Remedy is a game studio known for developing many cult classic hits over the years, from Max Payne to Alan Wake and Control.
However, despite the recognisability of some of these names, Remedy has always struggled to break into the kind of mainstream success that guarantee any of their games as commercial hits.
A recent multiplayer title set in the shared universe of Alan Wake and Control, titled FBC: Firebreak, launched to mixed critical reviews and disappointing sales, leaving many wondering about what’s next for the studio.
What’s next for FBC: Firebreak?
Recent gaming history is no stranger to live service or multiplayer games that studios invest a lot into only to flop and recede into obscurity. In fact, Sony recently seemed to pivot on its live service strategy after a string of disappointments – so is the same destined to happen here with FBC: Firebreak?
Remedy believes that it’s a game which will evolve over time, stating: “Despite the rocky launch, we believe we have a solid game to build on. […] We have already rolled out patches and communicated on how the game will continue to develop. Looking ahead, a larger ‘Major Update’ late September will be the next key step for FBC: Firebreak.”
With the first hour of the game frequently cited in reviews as being part of the reason for the disappointment, Remedy also stated that they’d work to address that.
What else is Remedy working on?
Despite this setback, Remedy has reported positive financial results for Q2 2025, with revenue increasing by 63.5%, citing the steady sales of Alan Wake 2 and Control. This has them turning towards the future, to their next major single-player release – Control 2. They said of its development, “[t]he focus is now on the gameplay, environments, and missions. Work continues on developing the game into a strong commercial offering.”
At the same time, they have the remakes of Max Payne 1 and 2 in the pipeline, which they are developing alongside Rockstar Games of GTA and Red Dead Redemption fame.
Multiplayer games that have turned it around
Despite the history of such games being abandoned, if Remedy do manage to transform FBC: Firebreak into a game that people keep coming back to, it won’t be a standalone example. Fallout 76, for instance, received an enormous amount of backlash upon its initial release, yet it still receives updates today and that comes with a committed playerbase. The same can be said of the Elder Scrolls Online, with other successes like Helldivers 2 perhaps giving Remedy a template to follow.
