Schlagwort: Firewall Zero Hour

Hi all! Damoun Shabestari (aka Shabs) here, Game Director at First Contact Entertainment — developers behind Firewall Zero Hour*, the team-based multiplayer shooter exclusive to PS VR. 

It’s been an absolute blast for myself and our devs to witness the sheer number of you joining the game this year! We welcomed tons of new players into the game when Firewall Zero Hour was offered as a free game to PlayStation Plus members during February 2020, right at the same time the game’s fourth season, Operation: Black Dawn, went live. 

Today we’re excited to keep that momentum rolling for the launch of Firewall Zero Hour’s fifth season, Operation: Syndicate! Below you’ll find a rundown on everything you’ll see in-game this season, beginning tomorrow.

New Map

Operation: Syndicate launches with a brand new map, Blacksite, available for free for all players who have access to Firewall Zero Hour. Set at the golden hour of sunset, players will find themselves in the Blacksite — the sector of a Middle Eastern city with a heavy military presence. Work with your teammates to scope out the apartment interiors, creep around alleyways, and fight through the open air marketplace to protect (or defend) the data on the laptop! You’ll utilize an array of cover points across the map, from field tents to sandbagged rooftops. And beware of those tight engagement zones! Players will also find themselves immediately immersed in the Blacksite map scene, as it becomes the Lobby environment during Operation: Syndicate.

New Contractor

This season introduces a brand new Contractor: Lucia Gallo, better known by her hacker handle — Luna. Born in Italy, Luna’s studies were predominantly focused on computer science and combating cyberterrorism. Her masterful abilities lead to her being hired to spearhead a newly established cyber security agency. At the same time, she took up weapon and combat training to match her abilities as a hacker–becoming the perfect combo hire. Luna’s Skill of “Backtrace” is very unique: players can see the outline of all signal jammers in the world for 4 seconds, helping players locate and destroy the equipment in time. This Skill is the perfect antidote for even the sneakiest jammer placements. Luna and her Skill are only available to Operation: Syndicate Op Pass holders**.

New Cosmetic Rewards

There are over 24 new cosmetic Rewards available this season. Upon completion of Missions, a variety of different trinkets, face paints, and camo skins can be equipped by players. In addition to Free Mission Rewards, Op Pass holders have access to Premium and Bonus Mission Rewards.

New Weapon

Arriving in Operation: Syndicate is a brand new weapon, the Custom ZS, available to all players upon completion of the Free Mission in the first week. The Custom ZS is a full auto, short-range sub-machine gun — perfect for the short and medium-range engagement zones found in Operation: Syndicate’s new map, Blacksite.

New Legendary Weapon Skin

The Legendary Weapon Skin of Operation: Black Dawn is Luna’s HZU — available to Op Pass holders who complete all Free, Premium and Bonus Missions in Operation: Syndicate (a total of 24 Missions) and redeemed for 250,000 Crypto.

Reminder: Op Pass and Hack Key Bundles

The Syndicate Op Pass allows players access to 16 additional Mission cosmetic Rewards, plus access to the new Contractor Luna, and the ability to unlock the Legendary Weapon Skin, Luna’s HZU after completion of all 24 Missions this season. Hack Keys can be used to instantly complete any Operational Mission and receive its cosmetic Reward — a great option for players who don’t have as much time to play as they would like. If you have any Hack Keys left over from last season (Operation: Black Dawn), you can use them on Missions this season (Operation: Syndicate).

• Firewall Zero Hour – Syndicate Op Pass + 25 Hack Keys ($24.99 USD)
• Firewall Zero Hour – Syndicate Op Pass + 5 Hack Keys ($9.99 USD)
• Firewall Zero Hour – Syndicate Op Pass + 1 Hack Key ($5.99 USD)
• Firewall Zero Hour – 5 Hack Keys Pack ($4.99 USD)

Firewall Zero Hour Digital Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Pack

As a reminder, Firewall Zero Hour’s Deluxe Pack recently became available on the PlayStation store, released in conjunction with the Digital Deluxe Edition. Great as an add-on for those newer to the game, the Deluxe Pack features some of the most popular Contractors, skins, and face paints released for Firewall Zero Hour since launch! 

The Deluxe Pack ($19.99 USD) includes the following: 

• Contractors: Jag, Nash, Node, Ruby, Lynx, Kane, Proxy
• Camo Skins: Banana, Bella, Dark Carbon, Fractal, Graffik, Lava, Snakeskin, Sunset
• Face Paints: Aztec, Clownface, Eagle, Fierce, Janus, Kiwi, Rotten
• Weapon Skins: Banana, Bella, Dark Carbon, Fractal, Graffik, Lava, Snakeskin, Sunset

Well there you have it, Contractors!

We can’t wait to get your feedback on this new season, Operation: Syndicate. It’s been truly awesome to see how Firewall Zero Hour has connected PS VR players from every corner of the globe. We’ve heard countless stories from our amazing fans — from people meeting their future spouses through the Firewall Zero Hour community, to fans who convince family members to get a PS4, PS VR, and a copy of the game, so the whole family can play together as a squad. It’s been a dream come true to see the Firewall Zero Hour community continue growing around the world, after almost 2 years since launch! Thanks to everyone for your continued support and sticking with us. We appreciate you!

Let’s squad up and I’ll see you online, Contractors!

* An internet connection is required for all modes of Firewall Zero Hour, including Single Player Training Mode. An active PS Plus membership is required for Multiplayer Training and Multiplayer Contract modes.

**Firewall Zero Hour: Syndicate Op Pass required to unlock Luna, available for purchase at the PlayStation Store

PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®VR and PlayStation®Camera are required to experience VR functionality.

Website: LINK

Hey guys! Damoun Shabestari (aka Shabs) here, Game Director on Firewall Zero Hour*, the team-based multiplayer shooter exclusive to PS VR. We hope you’re all having a great start to the year!

Here at First Contact Entertainment, we’ve been excited to welcome so many new players to the game over the holidays. We’re continuing that momentum by kicking off the year in a big way–with Firewall Zero Hour included as a February PS Plus free game, and today’s launch of Firewall Zero Hour’s fourth season, Operation: Black Dawn!

We’re absolutely psyched to be bringing the game to a wider audience — and with a fresh content drop to boot. Here’s a full rundown on everything you’ll be seeing in Firewall Zero Hour’s Operation: Black Dawn, beginning today:

New Map

Operation: Black Dawn launches with a brand new map, Oil Rig, available for free for all players. Set at nighttime, on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea, you’ll want to keep an eye out for enemies in the close quarter sections of this rig. Lots of unique cover points to take advantage of, as well as dangerous engagement zones. Players will also find themselves immediately in this scene when loading up the game, as the Oil Rig is the new Lobby environment during Operation: Black Dawn.

New Contractor

This season brings a brand new Contractor to the roster: Saul. Saul and his Skill are available to Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass holders.** Saul hails from Spain, having grown up in the coastal city of Huelva. An expert on the open water, he enlisted in a Spanish military academy and was later handpicked to join the special forces. His Skill of “Tactician” allows players the ability to pick up planted equipment. Players who enjoy playing tactically are sure to be big fans of this Skill!

New Cosmetic Rewards

There are 25 new cosmetic Rewards available this season. Upon completion of Missions, a variety of different trinkets, face paints, and camo skins can be equipped by players. In addition to Free Mission Rewards, Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass** holders have access to Premium and Bonus Mission Rewards. This season also marks the first time that graphic reticles for weapons will be available as Rewards for players in Free, Premium, and Bonus missions!

New Weapon

Arriving in Operation: Black Dawn is a brand new weapon, the Custom X-MR, available to all players upon completion of the Free Mission starting February 4. The Custom X-MR is a fully-automatic SMG that packs a punch — perfect for the short-range engagements that you’ll come across on the Oil Rig!

New Legendary Weapon Skin

The Legendary Weapon Skin of Operation: Black Dawn is Saul’s CQB — available to Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass holders** who complete all Free, Premium and Bonus Missions in Operation: Black Dawn (a total of 24 Missions) and redeemed for 250,000 Crypto.

New Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass and Hack Key Bundles

The Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass** allows players access to 16 additional Mission cosmetic Rewards, plus access to the new Contractor Saul, and the ability to unlock the Legendary Weapon Skin after completion of all 24 Missions this season. Hack Keys can be used to instantly complete any Operational Mission and receive its cosmetic Reward — a great option for players who don’t have as much time to play as they would like. If you have any Hack Keys left over from last season (Operation: Heartland), you can use them on Missions this season (Operation: Black Dawn).

Thanks to community feedback, we’re excited to offer new tiers of Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass** and Hack Key bundles in the PlayStation store this season:

• Firewall Zero Hour – Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass + 25 Hack Keys ($24.99)
• Firewall Zero Hour – Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass + 5 Hack Keys ($9.99)
• Firewall Zero Hour – Operation: Black Dawn Op Pass + 1 Hack Key ($5.99)
• Firewall Zero Hour – 5 Hack Keys Pack ($4.99)

Firewall Zero Hour Digital Deluxe Edition and Deluxe Pack

As a reminder, Firewall Zero Hour’s Deluxe Pack recently became available on PlayStation Store, released in conjunction with the Digital Deluxe Edition. Great as an add-on for those newer to the game, the Deluxe Pack features some of the most popular Contractors, skins, and face paints released for Firewall Zero Hour since launch.

The Deluxe Pack ($19.99) includes the following:

• Contractors: Jag, Nash, Node, Ruby, Lynx, Kane, Proxy
• Camo Skins: Banana, Bella, Dark Carbon, Fractal, Graffik, Lava, Snakeskin, Sunset
• Face Paints: Aztec, Clownface, Eagle, Fierce, Janus, Kiwi, Rotten
• Weapon Skins: Banana, Bella, Dark Carbon, Fractal, Graffik, Lava, Snakeskin, Sunset

Whew! Contractors, you’ve got your work cut out for you.

We’re amped to be welcoming even more of the PlayStation community to the game this year. We can’t wait to hear your feedback on Operation: Black Dawn, and watch all the hilarious and unpredictable streams with so many new players joining the fray. Our community has been amazing since Firewall Zero Hour’s launch in 2018. Thanks for your continued support and great feedback!

We’ll see you online, Contractors!

– Shabs

* An internet connection is required for all modes of Firewall Zero Hour, including Single Player Training Mode. An active PS Plus membership is required for Multiplayer Training and Multiplayer Contract modes.
**Operation: Black Dawn Op Passes, sold separately available at PlayStation Store.
PS4 system, PlayStation VR and PlayStation Camera are required to experience VR functionality.

Website: LINK

Hey guys,

Shabs here, Game Director on Firewall Zero Hour*, the 4v4 tactical multiplayer shooter, exclusive to PS VR.

We’re absolutely pumped to be celebrating the one year anniversary of Firewall Zero Hour’s launch. And what a year it’s been!

Over the course of a year, we’ve released a number of updates to the game — at times directly influenced by the awesome feedback we’ve received from our players! Our amazing community continues to grow stronger than ever, and we’re grateful for the recognition Firewall Zero Hour receives — such as being named the VR Game of the Year (2018) by UploadVR, and named a finalist for the VR Game of the Year Award (2019) by AIXR’s VR Awards.

Coming up on a year of playing Firewall Zero Hour, we also have some fun data stats from the community to share with you. As of 8/13/19:

• You’ve played over 4,028,896 total hours!
• You’ve eliminated over 26,833,576 enemies!
• Your top three chosen Contractors are Texas, Red, and Skip!
• Your top three chosen maps are Compound, District, and Hotel!
• Your top three chosen weapons are Taylor X-75, Spitfire, and Taylor X-75 CQB!

In honor of all of these milestones, we’re excited to be putting together an Extended Free Trial for active PS Plus members, August 28th – September 2nd!

During this 6-day Free Trial, players can squad up and dive straight into battle—testing out the latest maps, weapons, and equipment. Since launching one year ago, we’ve added 4 more maps to the game (Containment, Hangar, F.O.B., Newsroom), plus new Contractors, weapons, and tons of customizations like camo skins, face paints, and trinkets. Players will get to try out the new free missions from our latest season which launched August 13th, Operation: Dark Web, and earn free cosmetic rewards. There will also be a Double XP event happening concurrently during the 6 days–so players can level up even faster in-game.

It’s truly the perfect time for new players to hop in and try out Firewall Zero Hour! To get you in gear for the Extended Free Trial, we’re also bringing you a list of ten favorite tactics used by the Firewall Zero Hour community. Study up before you squad up!

1. First time stepping into the game? Try out the Tutorial, then try out Solo Training for a few different maps. In Solo Training you’ll go up against AI, and get a feel for what it’s like to be an Attacker or Defender. You can also experiment with different loadouts and their weaponry (Assault, CQB, Support). Once you get the hang of different game mechanics, you’re ready to try out Public Training, where you and your teammates will play co-op against AI and learn the value of teamwork by communication. Try out different Contractors in this mode and see how their Primary skills play out.
2. Now you’re ready for the heart of the gameplay — Public Contracts! In this mode, teams of 4v4 go head-to-head, and the stage is set for unpredictable outcomes. You’ll experience what it’s like to play as both an Attacker and a Defender, as your role switches after every round. Strategize together in the lobby and throughout the match. Who’s staying together? Who’s going to flank? Vocal communication with your teammates is crucial to your success.
3. Experiment with different loadouts, depending on whether you’re on the Attacking team or the Defending team. The Support loadout is a great choice for new players, as you get access to the Revive Pistol right away. The Support loadout also comes with a Signal Modifier, which is a great tool if you’re a Defender. When you place a Signal Modifier near the laptop, Attackers must find and destroy that Signal Modifier before they can hack the laptop.
4. There’s a new loadout this season called the Operation loadout. It’s an awesome option for those wanting to try out some of the latest gear in Firewall Zero Hour. The Operation loadout comes with the Raptor as primary weapon, the Sarge as secondary weapon, the C4 as lethal equipment, and the Motion Sensor as tactical equipment.
5. The Motion Sensor is Firewall Zero Hour’s latest piece of equipment, as of Operation: Dark Web’s launch. You’ll be sure to encounter players using it, and you can test it out yourself with the Operation loadout. When a Motion Sensor is placed, a radius is engaged that can detect enemies. If an enemy enters this radius, their enemy outline will turn red and can be seen by the player who placed the Motion Sensor. Teammates of this player will receive a red-dot marker on their wrist tablets, but proper communication is still very important between the player who places a Motion Sensor and his/her teammates!
6. Speaking of Motion Sensors — you might be wondering what’s a good counter to an enemy who places a Motion Sensor. Check out the Ninja Skill, Contractor Meiko’s Primary Skill. This Skill gives you reduced movement noise, as well as renders you undetectable to a Motion Sensor.
7. The Operation: Dark Web season kicked off with a new Contractor, Kane**, whom you might see in a lot of your matches. It’s good to be aware of Kane’s Primary Skill of Blade, which allows up to 3 knives to be thrown using the melee button. How can you, as a player, counter against this type of attack? Equip your Contractor with the Secondary Skill of Rhino Skin, which lets you take less damage from knife attacks.
8. All about the maps! Firewall Zero Hour now has thirteen different maps, set in diverse locations throughout the world. Take note of certain areas in maps that can really work to your advantage, or detriment. With great risk, comes great reward…but also…risk! The catwalk in Shoothouse, the ditch in District, and the skybridge in Hangar are all notable spots where both unique attacks and dangerous chokepoints can happen.
9. Some maps are on the larger side (Docks, Warehouse, District, Hangar, F.O.B., Newsroom) so be sure to keep that in mind when strategizing what might work best for them — such as equipping Skills like Double Time (Diaz’s Primary Skill–faster movement speed) and equipping long-range weapons, like the Kruger.
10. During the Extended Free Trial, you’ll be able to complete a variety of Operation: Dark Web missions and earn free rewards–and you’ll keep all your progress if you decide to get the game. Some of the free rewards during the Operation: Dark Web season include weapons, camo, trinkets, and face paints. Many missions will require you to complete a task (or several) in a particular map, or by using a particular Skill or weapon–giving you an array of interesting missions to complete. As a quick reminder: Firewall Zero Hour will soon welcome another free new map, Cargo, at the mid-season update September 17th!

Well there you have it, Contractors.

We’re excited to be welcoming even more of you into the fray!

And we’re over-the-moon to be celebrating one year of fun with you in wildly unpredictable multiplayer matches, across realistic maps, and with a player base that now spans over 150 different countries…all on PS VR!

For those of you who have been with us since day one — we thank you again for staying on this wild ride with us, one year on.

Let’s squad up, and I’ll see you online, Contractor!

– Shabs

*An internet connection is required for all modes of Firewall Zero Hour, including Single Player Training Mode. An active PS Plus membership is required for Multiplayer Training and Multiplayer Contract modes.

**Firewall Zero Hour – Dark Web Op Pass required to unlock contractor Kane.

PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®VR and PlayStation®Camera are required to experience VR functionality.

Website: LINK

Hi guys, it’s Shabs here, Game Director on Firewall Zero Hour*, the team-based tactical multiplayer shooter, exclusive to PS VR. Today, we’re excited to showcase the next season of Firewall Zero Hour — Operation: Dark Web — landing tomorrow, August 13! The trailer highlights what you’ll see in Operation: Dark Web.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of Firewall Zero Hour’s launch, we’re continually awed and humbled by the reception of our game by the PS VR community! Developing Firewall Zero Hour is a labor of love for us at First Contact Entertainment, and we’re beyond grateful for the feedback we continuously receive from fans. We’ve been paying close attention to our community since day one, and have channeled that feedback right back into the game, with a number of updates launched over the course of the year.

The Operation: Nightfall update last May completely revamped the game with a whole new UI, and new system of time-limited progression taking the form of the Op-Pass, Hack Keys, Missions, Tasks, and cosmetic Rewards. Players welcomed two new maps, two new Contractors, three new weapons, and new AI behavior in PVE mode (check out our most recent Dev Diary video for a behind-the-scenes in the making of Operation: Nightfall!)

Firewall Zero Hour’s new season, Operation: Dark Web, continues in this tradition. With the Dark Web Op Pass† ($9.99 USD), players can unlock additional Premium and Bonus missions almost every week, and earn cosmetic Rewards, which unlock immediately upon completion of Missions. Outlined below, here’s what’s coming this season!

New Equipment

For the first time since last year’s launch, Firewall Zero Hour will have brand new tactical equipment added to the game, allowing players to experiment with new methods of gameplay. As always, equipment in Firewall Zero Hour is available to all players, unlockable via gameplay. Players will be tasked with completing missions that utilize the new equipment. Here’s the rundown on new equipment in Operation: Dark Web:

Motion Sensor

Available at season launch, for players at level 13 and redeemable for 7500 Crypto. Once a player plants the Motion Sensor, a radius is engaged that detects enemy players. If an enemy enters this radius, their enemy outline will turn red for the player who planted the Motion Sensor. Allies of the player will receive a red-dot marker on their wrist tablets.

Instant Smoke

Available at season launch, for players at level 5 and redeemable for 3200 Crypto. Similar to an Impact Grenade, the Instant Smoke activates upon impact, instantly filling an area with smoke. Players can the Instant Smoke tactically against enemies in a variety of ways.

New Maps

Operation: Dark Web will have two new maps, free for all players, the first of which kicks off tomorrow — with the Newsroom map! This map marks the thirteenth map added to Firewall Zero Hour, and is the first map to take place in Australia. Be on the lookout for playful nods throughout the map to home sweet ‘Straya. You never know what you might find, but rest assured that this news station is very Australian. The Newsroom will also greet players as the new Main Menu and Lobby environment for this season, when players load up the game. Later on in this season, players will see Operation: Dark Web’s mid-season update, which will introduce another brand new free map, called Cargo.

New Contractors

This season welcomes 2 new Contractors into the fold. The 2 Contractors and their Skills are accessible via the Op-Pass. The first Contractor, available tomorrow, is Kane. A former member of the New Zealand Special Air Service, Kane comes loaded with the Skill of “Blade” (ability to throw knives by pressing the melee button). The current knife-melee ability has been one of the most intense and too-close-for-comfort ways to engage with the enemy–and we think having the ability to throw up to 3 knives will bring a new level of enjoyment to melee gameplay! Additionally, coming mid-season is a second Contractor (Proxy) and her Skill of “Eagle Eye.” More details to come!

New Weapons

Coming in Firewall Zero Hour Operation: Dark Web are two new weapons, the Z1 Reaper and the Sten, available upon completion of their corresponding Free Missions. The Z1 Reaper is a semi-automatic tactical rifle with lethal precision for long distance engagements. The Z1 Reaper is available Week 1. And for all our WWII buffs out there, we’re featuring the Sten in Week 5 (mid-season). Help your squad out of the trenches by eliminating enemies with the low recoil and high impact damage of the Sten. Players will utilize both of these weapons in a variety of new Missions throughout Operation: Dark Web.

New Legendary Weapon Skin

This season’s Legendary Weapon Skin is Jag’s Stalker — available to Op Pass holders who complete all Free, Premium and Bonus Missions in Operation: Dark Web (a total of 24 missions) and redeemed for 250,000 Crypto.

But wait, there’s more!

New Cosmetic Rewards

Over 20 new cosmetic Rewards are available this season. Upon completion of Missions, a variety of different trinkets, face paints, and camo skins can be equipped by players. In addition to Free Mission Rewards, Op Pass holders have access to Premium & Bonus Mission Rewards.

Free Trinket for PS Plus users

We’re excited to partner with Bend Studio later this season on a Days Gone Trinket, free for active PS Plus users this season! Show the world you “Ride the Broken Road.” Customize your weapon in Firewall Zero Hour with the emblem of Mongrel MC — the outlaw motorcycle club in Days Gone, which counts Deacon St. John as a member.

Hack Keys – Reminder

One of the most popular items in Firewall Zero Hour, Hack Keys, are available as a bundle (Op Pass + 25 Hack Keys, $29.99 USD), as well as on their own (5 Hack Keys pack, $4.99 USD). Each Hack Key allows you to instantly complete one Operational Mission. You won’t gain XP for Missions completed this way, but you’ll be instantly awarded full Crypto, in addition to the Mission Reward (cosmetics only). Hack Keys are a great option for players who don’t have as much time to play as they would like. Also, if you have any Hack Keys left over from last season (Operation: Nightfall), you can use them on Missions this season (Operation: Dark Web).

With Firewall Zero Hour – Operation: Dark Web, we’re thrilled to launch a whole new season of fun-filled, unpredictable multiplayer gaming on PS VR! We can’t wait to see your reaction to all the new content, and witness all the ways you’ll be fulfilling your contracts this season. You’ve got your work cut out for you, Contractor. Let’s squad up and I’ll see you online!

*An internet connection is required for all modes of Firewall Zero Hour, including Single Player Training Mode. An active PS Plus membership is required for Multiplayer Training and Multiplayer Contract modes.

† Op Pass requires Firewall Zero Hour in order play and unlock content.

Website: LINK

Hi guys, Shabs here, Game Director on Firewall Zero Hour*, the team-based tactical multiplayer shooter, exclusive to PS VR.

It’s only been a few weeks since we launched Operation: Nightfall, which kicked off a bunch of new content and improvements planned for the game. There’s a lot we introduced with Nightfall — the Op-Pass, Hack Keys, Missions, Tasks, Rewards — all while completely revamping the user interface. Given the scope of the changes, it was difficult to anticipate all of the growing pains, but we’re happy to report that as of Patch 1.26, squad and matchmaking issues should now be addressed. It has been a process, this buildout of a reliable and robust platform — one that will set us up for future growth, improvements, and content rollouts. We hope where we take the game from here exceeds your expectations and rewards your continued commitment. As always, there’s more info in the last post we did on Nightfall here on the PS blog, and also over on our FCE blog. If you have more questions, feel free to comment here and we’ll read them!

There’s never been a better time to try Firewall Zero Hour, which is why it’s also the perfect time for another Free Weekend Trial*, coming June 28-30 for active PS Plus members. Have a friend with PS VR who’s never tried the game? Well, now they can hop on with you, and you can show them the ropes! For all the veterans, we’re also stacking a Double XP Weekend on top of the trial. That’s right: this weekend, all Firewall Zero Hour players will earn Double XP during the same weekend of the Free Trial (June 28-30). We hope to see you online!

In this post, we wanted to do a deep-dive into the making of one of our favorite maps — Hangar — which is the first of two new free maps introduced in Operation: Nightfall, and the eleventh map to release in Firewall Zero Hour!

Planning a Multiplayer Map for VR: Hangar

In early development of Firewall Zero Hour, we realized that one of the most important things about VR is the player’s sense of scale — putting the player in a very small or very large space, allows players to get creative with their movement. We’d only touched upon extra-large maps in the main game (maps like Docks, Warehouse, and District), so we wanted to try pushing it as far as we could in the Hangar map.

In Hangar, the action takes place around a large military transport aircraft in a hangar in the heart of Malaysia. The gigantic cargo plane — big enough to transport a tank, inside an even larger building, on an expansive airfield, and in the daytime so you can see everything — is a first for our studio. We even gave the players a few raised vantage points, like the skybridge area, so they can really take in the scope of the map.

We wanted this map to combine elements that have worked well in other maps: big, open spaces, large indoor spaces with lots of cover and different height levels, and tighter rooms and corridors that lend themselves well to intense, up-close firefights. Across the Hangar map, there are lots of nooks and crannies for enemies to hide in. We wanted every part of the map to have ample cover options. We’ve seen so much creativity from the Firewall Zero Hour community in terms of creating new and different strategies on the existing maps, and a lot of them are based on using the environment to your advantage.

Be cautious when searching for the Laptop, though; all those nooks and crannies can mean a more challenging search, and more risk of running into enemies lying in wait before you get there. Don’t forget to look up! You’ll have to watch out for enemies perched on balconies, walkways, and the skybridge. We think having to be mindful of above and below adds a wealth of unpredictability and fun to every match, and it’s something we did our best to amp up in Hangar.

One of our favorite parts of the Hangar map is the Air Traffic Control Room. Sure, we’ve got a gigantic airplane in an even bigger building, on a gigantic airstrip–but we just love all the movement and details on the monitors. A lot of research went into making this space as believable as possible. We will always keep trying to come up with new ways to bring our maps to life.

Deep Dive — Anatomy of a Map, from Concept to Final: Hangar Blockouts

Exterior of Hangar


Blockouts are the first phase of the map creation process. In this first image below, we have the blockout version of the exterior of the Hangar map. During this phase, a barebones but fully playable version of the map is made. It’s rudimentary look allows for quick iteration, empowering the team to “find the fun” before committing to the final look and layout of the level. Props and entire buildings are represented in their simplest forms during this phase, often times just simple blocks–hence the term “blockout.”

After the layout of the map is finalized, the first Art phase begins, below. During this phase, the artists begin creating the 3D geometry for the buildings and grounds, and also their corresponding “materials,” such as concrete, corrugated metals, etc. Interestingly, during this phase, many near final assets will coexist with lingering blockout assets from the previous phase until the art team systematically replaces every asset.

Below is the final version of the scene. Big difference! All blockout assets have been replaced with final assets, and additional assets have been added as well to make the scene feel more believable and lived-in. The periphery, sky, and lighting have all been updated to achieve the desired time of day, which changed to something more dramatic compared to the original blockout version. Unique sounds and music have also been added at this stage, tying the whole package together.

Interior of Hangar


This is the blockout of the Hangar interior, below. Notice how the airplane — one of the most complex assets we’ve ever made — is still represented as a simple shape — in this case, a tube.

As with the exterior — once the layout of the map is finalized, the first Art phase for the interior also begins, seen below. During this phase, the artists begin creating the 3D geometry for the structural elements. “WIP” (work in progress) versions of complex assets such as the scaffolding and airplane are also added, to be finished in a later phase. A very rough lighting pass is also added to help get across the feel of a large Hangar, even at this early stage. Scale is extremely important in VR, and the ceiling lights really help achieve the feel of such immense structures.

Below is the final version of the scene. All blockout assets have been replaced with final assets, WIP assets have been updated with final assets, and additional assets have been added as well to make the scene feel more believable and lived in. The lighting pass is much more dramatic, creating bold pockets of light and shadow in the player’s space, while also allowing the player to appreciate the giant structure of the building. A lot of sound design went into this room as well—gunshots and footsteps in large rooms made of hollow metal and concrete, for example, sound very different than in outside spaces or small offices.

We are so excited to see the community’s reaction to the Hangar map, and to Operation: Nightfall in general. See you online, Contractors!

– Shabs

*PS Plus required for Weekend Trial

Website: LINK

Hey guys! It’s Shabs here, Game Director from First Contact Entertainment — developer behind Firewall Zero Hour*, the team-based tactical multiplayer shooter, exclusive to PS VR. Today, we are excited to announce our biggest update to the game yet — Operation: Nightfall — coming May 21!

With Operation: Nightfall, we’re bringing a whole new face to Firewall Zero Hour as you know it. One of the most significant changes is introducing a whole new system of time-limited progression taking the form of Missions, Tasks, and cosmetic Rewards.

New Seasonal Progression System of Missions, Tasks, and Rewards

With the Operation: Nightfall drop, we’ve changed our previous challenges system to take on a more meaningful approach and reward players with new cosmetics. Each week your Contract Handler will assign a new Mission to complete, yielding new rewards. You will notice new optional daily Tasks presented to you as well, which reward you with XP and Crypto. Check back daily for new Tasks!

Every week there will be one Mission is available for free for all players. With an Op-Pass ($9.99 USD), players can unlock additional Premium and Bonus missions and earn Seasonal cosmetic rewards, which unlock immediately upon completion of these Missions.

Here’s what’s available this season:

We’ve also introduced a Legendary Weapon Skin, Okoro’s Volkov, available to Op-Pass holders who complete all 24 missions, for 250,000 Crypto.

New Maps and Contractors

Operation: Nightfall kicks off with the brand new map, Hangar, and a new Contractor, Ruby, who brings the Skill of “Thief” (ability to steal Crypto from enemy corpse). The map of Hangar takes place around a large military transport aircraft in a hangar in the heart of Malaysia, and is available to all players. Ruby, the Contractor, is accessible via the Op-Pass. Her Skill of “Thief” is available as a timed-exclusive to Op-Pass holders (after season wraps, the Skill becomes available to all players at Level 12 and with 12,000 Crypto).

Later on, players will see Operation: Nightfall’s mid-season update, which will introduce another new map (F.O.B.) and new Contractor (Lynx) for the season.

New Weapons

Also launching on day one of Operation: Nightfall are three new weapons (the Richardson SG12, Sarge, and Raptor), which become available upon completion of their corresponding weekly missions.

New UI and QOL Updates

Players will immediately notice a completely revamped UI in the game. This will make the new Missions, Tasks, and Rewards system very clear to players. Players will also notice various changes in the lobby that improve overall performance and stability. Other quality-of-life updates include: Squad optimizations, ability to customize Contractors in lobby, map and laptop location refresh in Bunker and Compound, as well as updates to enemy indicators and headshot SFX.

New AI

When playing Multiplayer PVE Training mode, players will witness new AI behavior that changes the traditional PVE gameplay experience. The new AI behaviors are meant to mimic human-like player tactics, with characteristics like breaching doors, hunting players down, and using equipment intuitively.

New Ways to Access More Content

Beginning May 21, we are excited to offer players several new ways to enjoy the game, depending on your play style. The Op-Pass and Hack Keys are explained below:

• Operation: Nightfall update: Free update for all owners of Firewall Zero Hour-featuring new in-game UI, new Maps, and more. This update is viewable as soon as players load up Firewall Zero Hour.
• Nightfall Op-Pass** ($9.99 USD): Obtain the Op-Pass, which allows access to all Operation: Nightfall Missions, Tasks, and Rewards.
• Hack Key x5 Pack*** ($4.99 USD): Each Hack Key will instantly complete one Operational Mission. You will not gain any XP for Missions completed this way, but you will be instantly awarded full Crypto, in addition to the Mission Reward (cosmetics only). Hack Keys are a great option for players who don’t have as much time to play as they would like.
• Nightfall Op-Pass + 25 Hack Keys Bundle***: Includes access to Operation: Nightfall, in addition to 25 hack keys to be used on any Operational Mission. You will not gain any XP for Missions Completed this way, but you will instantly be awarded full Crypto, in addition to the Mission Reward (cosmetics only). Another great option for players who don’t have as much time to play as they would like.

Leading up to May 21, you’ll notice changes starting today in the PS Store in the Americas and Europe for Firewall Zero Hour. Previous cosmetic items released on the store since launch will now be reformatted into seven special content bundles. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab these bundles as they will only be available for one week! After May 21, cosmetic items will be available in-game as rewards for completed missions:

• Year One Skin Bundle: Customize your Contractors and Weapons with this collection of six original Skins.
• Year One Super Skin Bundle: Customize your Contractors and Weapons with this collection of 10 original Skins.
• Year One Mega Bundle: Go all out with customizations for your Contractors and Weapons! This Mega Bundle includes 10 original Skins plus all Trinkets and Patches released to date.
• Year One Trinket Bundle: Customize your Weapons with this collection of all Trinkets released to date.
• Year One Patch Bundle: Personalize your Contractors with this collection of all Patches released to date.
• Year One Contractor Bundle: Get the three newest Contractors in one Bundle. This three-Contractor Bundle contains Nash, Jag, and Node.
• Year One Face Paint Bundle: Show them your game face with this collection of eight original Face Paints.

With Firewall Zero Hour – Operation: Nightfall, we’re thrilled to be rolling out a new format for the game, and establishing a cadence for seasonal content updates going forward. We’re looking forward to community feedback on this new update.

See you online, Contractors!
– Shabs

*An internet connection is required for all modes of Firewall Zero Hour, including Single Player Training Mode. An active PS Plus membership is required for Multiplayer Training and Multiplayer Contract modes.
**Op Pass requires Firewall Zero Hour in order play and unlock content.
***Available for purchase in the PS Store. Hack Keys alone can be used to hack free missions, and when used in conjunction with the Op-Pass, Hack Keys can hack any type of mission including Premium and Bonus missions.

Website: LINK