FBC: FIREBREAK

Can Remedy go multiplayer without losing Control?

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When Jesse Faden walked into the Oldest House in 2019, her eyes wide as she called out to see who was there, you might have mistaken her for one of the ordinary people walking the streets of New York outside. We were quickly disabused of this notion, however, by the game that followed. Ordinary people are unlikely to be appointed Director of the Federal Bureau Of Control — and they certainly can't fly, or move things with their mind.

“Jesse’s story is about extraordinary facing extraordinary,” says Mike Kayatta, game director on FBC: Firebreak. “Our game was always supposed to be about, like, people facing the extraordinary.”

With this multiplayer spinoff splitting the heroism duties between three players, you don’t play a specific character but rather one of many members of the FBC’s Firebreak initiative.

“There are some Rangers in there,” Kayatta says, referring to the FBC’s armed field agents. “But also secretaries and middle managers. People with no special military background, or anything like that. The FBC gives them equipment, some very on-the-job training, and hopes they're able to survive.” Ultimately, from a Bureau point of view, they’re disposable.

If Jesse dies, Control’s story rewinds so you can get it right; when you die on a Firebreak mission, the number of ‘volunteers’ simply ticks down by one. “That’s what we call your pool of lives,” Kayatta says. “Basically, how many people is the FBC willing to throw at this problem before giving up?” As long as the counter hasn’t hit zero, another body steps into their place.