Remedy Entertainment has released the official system requirements for its upcoming co-op shooter FBC: Firebreak, revealing surprisingly modest hardware demands that have generated both praise and criticism within the gaming community. The specifications appear accessible on the surface but rely heavily on upscaling technology across all performance tiers, raising questions about optimization practices in modern game development.
Minimum Requirements Appear Deceptively Accessible
The minimum system requirements for FBC: Firebreak suggest that players can achieve 1080p 60fps gameplay with hardware as modest as an Nvidia GTX 1070 or AMD RX 5600 XT. These specifications require pairing with an Intel i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X processor, alongside 16GB of RAM and 30GB of SSD storage. However, these performance targets are only achievable when using quality upscaling settings on the low graphics preset, making the actual native rendering resolution significantly lower than advertised.
FBC: Firebreak System Requirements Breakdown
| Tier | Resolution/FPS | Graphics Preset | GPU Requirements | CPU Requirements | Upscaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1080p 60fps | Low | GTX 1070 / RX 5600 XT | i5-7600K / Ryzen 5 1600X | Quality |
| Recommended | 1440p 60fps | Medium | RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT | i5-8500 / Ryzen 5 2600 | Quality |
| High | 4K 60fps | High | RTX 3070 / RX 6800 XT | i5-8500 / Ryzen 5 2600 | Quality |
| Ultra | 4K 60fps + RT | High + High RT | RTX 4080 / RX 9070 XT | i7-8700K / Ryzen 5 3600 | Performance |
*All tiers require 16GB RAM and 30GB SSD storage
Upscaling Technology Becomes Mandatory Across All Tiers
The controversy surrounding these requirements stems from the mandatory use of upscaling technology at every performance level. Even the minimum GTX 1070 specification lacks native DLSS support, forcing users to rely on AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, or proprietary upscaling solutions built into the game. This dependency extends through all requirement tiers, with the ultra specifications calling for an RTX 4080 or the yet-to-be-released AMD RX 9070 XT to achieve 4K 60fps with high ray tracing enabled, but only through performance upscaling that renders at 1080p before scaling to 4K.
Key Technical Specifications
- Engine: Northlight Engine (Remedy's in-house engine since 2016)
- Storage Requirement: 30GB SSD (mandatory across all tiers)
- Memory: 16GB RAM consistent across all performance levels
- Upscaling Support: AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, and proprietary solutions
- Ray Tracing: Available at ultra tier with high settings
- DLSS Compatibility: Not available for minimum tier GTX 1070
Recommended Specifications Target 1440p Performance
For players seeking 1440p 60fps gameplay at medium settings, Remedy recommends an RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT graphics card paired with an Intel i5-8500 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 processor. The high-end tier suggests an RTX 3070 or RX 6800 XT for 4K performance at high presets, while maintaining the same 16GB RAM requirement across all configurations. These specifications demonstrate how GPU upgrades can significantly impact the gaming experience, though all still require quality upscaling to achieve their stated performance targets.
Industry Criticism Over Optimization Practices
The reliance on upscaling technology has drawn criticism from industry observers who argue that this approach masks poor optimization or serves as justification for requiring more powerful hardware. The concern is particularly pronounced given that FBC: Firebreak utilizes Remedy's established Northlight Engine, which has been in development since 2016 and powers previous titles without such heavy upscaling dependencies. Critics suggest that upscaling should enhance performance rather than serve as a fundamental requirement for achieving advertised frame rates.
Transparency Issues Compound the Controversy
Adding to the controversy is the inconsistent communication of these requirements. While Remedy's social media posts and community announcements clearly mention the upscaling dependency, the Steam store page omits this crucial information entirely. This discrepancy could mislead potential buyers who might purchase the game expecting native resolution performance from their hardware, only to discover that upscaling is mandatory for achieving the advertised frame rates.
Implications for Future Game Development
The FBC: Firebreak system requirements represent a broader trend in the gaming industry where upscaling technology is becoming integral to performance specifications rather than serving as an optional enhancement. This shift raises questions about whether developers are using these technologies to compensate for optimization shortcomings or whether the increasing complexity of modern games necessitates such approaches. As the game approaches its release date, the gaming community continues to debate whether this represents an evolution in gaming technology or a concerning departure from traditional optimization practices.