New FBC Firebreak update tries making the struggling shooter faster and more fun

FBC Firebreak is a game I wish did well. Remedy Entertainment is famous for gripping narratives and detailed worlds, and I was hoping its co-op FPS could deliver on both fronts. Unlike Max Payne, Alan Wake, or Control, though, so far, it doesn't live up to Remedy's high standards. That could be about to change, however, as FBC Firebreak update 1.3 is here, and it massively overhauls the game's perks economy.

First up, new and returning players will be met with the 'Surviving the Workplace' introductory video when they boot up the game, which explains FBC Firebreak's overall premise and what your character's goals are. This is something the game sorely needs, as the first time I started it up I found myself immediately in a menu screen filled with builds, customization, and difficulty options. Now, though, FBC eases you in more gently and gives you a worthwhile primer.

The number of Lost Assets (this is your unlock currency) and Research Samples (these are used for higher-tier perks) that you're carrying will now be displayed via a number on your HUD. This makes keeping track of your currencies, and what you can spend them on, much easier going forward. That kind of immediate readability is vital for communication in the best co-op games.

Remedy's biggest change in update 1.3, however, comes in the form of a rebalance of the perk economy. "Our statistics show that slightly less than 5% of our player base owns a level-three perk," the studio explains.

"For a variety of reasons that we need to address, players are not using higher-tier perks, and this is not just due to their unlocking costs. This economy rebalancing is just one step we are taking to improve."

Starting now, some perk sets will become cheaper across all levels, while others are going up in cost. Your new relationship with the perk economy should make progression much smoother, more rewarding, and better paced. Remedy wants to help you reach your ideal builds much faster, and encourage experimentation at the same time.

I seriously hope update 1.3 marks a turnaround for FBC Firebreak. Remedy's co-op shooter did not do well on Steam at launch, and it's been struggling ever since. The game is barely getting past 100 players on Valve's platform, but with the major fixes from this patch that could change soon.

If you want to understand where it is that FBC has gone wrong, Nat's excellent write up is the perfect place to start.

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