After nearly eight years of pioneering work in the realm of virtual reality gaming, First Contact Entertainment, known for its prominent PSVR and PSVR2 titles like Firewall Zero Hour and Firewall Ultra, is ceasing operations.
This closure marks the end of a significant chapter in VR gaming, as First Contact was renowned for its specialization in VR content, particularly in the shooter genre.
Firewall Zero Hour, the studio’s offering for PSVR, was met with generally positive reviews, creating a benchmark in VR gaming. However, its successor for PSVR2, Firewall Ultra, couldn’t quite replicate the success of its predecessor. Despite this, it appears that the mixed critical reception of these games was not the primary factor in the studio’s closure.
According to a statement released on Facebook, First Contact attributes its shutdown to broader challenges within the VR industry, particularly citing a “lack of support for VR within the industry” that ultimately proved unsustainable.
The announcement of the closure, slated for the end of the year, was shared exclusively on the studio’s official Facebook page at the time of this writing. Reflecting on their journey, the statement from First Contact Entertainment expressed pride in their innovative efforts and gratitude towards their investors, partners, and most importantly, their community of dedicated players.
The sentiment conveyed a sense of accomplishment mixed with the harsh reality of the economic challenges in pushing the boundaries of new technologies in VR gaming.