Summary
VR game studio First Contact Entertainment has announced that it is shutting down operations at the end of 2023. This news comes amid the fact that they had recently released a game for the PlayStation VR2 platform and announced another upcoming one currently in development.
Established in 2015, First Contact Entertainment has become known for producing games in the burgeoning VR space, releasing on platforms such as thePlayStation VR2, its predecessor, as well as the Oculus Quest. First Contact prides itself as a studio “at the forefront of VR development,” having released titles such asFirewall Zero Hour,Firewall Ultra, andSolaris: Offworld Combat.
First Contact had suddenly announced its closing in a message posted on December 21, despite havingjust releasedFirewall Ultraback in Augustand recently revealing the sequel toSolaris. In its announcement, the company directly blames the lack of growth and stability in VR gaming for its demise, admitting that it doesn’t get enough support from gamers to justify the expenses it’s making on development.
Though the news is unfortunate, it also isn’t too surprising given the reluctance of many gamers to fully adopt VR gaming. Other than the fact that it is a different physical experience that may not be made for everyone, the entry cost to get into can be quite prohibitive, with some VR headsets costing almost as much as a brand-new console, an expense some gamers just can’t justify. As a result, VR tech manufacturers such asMeta and Sony may already be adjusting and downplaying their projectionswhen it comes to the future of this particular niche.
For those who may be considering trying VR gaming, now may be a good time to get into it. The relative lack of demand for VR gaming hardware has resulted ina lot of discounts from brands like HTC and Meta, especially during the holiday season. The tech has also improved significantly since its introduction, as it’s not just wearing a headset to stick images in front of your eyes and lazy ports of “traditional” games. Today’s top-of-the-line devices sport unbelievable resolutions like 5K, less motion blur thanks to consistently high refresh rates, wider fields of view for a more natural viewing experience, and more comfortable ergonomics to keep you going for longer.
And despite the limitations of the space, the quality of VR gaming is also steadily on the rise. The newly released and highly acclaimedAsgard’s Wrath 2is shaping up to be a major must-havefor action RPG fans who want something truly immersive. If bigger studios with more stable cash flows can keep feeding the niche, and the tech becomes more accessible, perhaps there will be fewer stories like First Contact’s in the future.
PlayStation VR2
The successor to the PS VR, the PlayStation VR2 is Sony’s virtual reality headset. Debuting in February 2023, the hardware is designed as a companion piece for the PlayStation 5 and requires the PS VR2 Sense controller.
