FBC: Firebreak's Unwritten Rules Explained

Remedy has forged itself a very loyal fan-base over the last few decades. The studio's willingness to experiment and stray from genre norms are endearing traits that have finally garnered it widespread attention. And Remedy Entertainment has taken that penchant for experimentation to the next level with FBC: Firebreak.

A three-player, online-only, co-op FPS, FBC: Firebreak is very different from anything Remedy Entertainment has made before. Firebreak may borrow Control's enemy designs and setting, but it trades that game's narrative-driven linearity for emergent multiplayer action. Not all of FBC: Firebreak lands as well as it should, but Remedy's attempt to produce something new is admirable, and it's certainly worth fans giving it a shot. But before players jump in, there are a few unwritten rules they might want to be aware of.

FBC: Firebreak's Place in the Remedy Connected Universe Feels Like a Step Back

FBC: Firebreak is officially part of the Remedy Connected Universe, but its general premise makes the RCU feel disappointingly small and restricted.

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By Cameron Swan

The Unwritten Rules of FBC: Firebreak Explained

Always Stick Together

In any co-op game, players are expected to work together to further the team's goals, and that's certainly true for FBC: Firebreak. But what separates Firebreak from some of its co-op contemporaries is that players are actively encouraged to stay close together.

When close to one another, FBC: Firebreak grants its players a powerful shield that negates oncoming damage. This shield regenerates over time, but only if players stick within close proximity to each other. If players stray too far from their team, they'll receive an on-screen warning in the form of a brief flash of blue light.

There are some objectives in FBC: Firebreak that are best tackled by splitting up, such as warming up Freezer Duty's frost anomalies. But in general, players should try to remain together, especially when they're hit by large waves of Hiss enemies.

Coordinate Kits Effectively

A key component of FBC: Firebreak – at least on higher difficulties – is team composition. Ideally, players want to go into a Job with Kits that suit the objectives they'll be completing. For example, a team jumping into the Paper Chase Job shouldn't be equipped with three Fix Kits. Instead, they should have at least two players with Splash Kits equipped, as water is needed to weaken the sticky notes and Shufflers they find during the mission.

Don't Forget About Lost Assets

FBC: Firebreak has a pretty severe tutorial problem. Players are bombarded with walls of on-screen text when they start Firebreak, and even if they take it all in, they'll still be missing key information. One such piece of information is that Lost Assets are incredibly important.

Taking the form of folders and documents, FBC: Firebreak's Lost Assets are the most important resource in the game, with them granting the player new skills and the ability to requisition new equipment. Players need to make sure they're searching the map thoroughly for safe rooms, and scouring those safe rooms for Lost Asset documents. These Lost Assets also drop whenever the team defeats a mini-boss.

Make The Most of FBC: Firebreak's Ping System

Another shortcoming of FBC: Firebreak is that the game's ping system is fairly barebones. The ping isn't really context-sensitive, and there are no other forms of in-game communication for players to use. But regardless, players need to make the most of a bad situation. FBC: Firebreak's ping can still be used to point out the location of a safe room, to warn teammates of an oncoming wave of Hiss, or to focus attention on one objective.

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