Tag: Remedy Entertainment

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 Director Responds to Epic Games CEO on Steam

    Baldur’s Gate 3 Director Responds to Epic Games CEO on Steam

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tim Sweeney believes competition between Steam and the Epic Games Store benefits gamers and developers by providing more options and better deals.
    2. Michael Douse disagrees, arguing that exclusivity can harm developers, citing Remedy Entertainment’s struggles after Alan Wake 2’s launch.
    3. Douse suggests that sales on Steam could have helped Remedy recoup costs faster, questioning the value of exclusivity agreements.
    4. He raises concerns about Epic’s long-term strategy, noting a lack of evidence that Fortnite players are transitioning to purchasing premium games.
    5. Alan Wake 2 took nearly two years for Remedy to become profitable, and its absence on Steam likely limited its sales potential and financial recovery.

    Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney recently shared his thoughts on the rivalry between Steam and the Epic Games Store, stating that it is advantageous for both gamers and developers. He remarked, “On some transactions, Epic wins. On more, Steam wins.” Sweeney emphasized, “But one thing is constant on every transaction: gamers and developers win by having more options and better deals.”

    Douse’s Concerns

    This perspective did not resonate well with Michael Douse, Larian’s publishing director, who expressed his disagreement publicly. While he recognized that Epic Games fully financed Alan Wake 2, he argued that the “pro-developer” narrative seems out of touch when considering the reality faced by Remedy Entertainment. He believes that Remedy’s financial difficulties after the game’s launch illustrate the negatives of being excluded from Steam, a platform that could have offered a larger audience for the game.

    The Impact of Exclusivity

    Douse elaborated that had Epic taken a cut from Steam sales, it’s possible that Remedy could have recouped development costs more quickly and made extra profit. Although he acknowledges that competition among storefronts is beneficial, he finds it challenging to justify exclusivity agreements when there are evident instances of games struggling because of them.

    Epic’s Strategy in Question

    He also raised doubts about Epic’s long-term strategy for its store, suggesting that its success hinges on transforming Fortnite’s vast player base into purchasers of premium, single-player titles. As of now, he doesn’t observe any strong indicators that the Fortnite audience is moving in that direction. He likened this scenario to mobile app stores, where years of free-to-play success have made it very hard to market premium games without devaluing them.

    In the case of Alan Wake 2, while Epic’s publishing arrangement did facilitate the game’s creation, it reportedly took nearly two years for Remedy to achieve profitability. The game was not available on Steam or Nintendo Switch, and many believe that a Steam release could have significantly increased sales and alleviated the studio’s financial burden.

    Michael Douse via X

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  • Remedy Entertainment Reports Major Q3 2025 Loss After Firebreak Flop

    Remedy Entertainment Reports Major Q3 2025 Loss After Firebreak Flop

    Key Takeaways

    1. Remedy Entertainment’s Q3 2025 results showed a sevenfold increase in game sales and royalties, totaling €6 million, but overall revenue decreased by 32% to €12.2 million.
    2. The disappointing performance of FBC: Firebreak, its first self-published live-service game, led to a significant operating loss of €16.4 million and a non-cash impairment of €14.9 million.
    3. Despite the struggles with FBC: Firebreak, Remedy plans to focus on developing existing franchises like Alan Wake and Control, as well as remakes of Max Payne 1 & 2 with Rockstar Games.
    4. Interim CEO Markus Maki reassured investors about ongoing projects and emphasized the company’s commitment to managing risks while creating new experiences.
    5. Remedy aims to double its revenue by 2027 and achieve a 30% EBITDA margin, a challenging goal in the gaming industry.

    Remedy Entertainment is facing a challenging financial situation, as shown in its Q3 2025 results. The Finnish developer, known for creating Alan Wake and Control, experienced significant growth in game sales revenue thanks to royalties and its expanding portfolio. However, this success hasn’t been enough to cover the major issue: the disappointing performance of its first self-published live-service game, FBC: Firebreak, leading to a large operating loss.

    Sales Growth Not Enough

    From July to September 2025, Remedy reported a notable rise in game sales and royalties, totaling €6 million, which is a sevenfold increase from €0.8 million during the same quarter in 2024.

    Even with this boost in sales, the overall revenue dipped by 32% compared to the previous year, landing at €12.2 million. The quarterly turnover decreased from €17.9 million from the year prior, and the operating loss dropped significantly to €-16.4 million.

    FBC: Firebreak’s Impact

    The primary factor contributing to this major loss was the lackluster performance of FBC: Firebreak, set in Remedy’s interconnected universe. The company had high hopes for this game, but the return on investment has not yet come through. FBC: Firebreak launched on June 17, 2025, across Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5, and PC, and was available on day one for Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.

    Even after releasing an extensive update called Breakpoint to address fundamental issues, the game continued to fall short of the company’s expectations. In response to this situation, Remedy adjusted its long-term sales predictions and recognized a non-cash impairment of €14.9 million. This write-down has pushed the company’s profit deep into the red, especially following the resignation of its CEO on October 22, 2025.

    Future Plans

    Markus Maki, Remedy’s interim CEO, has tried to reassure investors, stating that the company will continue to develop Alan Wake and Control, and also concentrate on the Max Payne 1 & 2 remakes in collaboration with Rockstar Games.

    In the financial report, Maki mentioned:

    “While we face issues with FBC: Firebreak, our other projects are on track. We are focusing most of our resources on our well-known franchises – Control and Alan Wake – which we are still investing in and expanding into various media as part of our long-term plans.

    Also, we’re dedicated to the Max Payne 1 & 2 remake with Rockstar Games. As we carefully manage our products that carry risks, we also want to keep the capability to create new experiences for our audiences, just like we have done for over 30 years.”

    Goals for the Future

    Looking forward, Remedy aims to double its revenue by 2027 and maintain steady year-over-year growth. Additionally, the company aspires to achieve a 30 percent EBITDA margin, which is quite an ambitious target in an industry that typically sees margins below 20%.

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  • Firebreak Underperformance Triggers Profit Warning and €14.9M Impairment

    Firebreak Underperformance Triggers Profit Warning and €14.9M Impairment

    Key Takeaways

    1. Remedy Entertainment issued a profit warning for 2025 due to poor financial performance linked to its multiplayer shooter, FBC: Firebreak.
    2. The game faced a significant non-cash impairment of €14.9 million ($17.2 million) due to disappointing sales and failure to meet internal goals.
    3. FBC: Firebreak attracted 1 million players shortly after launch but struggled with sales, relying heavily on subscription services instead of direct purchases.
    4. Despite recent updates aimed at improving gameplay, player numbers remained low, averaging around 100 concurrent players on Steam.
    5. Remedy has revised its financial outlook, expecting negative operating profit for 2025 and may consider scaling back major updates for FBC: Firebreak due to the dwindling player base.

    Remedy Entertainment has raised concerns about its finances by announcing a profit warning for 2025. The company revealed that its multiplayer shooter, FBC: Firebreak, has not performed well, even after a significant revamp aimed at boosting player interest and sales.

    Financial Setbacks

    On October 10, Remedy disclosed that the disappointing sales of its game, a spinoff from the Control series, have resulted in a major financial setback. This includes a non-cash impairment of €14.9 million, which covers most of the development expenses and the rights for publishing and distribution.

    The impairment, which amounts to $17.2 million, does not affect the company’s cash reserves but highlights the game’s failure to achieve the internal goals established after it was launched.

    Launch Performance

    FBC: Firebreak made its debut on June 17, 2025, available on PC and consoles. It did manage to attract 1 million players in the first 10 days, but its sales performance was primarily reliant on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus subscriptions instead of direct sales from consumers, which is quite different when compared to Steam.

    Upon its release, FBC: Firebreak hit a peak of 1,992 concurrent players on Steam, four months ago. Unfortunately, this number plummeted to below 100 just a month later.

    Updates and Player Feedback

    In reaction to feedback from players, Remedy quickly rolled out several updates, which were part of a major update called Breakpoint released on September 29, 2025. This update brought significant enhancements to the core gameplay.

    While it did result in a slight increase in the number of concurrent players, these gains were fleeting, with player numbers quickly dropping back down to double digits.

    Currently, the game averages around 100 players on the platform, showing that Remedy’s efforts to improve the game post-launch have not met expectations.

    Future Outlook

    Due to FBC: Firebreak’s poor sales outcomes, Remedy has updated its financial forecast for 2025. The company now anticipates a yearly revenue increase, but it expects to report an operating profit that is negative and below last year’s figures.

    This profit warning is issued just before Remedy’s upcoming quarterly financial report, set for October 29, 2025. CEO Tero Virtala commented on the situation, saying, “We are balancing future investments for the title while still working on enhancing the game in line with our new long-term sales expectations.”

    It appears that Remedy may consider reducing major updates for FBC: Firebreak due to the low player count, as providing extensive support for such a small player base may not be sustainable in the long run.

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  • Rockstar Games and Remedy Collaborate on Max Payne 1 & 2 Remake

    Rockstar Games and Remedy Collaborate on Max Payne 1 & 2 Remake

    Key Takeaways

    1. The remake of Max Payne and Max Payne 2 is progressing well, as noted in Remedy Entertainment’s recent financial report.
    2. The original Max Payne games were highly successful, with the first game scoring 80 on Metacritic for the PlayStation 2.
    3. Remedy Entertainment sold the Max Payne franchise to Take-Two, leading to the successful release of Max Payne 3 by Rockstar Games in 2012.
    4. Production on the Max Payne 1 & 2 Remake started in 2024, and the team is maintaining steady momentum with close collaboration with Rockstar Games.
    5. While details about the partnership between Remedy and Rockstar remain unclear, the remake is expected to be released, allowing fans to revisit the classic games.

    Many video games are in the works by various publishers and developers. As for the remake of Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, it seems to be going quite well, based on Remedy Entertainment’s latest financial report from the past six months, which is encouraging news.

    Success of the Original Games

    It’s important to highlight that the Max Payne games were very popular at the time they launched, thanks to their distinctive elements and a storyline that drew in players. This is especially true for the first game, which achieved a score of 80 on Metacritic for the PlayStation 2.

    Transition to Take-Two and Rockstar’s Success

    Later on, Remedy Entertainment sold the franchise to Take-Two, which enabled Rockstar Games to develop Max Payne 3, released in 2012. It’s worth mentioning that this game also enjoyed great success among gamers.

    Update on the Remake Project

    Given the previous success, production on the Max Payne 1 & 2 Remake began in 2024. However, news had been scarce until recently. The latest financial report from Remedy Entertainment brought attention back to this project, sending a clear message to fans of the franchise.

    The report stated: “The Max Payne 1 & 2 remake project continues its progress and remains in full production. In the second quarter, the team built on steady momentum from earlier in the year. Collaboration with Rockstar Games remains close and productive, ensuring alignment as the project advances toward its next major phase.” This indicates that the project is indeed progressing well.

    Future of the Remake

    That said, it’s unclear whether this partnership is entirely equal or if there are some disparities, as no specifics have been shared about this matter. Nonetheless, it’s certain that the Max Payne 1 & 2 Remake will eventually come out, allowing fans to relive their nostalgic moments from the past.

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  • FBC Firebreak Reaches 1 Million Players Amid Mixed Reviews

    FBC Firebreak Reaches 1 Million Players Amid Mixed Reviews

    Key Takeaways

    1. Milestone Achievement: FBC: Firebreak reached over one million players within a week of launch, largely due to availability on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.

    2. Shift in Focus: The game marks Remedy’s departure from single-player experiences, connecting to their previous titles and set in the Remedy Connected Universe.

    3. Player Engagement Issues: Despite the player count, many gamers report a lack of content and confusing systems, with some completing the game in just a couple of days.

    4. Critical Feedback: Players and critics have noted issues such as poor tutorials and matchmaking problems, leading to a “Mixed” review score on Steam.

    5. Community Concerns: There is debate over how player numbers are counted, with many speculating that most players are using subscription services rather than making direct purchases.

    Remedy Entertainment’s first foray into multiplayer gaming with FBC: Firebreak has been quite the rollercoaster. Just a week after its launch on June 17, the game has welcomed over one million players across all platforms.

    In a post on their X account, Remedy expressed gratitude to all the ‘Firebreakers’ and promised upcoming content and improvements. While reaching a million players is a notable feat, the journey to get there has had its share of challenges.

    A Shift from Single-Player

    FBC: Firebreak marks a significant change from Remedy’s traditional single-player titles like Control and Alan Wake. Set six years after the events of Control, it connects to the Remedy Connected Universe as players explore the enigmatic Oldest House.

    The Numbers Game

    However, hitting the one million milestone comes with a twist. A large part of this player influx is due to the game’s availability on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus’s Extra tier. It’s likely that many players are jumping in for a brief experience rather than fully committing to the game.

    This assumption is backed by data from SteamDB, which indicates that FBC: Firebreak had only 78 players online at the time of this writing, with a peak of 169 over the past 24 hours. This is a significant decrease from the all-time high of 1,992 players recorded just ten days ago. Currently, the game holds a “Mixed” review score on Steam with 1,511 user assessments, of which 65.69% are positive.

    Critic Feedback and Player Experience

    For many critics and gamers, engaging with the game has felt akin to taking on a second job. The absence of helpful tutorials, confusing progression systems, and matchmaking problems have drawn much criticism. Some players have reported completing the game’s content in just a day or two, which leaves them little motivation to join another raid.

    While the concept of an FPS within the chaotic Remedy Connected Universe is appealing, the actual execution has left some players divided. Remedy has acknowledged the feedback and has already addressed several issues with patches. The studio has promised to introduce balance updates along with new in-game elements, such as weapons, locations, and missions, later this year.

    Community Reactions

    The announcement of the million-player mark has ignited discussions within the gaming community. Many are questioning whether Remedy is counting unique logins, downloads, or active players. There’s speculation that a minimal portion of the player base consists of direct purchases, whereas a larger segment is exploring the game through services like Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus.

    FBC: Firebreak appears to be grappling with a typical case of “early access syndrome.” Remedy is in the process of taking player feedback into account and preparing their next patch for the game. The pressing question remains: can the studio execute a turnaround before the gaming community’s patience runs out?

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  • New Co-Op Shooter Launches on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus

    New Co-Op Shooter Launches on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus

    Key Takeaways

    1. FBC: Firebreak is a cooperative first-person shooter set in the Control universe, developed by Remedy Entertainment.
    2. The game is available on PC (Steam and Epic Game Store) and consoles (Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5) for $39.99.
    3. Players with Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus (Extra and Premium tiers) can access the game for free for a limited time.
    4. FBC: Firebreak features cross-play, allowing gamers on different platforms to team up or play solo.
    5. The game presents a darker, more dangerous environment following the events of Control, focusing on missions and challenges.

    FBC: Firebreak is a new game from Remedy Entertainment, which is based in Finland. This is their first attempt at a cooperative first-person shooter (FPS). The setting is within the Control universe. Following the events of Control, the environment becomes even stranger, darker, and more perilous. You’ll join a trio called Firebreak, tackling missions, entering sealed areas, facing dangers, and fulfilling multiple goals amid increasingly tough conditions.

    Availability and Pricing

    You can now find FBC: Firebreak on PC through Steam and the Epic Game Store, and it’s also accessible on Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5. The game does not come completely free of charge; it is priced at $39.99. However, players with an Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus can enjoy it at no cost for a limited time.

    Cross-Play Feature

    FBC: Firebreak supports cross-play, enabling you to join forces with gamers on different platforms. If you prefer a solo experience, the game allows that as well.

    For those who are subscribers to PS Plus Extra and Premium, there’s a good opportunity to experience this survival co-op shooter without any additional costs. However, players who are on the Essential tier of PS Plus will not have access to FBC: Firebreak.

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