Remedy Aims to Rebuild FBC: Firebreak With Major September Update Following Frustrating Start

Remedy Entertainment has acknowledged the rocky start for its multiplayer title FBC: Firebreak and outlined plans for its first major update, slated for release in September 2025. In a detailed blog post shared on the game’s Steam page, the developer addressed the early frustrations experienced by players and committed to major changes aimed at improving both first-time engagement and overall gameplay systems.

FBC: Firebreak, which exists within the same universe as Control and the highly anticipated Control 2, marks Remedy's first foray into the multiplayer space. However, the game’s first month has not met expectations. Remedy admitted that a significant number of players drop off within the first hour of gameplay. “That’s because our first hour can be frustrating; you feel ineffective and confused as to what to do. This needs to be improved,” the post stated.

To address these concerns, the studio will overhaul the onboarding experience. This includes expanded narrative introductions and smarter, better-timed tutorial pop-ups to ease players into the game’s mechanics and universe. Remedy emphasized that improving the early game is essential not only to keep new players engaged but also to maintain healthy matchmaking for the existing community.

The update, expected in September, will also introduce three new heavy weapons to strengthen the early gunplay experience. Remedy acknowledged player feedback that initial combat felt weak, and in response, it will ensure that players begin with a “playable and powerful version of everything a Firebreak needs.”

In a significant gameplay shift, the studio plans to remove all “generic” upgrades from equipment and replace them with a Mod system. This new system will allow players to customize how weapons scale and evolve based on individual playstyles. Details on the Mod system will be fully revealed with the September patch.

Remedy is also revamping the game’s “Jobs” content. The Clearance and Corruption level mechanics will be removed in favor of more curated, varied missions, which the team describes as “pre-made, exciting variations of Job experiences.” A brand-new Job will debut with the update as well, with further additions to gameplay variety currently in development.

“We are pushing a lot of improvements and changes into the game for our first major update,” Remedy stated. “Some of these ideas were improvements we weren't able to add before launch, but all were decided on and developed based on what we heard from you (listening to feedback) and seen from you (looking at data).”

The developer has made it clear that ongoing iteration will depend on continued player feedback. This open approach to community-driven development could prove crucial, as FBC: Firebreak faces challenges in player retention and market traction. According to a report from The Game Business last month, Ampere Analysis estimated that the game had reached 1.3 million players in its opening week. While notable, this figure falls short of the numbers typically required for sustained success in the multiplayer space, especially for a title available through Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra, where player count does not equate to unit sales.

Despite the underwhelming launch, Remedy’s transparency and proactive approach suggest a strong willingness to refine and build upon FBC: Firebreak in response to its community. If the upcoming changes resonate with players, the game could still emerge as a competitive title in the live-service space.

Do you think Remedy’s upcoming update will be enough to bring players back to FBC: Firebreak? Or is the game’s opening stumble too much to recover from? Let us know what you think.