Summary
In less than a month’s time,FBC: Firebreakwill be taking players back inside the Oldest House, but this time, not in Jesse’s shoes. The script has been flipped since 2019’sControl, and this time, fans of Remedy’s mind-bending, Hiss-slaying action game will be in the more grounded shoes of mortals, known as the Firebreak. A lot has happened in this time: it has been years since the events of the first game, and the Hiss corruption has still not abated. As if that wasn’t enough, the Altered Items are also going walkabout, with the Sticky Notes a sticking theme in the pre-release trailers that the developer has put out. But all of these things could contain some important clues, not just about what to expect fromFBC: Firebreak, but also what might be happening inControl 2.
There are a couple of things known aboutControl 2already. WhenAlan Wake 2: The Lake Houseexpansioncame out in 2024, fans were treated to a massive Easter Egg where they could meet Jesse’s brother, Dylan, setting foot in the Oldest House for the first time in five years. After a kaleidoscopic vision, it was pretty clear that things back at base were not ok, and probably wouldn’t be in the near future. This wasn’t the first time Remedy had dropped some information aboutControl 2, however, as the studio released some concept art of an outdoor street, showing the House’s door wide open, and Hiss corrupted people floating nearby. Given how much Remedy loves to tease its projects, there could be more than a few details foreshadowingControl 2.
FBC: Firebreak Will Likely Confirm Some Key Details of Control 2
Set approximately six years after the events ofControl,FBC: Firebreakis probably going to confirm a lot of fan speculation, and hopefully, ignite some new theories.Control’s world is a very intricately crafted one, and the first game left many Motel doors open to where the series could go next.The Oldest House’s lockdown is still not lifted, and Firebreak seems to hint that the House has changed quite a bit over the years. This could provide an important staging ground forControl 2’s Oldest House, hinting at how the House ever manages to open up again.
FBC: Firebreak Could Show What Control’s Major Characters Are Up To
Quite a few ofControl’s main cast have not come back into the spotlight sinceControl’s AWE DLC.Jesse’s role inFBC: Firebreakis obviously a topic of major speculation. As the Director of the Bureau, she has a responsibility and the means to fight back against the Hiss, and her story in the first game centered around her coming to terms with this role. It seems highly likely that she will play some role, and fans might get to see just how well she has taken to the job, and if it has hardened her personality.
But Jesse isn’t the only one. Dylan in The Lake House seemed like he was still suffering plenty of mental trauma. His treatment by the Bureau probably means he will never be lucid, and Remedy could use that aspect to have him keep spinning cryptic hints about future events or fan theories. Arish, Emily, and Dr Underhill are also unknowns: they survived the first game, but living through the House’s siege must have taken a toll. As some of the more grounded staff, it could be them giving out jobs to the Firebreak, overseeing missions to clear out mold, for example. The elephant in the room is Dr Darling, who was last seen with Thomas Zane inAlan Wake 2, so whatever he’s up to, it’s bound to cause a lot of problems, so hopefully, Remedy leaves a fewDr Darling videosscattered around.
It Could Hint at How the Hiss Survived Control’s Ending
Ostensibly, Jesse cleansed the Slide Projector, cutting the Hiss off from its source. Yet, six years later, the tide of Hiss doesn’t seem to be stopping. It’s known thatHiss corruption spreads through sound, and each new person corrupted can spread the sound further, so it’s possible that these resonant aliens don’t need a source to keep going, but it also seems possible that something bigger could be at work.FBC: Firebreakwill probably let players fight that fire, but it doesn’t seem like they’ll be able to work out how the Hiss might have adapted untilControl 2.
The Board’s Involvement With the Bureau Is in Question
Jesse’s last meetings with The Board in the Foundation were not particularly positive, finding a new ally in one of the exiled members, Former.The Board’s relationship with the Oldest Housewas quite parasitic, and Jesse, always skeptical, outright disobeyed them when she felt confident. The Board is not going to take this lying down, or, in whatever orientation it finds itself in, and for the first time, could be meddling in the affairs of Jesse’s Bureau. This could manifest in some missions for the Firebreak, where The Board might make things difficult unless it is adequately appeased, which might hint at a potentially more antagonistic and detached role inControl 2.
Whether The Board still features on the FBC badge might indicate its involvement.
FBC: Firebreak Could Deepen Remedy’s Connected Universe in Preparation for Control 2
Another person who happens to find themselves turning up in unexpected places is Alan Wake. Able to write himself into other people’s stories, Alan recently gained mastery of his destiny afterAlan Wake 2’s Final Draft, banishing the Dark Presence from himself by trapping it in the spiral. Perhaps now, with more agency, Alan will be able to lend more of a hand, even if indirectly. A manuscript by Alan did implicate him in Trench’s corruption, although, given what is known about his inspiration fromAlan Wake 2, it is unlikely that Alan accidentally manipulated Trench into letting the Hiss in.
Instead, Alan Wake could well act as a guiding hand, setting up plot threads from his writer’s room that are seeded inFBC: Firebreak, but don’t bear fruit untilControl 2, or perhaps evenAlan Wake 3. The power of a good narrative can change reality inRemedy’s connected universe, and it would be pretty interesting to see Alan learning to use that power consciously, and for good, in the events ofFirebreak, and hopefully, Alan and Jesse get to meet again.
FBC: Firebreak
WHERE TO PLAY
FBC: Firebreak is a cooperative first-person shooter set within a mysterious federal agency under assault by otherworldly forces. As a years-long siege on the agency’s headquarters reaches its boiling point, only Firebreak— the Bureau’s most versatile unit—has the gear and the guts to plunge into the building’s strangest crises, restore order, and blast their way back from the brink.Paranatural PandemoniumDive into the Federal Bureau of Control’s (FBC) unpredictable and extradimensional headquarters during its darkest—and strangest—hours. As one of the FBC’s fearless first responders, you and your team are on call to confront everything from reality-warping anomalies to otherworldly monsters… no matter the odds. Will you contain the chaos or finally lose control?Cooperative ChaosJoin forces with friends or strangers to tackle each mission as a well-oiled crew. Survival in this three-player cooperative FPS hinges on quick thinking and seamless teamwork as you scramble to tame raging paranatural crises across a variety of unexpected locations. Improve your odds by utilizing the tools and skills that make you unique or improvising with whatever’s on hand to support your crew.Beyond BulletsBefore deploying, select your weapon and customize your Firebreaker’s Crisis Kit with specialized tools, grenades, support items, and paranatural augments… then modify them to suit your strategy and change the way you play. Experiment with different loadouts to perfect your playstyle and synergize with your team, giving you the edge to succeed in every mission, no matter the difficulty.The Federal Bureau of ControlReturn to the strange and unexpected world of Control or venture in for the first time in this standalone, multiplayer experience. Discover the iconic and unfathomable headquarters of the FBC — the Oldest House — from an entirely new perspective as a team of volunteer first responders with nothing but gear and guts to bring the Bureau back from the brink.
