Today, Remedy published a new Steam blog post addressing the initial reviews for FBC: Firebreak and sharing plans for the future. The letter coincides with a huge update (v1.2) which revises a number of progression elements, such as a systems overhaul and improvements to the currency system.
Writing about the atmosphere in the team, the studio reveals that, “It’s been exciting (and nerve-wracking) to see our first multiplayer game out in the wild. Launching FBC: Firebreak is a significant milestone for us, not just because it’s our first online co-op game, but because we’ve self-published it as well. Several things have gone well. Clearly, not everything has. We’ve been reading all the reviews, comments, and feedback from the community across social platforms, Discord, and our Steam forums, as well as the analytics we are getting. It’s clear there are features that need to improve. And they will improve. Thank you for the feedback. We hear you loudly and clearly. Please keep the feedback coming.”
One of the major areas of focus for the team for the patch, following those early reviews, was to revisit the first hour of the experience, making the game clearer and providing a clear progression path. Previews for the game were incredibly strong, with the game listed as one to watch for on multiple lists. In reports, these sessions were often paired with an introduction of what the player would face, or a hands-off demonstration by those familiar with the game.
Jumping into the game fresh is a much different experience, and one that it feels like the team has been reviewing to make stronger. As a result, they write in their blog post “We’re working on better communicating the synergies between Crisis Kits and giving players much better information on what to do in the Jobs and how to be more effective in doing the work that Firebreakers must do.” Clarity of game systems isn't the only focus for the team, with them also reviewing player progression and gear unlocks, to ensure that completed Jobs feel rewarding.
Putting the game in the hands of players after working on it for so long is always a weird experience; regardless of how much testing you do, it's hard to predict how players will explore the world, or break your game. The changes made in Update 1.2 is a reflection of press reviews, but also player actions. For instance, Lost Assets are vital to unlocking items from Requisitions and Perks, however according to Remedy's data, 90% of players have yet to collect them, highlighting the areas to improve to meet how the community plays the game.
You can read Remedy's full blog post, HERE! (Archived)
(I haven't written about my feelings on FBC: Firebreak just yet, as there's been so much news to catch up on, but so far the experience has been incredibly positive. The game feels fun, with a perfect amount of customisation to provide a challenge. The lack of chat or voice feature has been listed a downside on some reviews, but as someone who doesn't feel comfortable playing multiplayer games usually, it was less anxiety-inducing. It reminds me of Journey where actions have greater weight. I've encountered a couple of bugs, but with the complexity of games nowadays, it's almost impossible to release without some. I can see why the team wants to make the changes they are, particularly now that they've got the data on how they can improve, and the goal is for the game to progress over a long time.)
