FBC: Firebreak Devs Finally Address New Player Struggles – Here’s What’s Changing

FBC: Firebreak has built a loyal community with its stylish combat and eerie sci-fi atmosphere, but for newcomers, the entry point hasn’t been smooth sailing. Remedy Entertainment and publisher 505 Games are now acknowledging that onboarding frustrations are real, and say fresh changes are on the way. So if you’ve bounced off this ambitious multiplayer shooter because of confusing early-game mechanics or a lack of clear guidance, your feedback has been heard.

Remedy Responds to the Fire

In a refreshing moment of honesty, Remedy posted a detailed developer update on FBC: Firebreak‘s onboarding process, the first few hours of gameplay that introduce new players to its unique mechanics. They’ve identified that players have been left bewildered by too little context, unclear objectives, and insufficient explanations of core systems. It’s not hard to see why; for a competitive and cooperative shooter with distinct supernatural twists, FBC lacks the kind of clear tutorial steps that competing multiplayer games offer.

Executive producer Mikael Kasurinen was candid in noting that while long-term fans have praised Firebreak’s immersive design, first-timers often drop off too early. “We deliberately started players in the deep end… but that hasn’t worked well for everyone,” he said. Remedy now promises to “redesign onboarding,” making things clearer without compromising the mystery and tension players love.

If you’ve ever launched into Firebreak on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S and wondered what on Earth is going on, you’re far from alone. Discussions on Reddit and Steam forums routinely highlight how the new player experience in Firebreak is a major hurdle, even for experienced FPS players. Match pacing, unexplained abilities, and vague progression systems have all contributed to early frustration. Kasurinen says they’re now shifting priority to address these pain points with meaningful updates.

What’s Likely to Change for New Players?

While there’s no full roadmap yet, some important hints came through in the update. First, onboarding is being divided into multiple components, including step-by-step tutorials, contextual narrative clues, and a gradual unlock of abilities. Remedy’s goal? To introduce core gameplay concepts more naturally without dumping everything on newcomers in the first 15 minutes.

There’s also a focus on accessibility and pacing. Fewer cognitive overloads. More breathing room between missions. And better explanations around the game’s loot systems and synergy between Operators. Firebreak’s initial vision offered no hand-holding, but that approach may have backfired by gatekeeping its own depth. These changes aim to strike a balance.

In a competitive environment where onboarding quality often determines a game’s lifespan, it’s a necessary pivot. Compared to smoother entries like Apex Legends or Overwatch 2, Firebreak’s early complexity has been a barrier. Remedy appears to recognise that if it wants long-term player retention, it needs to be more welcoming.

As of July 18, 2025, there’s no official launch date for the planned updates, but the devs assure that changes are in active development. Whether you’re on PS5, PC, or Xbox Series X/S, the improvements will be rolled out across all platforms simultaneously. While Remedy hasn’t specified if the update will drastically alter mission structure or visuals, some interface improvements and pacing adjustments are expected.

It’s worth noting that FBC: Firebreak’s ambition was never in question—players love the otherworldly powers, chaotic PvP mechanics, and haunting Control-inspired design. But ambition alone doesn’t sell a game to curious newcomers if they can’t figure out how to play. By giving the early stages a sorely needed polish, Remedy is aiming to broaden its player base beyond hardcore fans into a bigger, less intimidated crowd.

The studio’s transparent acknowledgement of faults and willingness to adapt also signals a maturing live-service strategy. For players who gave up early or hesitated to jump in, the time to revisit—or finally download—FBC: Firebreak might just be on the horizon.

Remedy has said, stating the frequency of its updates will now slow as the team gears up for the first major update due this September.