Sony Shuts Down Firewall Ultra Online Services in 2026

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced the shutdown of online services for Firewall Ultra, a multiplayer tactical shooter exclusive to the PlayStation VR2 headset on PS5, effective September 17, 2026. The decision, which will render the game unplayable since it requires an online connection, was revealed through an update to a three-year-old blog post rather than a standalone announcement.

Firewall Ultra launched on August 22, 2023, six months after the debut of the PlayStation VR2. Developed by First Contact Entertainment and published by Sony, the title served as a sequel to the 2018 game Firewall Zero Hour, which had been a standout success on the original PlayStation VR for PS4. That earlier entry remains operational and available for purchase. In contrast, Firewall Ultra received mixed reviews, earning a Metacritic score of 62 out of 100, compared to 79 for its predecessor. Players could engage in high-stakes espionage missions with customizable weapons, loadouts, and equipment, supporting up to eight participants in team-based matches.

The announcement appeared as an addendum to the original 2023 PlayStation Blog post detailing the game's launch and post-launch...