds of Control and Alan Wake and wild inspirations like Powerwash Simulator, Firebreak stands apart in a crowded genre.

FBC Firebreak: Remedy’s Co-op FPS Experiments With Emergent Fun

We spent hands-on time with FBC Firebreak and spoke to game director Mike Kayatta about the game’s unconventional DNA, surprising creative hurdles, and what comes after launch.

• Rejects live-service bloat: No battle passes or FOMO-driven content-Firebreak is all about pure co-op fun.
• Emergent sandbox gameplay: Elemental effects and unpredictable encounters drive replayability.
• Modest, focused launch: Five “Jobs” (think modes), three kits, and creative perks, with more on the way.
• Unexpected inspirations: Powerwash Simulator and Overcooked meet Left 4 Dead and Payday.

Feature	Specification
Publisher	Remedy Entertainment
Release Date	June 17, 2025
Genres	Co-op FPS, Action, Multiplayer
Platforms	PC (Epic Games Store)

Remedy has always been known for single-player weirdness: think Alan Wake’s meta horror or Control’s mind-bending bureaucracy. But FBC Firebreak is something else-a co-op shooter that draws as much from cleaning simulators as from zombie-horde classics. Kayatta recalls how the game’s water-spraying class, the Splash Kit, was inspired by a Powerwash Simulator binge: “It would be wild if, as I was cleaning, a zombie ran at me and I had to headshot it, then go back to cleaning.” That seed led to months of design headaches—and ultimately, Firebreak’s unique identity.

The team faced “healthy skepticism” diving into both their first original FPS and their first multiplayer offering. Still, Remedy’s knack for the offbeat is alive and well: you’ll fend off flying office chairs, battle sticky note monsters, and hunt cursed office supplies behaving like pesky insects.

At launch, Firebreak will offer five Jobs (which function more like game modes than simple maps), three distinct Kits (loadouts), and a lean arsenal of weapons. Remedy’s philosophy? Quality and replayability over quantity. “Everyone wants to solve replayability by having a gazillion levels and 10,000 guns… that’s out of our capacity,” Kayatta admits. “So, we made sure our content is a machine that produces emergent fun.”

The elemental sandbox is the game’s crown jewel. Whether you’re extinguishing fires with ziplines or dodging hazards created by enemies and teammates alike, emergent moments are everywhere. The absence of battle passes and paid content puts the burden—and all the reward—on gameplay. It’s a gamble in today’s market, but one that feels true to Remedy’s DNA.

Post-launch plans are measured but promising: two more Jobs will arrive later this year (a 40% content bump), and new late-game player systems are in the works. But Remedy is keen to listen to the community and adapt, rather than overcommit to a rigid roadmap.

FBC Firebreak launches June 17. Whether it can carve out a loyal following in the co-op shooter space remains to be seen, but its fresh approach—eschewing live-service grind for creative, emergent surprises—makes it one of 2025’s most intriguing multiplayer bets.

TL;DR: FBC Firebreak is Remedy’s first multiplayer FPS, blending quirky, emergent co-op action with a hard stance against live-service trappings. With five Jobs, three Kits, and sandbox-driven chaos launching June 17—and more on the way—Firebreak could be the year’s most original new shooter.

Source: Remedy Entertainment via GamesPress