Finnish developer Remedy Entertainment has expressed a desire for a more impactful launch of its latest title, FBC: Firebreak. In a conversation with GameSpot, communications head Thomas Puha acknowledged that while the game has only recently hit the market, the team is already gathering extensive data to enhance the player experience.
Player Engagement and Initial Reception
Since its debut on June 17th, FBC: Firebreak has attracted an impressive one million players within the first nine days. However, the game’s performance on platforms like Steam, where it peaked at 1,992 concurrent players, has raised some concerns. Puha emphasized the significance of Steam’s metrics, stating, “Steam is a very important part of the business of FBC: Firebreak. The Steam CCU is a very easy statistic to dig up, but it isn’t everything.”
Despite the initial enthusiasm, Puha candidly admitted that the launch did not meet their expectations. “We aren’t naïve; we had hoped for a better launch, but the team here is super-motivated to continue building the game and responding to player feedback,” he remarked. The team has already taken steps to address player concerns, implementing significant changes in patch 1.2 during the launch week.
Future Development Plans
Looking ahead, Remedy is focused on creating and releasing compelling content for FBC: Firebreak. Puha shared, “The simple answer is to develop and release great content to the game now that it’s live. Post-launch content, as we have always said, will be free.” He underscored the importance of listening to the player base, asserting that their feedback is crucial while ensuring that Remedy’s creative vision remains intact.
In a bid to foster a more engaging environment, Puha clarified the game’s design philosophy: “We never designed the game to be something that requires daily login for some random stuff, making the game your other job. Instead, you play Firebreak for a while, take a break, and come back when we release new content in the form of Major Updates.” He expressed confidence in the upcoming content, stating, “We feel strongly that what we have in the pipeline is going to be exciting for players. There is some game-changing content in development.”
