Firewall Ultra Developer Shuts Down After Eight Years Over Lack of Virtual Reality (VR) Compatibility

First Contact Entertainment, the developer behind Firewall Ultra, has announced its closure after eight years. The studio has attributed the decision to the overall lack of support for virtual reality in the video games industry. In a pre-Christmas Facebook post, First Contact Entertainment stated that it would be ceasing its operations by the end of 2023, citing the inability to justify the expenses required to move forward as a AAA VR game developer. The studio expressed its disappointment, noting that as fearless innovators, they were dedicated to pushing new technologies to their limits.

First Contact Entertainment released Firewall Zero Hour for PlayStation VR in 2018 and followed up with Firewall Ultra for PlayStation VR2 in 2023. It is currently unknown if either game will be removed from the PlayStation Store or if their servers will be shut down.

In 2023, Mimimi, the developer of Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, closed its doors after 15 years due to "increased financial pressure and level of risk."

Firewall Zero Hour was well received, earning a 79 on Metacritic. Firewall Ultra received mixed reviews, earning a 61 on Metacritic.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of Firewall Ultra, I am deeply saddened by the news of First Contact Entertainment's closure. The studio's dedication to pushing the boundaries of virtual reality gaming was truly inspiring, and their contributions to the industry will be sorely missed. Firewall Zero Hour and Firewall Ultra were both fantastic games that showcased the potential of VR gaming, and it is a shame that the studio was unable to continue its work in this area.

The lack of support for virtual reality in the video games industry is a major concern, and it is clear that more needs to be done to encourage developers to create VR games. VR gaming has the potential to revolutionize the way we play games, and it is essential that the industry does not abandon this technology. I hope that First Contact Entertainment's closure will serve as a wake-up call to the industry, and that more developers will be given the opportunity to create VR games in the future.