After over eight years in the business, First Contact Entertainment, an American game production studio with its headquarters in Los Angeles, California, is to close. Hess Barber and David Kovacs founded the firm in 2016, with a focus on live-action video games with a multiplayer focus that is optimized for virtual reality. First Contact Entertainment is best known for Firewall: Zero Hour, which was released in 2018 and was distributed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. First Contact made the official announcement of the upcoming closure via a Facebook post.
After almost 8 years of working with the most amazing team I’ve ever have the pleasure of being part of, I’m sad to announce that we will be closing our company First Contact Entertainment by the end of the year.
The lack of support for VR within the industry has eventually taken its toll. As a AAA VR game developer, we are just not able to justify the expense needed gouging forward.
We are a team of fearless innovators willing to push new technologies to its limits. I am extremely proud of the team and grateful to our investors, our partners and of course our community of dedicated and passionate players. It’s been a wild ride, Thankyou!
First Contact Entertainment
First Contact Entertainment had a solid working relationship with Sony Interactive Entertainment for the duration of its existence. Their first joint project, Firewall: Zero Hour, was made for the PlayStation VR headset. August 2018 saw the official release of the game, which had been teased during Sony’s PlayStation Experience event the previous year. Since its release, it has gotten reviews that are largely positive.
First Contact Entertainment and Sony revealed their second project together, a follow-up called Firewall Ultra, in September 2022. Firewall Ultra, designed for Sony’s PlayStation VR2 headset, debuted in August 2023 to acclaim. The studio closing raises doubts about the game’s sustainability even in the face of constant updates, such the introduction of “Operation Bloodline,” the first seasonal operation event.
The gaming industry has seen some amazing game releases this year, as well as some regrettable closures and difficulties. Layoffs and closures have hit studios of all sizes, including well-known publishers and creators. As a reflection of the greater difficulties facing the business, First Contact Entertainment has joined the list of studios closing this year. Either way, it is hoped that a more stable climate with fewer closures and setbacks for publishers and game creators will be experienced in the upcoming year.
