Tomorrow, the FBC: Firebreak development team will launch their highly anticipated September update, introducing major revisions to key areas of the game along with brand-new content. To accompany the update, they've published an extensive eleven-part blog post on the game’s Steam page, offering an in-depth look at everything included in the release.
As always, we recommend reading the full post for the complete picture, but if you're looking for a quick overview, here’s what you can expect.
Titled “Breakpoint” the update is scheduled to go live on Monday, September 29th at approximately 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 18:00 BST / 20:00 EEST. It will be free for all players and features core system overhauls, new content drops, and a range of quality-of-life improvements, each designed to make the game more engaging and rewarding.
Firstly, let's look at those system revisions! To ease players seamlessly into the multiplayer experience, Remedy is introducing a brand new Orientation tutorial level, alongside other onboarding improvements such as overview videos, and a “Welcome to Firebreak” introduction. These additions will help newly enlisted Firebreakers to learn the controls without feeling like they're being thrown out of the frying and into the Hot Fix.
The Crisis Board is another feature getting a major overhaul. Jobs will now appear on a map of the FBC, with crises now (much like real life) rotating every 30 minutes. Remedy hopes this change will make each event feel more meaningful, bringing the experience “closer to the first-responder fantasy at the heart of the game.” Job customisation has been revisited as well; both Corruption and Clearance levels are being removed, but the Threat will remain. That may be a temporary change though as, in their letter, the team addressed this change stating “You can no longer manually pick a specific Job, Clearance, or Corruption level. We know some players liked that flexibility, and we’re exploring ways to bring back more customisation in the future.”
At Reputation Level 3, players will unlock the new Gun Mod system, accessible via the Loadout menu. At launch, there will be 27 Gun Mods: nine universal mods that work with any weapon type, and six category-specific mods (e.g. Blast, Precision, Spray). Weapon upgrades are also being revisited, with all unlocked (and future unlocked) guns now available at full power from the start. Remedy hopes these changes will make your arsenal feel “more flexible and personal than ever before. Whether you prefer up-close blasting, long-range precision, or all-out spray-and-pray, the system is designed to support a wide range of playstyles and open up new tactical possibilities in every Crisis."
Revisions also extend to Crisis Kit Devices and Augments, all of which have been buffed to offer stronger, more impactful effects, making them more useful and more dangerous on the field. Phew, and breathe out.
Now, let's get to the content! We really have to start with Outbreak, a new Job set in the Research Sector. This time, it’s a another moldy crisis, with the fungus spreading at an alarming rate and transforming Hiss and unfortunate Firebreakers into terrifying new enemies. With that twist, the game is introducing two new enemies; Mold Walkers (slow moving but bullet-resistant fiends created by those infected with the harmful new condition) and Mold Turrets (that can only be stunned). Your task is to analyse the spores and develop a custom poison.
Read the full blog post, HERE!
