Firefighting Simulator: Ignite just dropped on Steam—and the launch has been rough. Reception is mixed at best.

Which is a shame, because on paper this game has everything. You’re a firefighter in Oakridge City, suiting up in Rosenbauer America trucks, breaking down doors with Halligans, ventilating buildings, and dragging people out of smoke-filled rooms. The kind of thing you imagined doing when you were a kid.

There’s a full campaign. Four-player online co-op. Cross-play between PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. A fire station hub where you train and pick missions. And yes, modding support—complete with a mission editor using mod.io so console players can grab PC-created scenarios. That’s ambitious.

Unreal Engine 5 gives the flames some real weight. Backdrafts, flashovers, and explosions can trigger if you’re not careful. Licensed brands like HAIX and Fire-Dex lend it authenticity. The soundscape is spot on too—roaring fire, creaking timbers, radio chatter—plus full voice acting.

Controls are flexible. Keyboard and mouse, or Xbox and PlayStation pads. Integrated voice chat is there so your crew can yell at each other while the building collapses.

Specs, though, are steep. Minimum: Ryzen 5 3700 or i7-9700, 8GB RAM, and an RTX 2060 Super or RX 5700 XT with 8GB VRAM. You’ll also need 45GB of space. Recommended bumps that up to a 3070 or RX 6800.

Only Windows is natively compatible. But this is playable on Steam Deck, which means it’s playable on Linux.

The bad news: performance. Players are reporting crashes, AI firefighters who can’t follow orders, and frame drops even on strong rigs. Optimization simply isn’t there yet. And that kills the excitement, because this could’ve been the firefighting game to beat.

It stings more knowing Weltenbauer is behind this—the same studio that made Construction Simulator, which was polished enough to earn respect in its niche. Ignite feels like it shipped a few months too early.

The game is C$44.99 on Steam. There’s also a Year 1 Edition with Season Pass and cosmetic packs if you’re a true believer. But right now? Don’t.

Instead, wait for patches. If Weltenbauer gets the optimization right, this could finally be the firefighting sim people have wanted. If not, well, that dream goes up in smoke.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1669480/Firefighting_Simulator_Ignite/

@videogames@piefed.social

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