Remedy usually puts narrative at the forefront of its games. While the gameplay in titles likeControlandAlan Wake 2still feels engaging and enjoyable, the star of the show is undoubtedly the game’s mind-bending narrative, its otherworldly twists and turns, and the deliberately archetypal characters at the heart of it all.FBC: Firebreakdoesn’t follow this tradition, however.
As a multiplayer co-op shooter first and foremost,FBC: Firebreakputs a much stronger emphasis on gameplay than previous Remedy titles. Naturally, this means that narrative takes a bit of a backseat inFirebreak. Aside from some main menu voiceovers and loading screen text documents, there’s very little ongoing narrative inFBC: Firebreak. But those loading screen documents do at least contain some references toControl’s cast.
Every Control Character Mentioned in FBC: Firebreak
Jesse Faden
The protagonist of 2019’sControl, Jesse Faden is mentioned quite a few times inFBC: Firebreak’s loading screen documents. Along with being credited for approving the study ofAltered Items like the AI44 Teapot, Jesse’s name is mentioned a few times in some letters that argue with her directorial actions. One letter from an unknown person begins with the line “Jesse Faden? More like Jesse Fade-OUT already, please!” and goes on to say her handling of the Hiss invasion has been “TERRIBLE.”
Another letter, this one from Simon Arish, asks Jesse to rethink her decision to allow Hank Flowers' new Firebreak teams to carry out jobs in the off-limits sectors of the Oldest House. He ends the letter by saying that he knows he won’t change her mind, but that he wants to at least send one of his people to oversee the operation. It seems Jesse agreed, as Jerry Standish was sent to work alongside Flowers.
Ahti
Right at the end of the Hot Fix 3 finale, when players throw the last Black Rock barrel into the gigantic furnace, Hank Flowers' randomized voiceover will occasionally mention the “janitor” that used to work in the Oldest House. This “weird foreign janitor” is also mentioned in a letter from Frankie M. to FBC management that complains about the furnace’s instability. These are clear references toAhti, the aloof Finnish janitor– and possible paranatural entity – who appears in bothControlandAlan Wake 2.
Emily Pope
The new FBC Head of Research followingCasper Darling’s disappearance, Emily Pope appears throughoutControl. She’s also briefly mentioned in one ofFBC: Firebreak’s in-game letters, where Firebreak head Hank Flowers sends Pope some “feedback” regarding her research department. Flowers complains about two FBC researchers who “stole” an Altered Item and used it to open a portal to “Pink Bullshit Wonderland,” a mess the Firebreak teams are now expected to clean up.
Simon Arish
The FBC’s Head of Security followingControl’s events, Simon Arish wrote the aforementioned letter to Director Jesse Faden, asking her to rethink the Firebreak initiative.
Zachariah Trench & Broderick Northmoor
In the letter that condemns Jesse Faden’s approach to the Hiss invasion,Zachariah Trench and Broderick Northmoorare mentioned by name. Zachariah Trench was the previous FBC Director before Jesse, who was corrupted by the Hiss and unintentionally allowed their invasion of the Oldest House. Trench took his own life right as Jesse entered the Oldest House.
Broderick Northmoor was the FBC Director before him. Northmoor lost control of his paranatural abilities and agreed to be sealed inside the Oldest House’s power plant, where his unstable abilities continue to be used to power the FBC headquarters.
Bethany Harrington
Bethany Harrington primarily works in the FBC’s Parapsychology department, but she’s also known for making a series of puppet shows called “Threshold Kids.” These educational puppet shows were designed to teach Prime Candidates about a variety of paranatural topics and the many quirks ofthe Oldest House. Jerry Standish, one of Firebreak’s bureaucrat leaders, sends Harrington a letter asking her to make a series of introductory puppet videos for new Firebreak recruits.
