Information is power and in the right or wrong hands, can change the course of the world simply with the push of a button. A well-timed release of sensitive data can bring the most powerful swiftly to their knees and crumble empires in an instant.

In Firewall Zero Hour, two teams of mercenaries are hired by anonymous contract handlers to either protect or obtain highly sensitive information on a laptop in dangerous and exotic locations around the globe. Each team's anonymous contract handler acts as their "eye in the sky" and guides each match by providing objectives and critical mission information along the way. Their only concern is the data and they are willing to pay you handsomely for it.

• As Attackers, your team's objectives are: Bypass the Firewall access points, Locate the Laptop and Initiate the Hack.
• As Defenders, your team's objectives are: Secure the Firewall access points, Protect the Laptop and Prevent the Hack.

Each team accomplishes these objectives through highly-coordinated teamwork with an arsenal of modern weapons and offensive/defensive equipment to help their team and hinder the other. Players are rewarded in-game with cryptocurrency and experience points upon the successful completion of contracts/matches and can use those currencies to upgrade contractors, weapons, equipment, load-outs and cosmetic customization.

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.

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.

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!

When you pick up a PS VR Aim Controller or DualShock 4 to play Firewall Zero Hour, we want you to immediately notice a heavy emphasis on organized, tactical firefights, team communication, and realistic pacing. That's not to say that combat won't be intense and visceral; whether you're exchanging fire across a hallway or peeking over cover to shoot at a distant hostile, the goal is satisfying, thrilling gunplay. We also want you to feel the tension of defending your position, strategically laying down traps and identifying key vantage points with your teammates. The drama of hacking into a shortcut to your objective or a dark passage illuminated solely by your flashlight is heightened by super-realistic environments and dynamic shadows that bring moments like these to life in truly unique ways.

Of course, the most exciting aspect of Firewall Zero Hour is that all of this takes place in VR, allowing you alone, or with your friends through PlayStation Plus (required for multiplayer), to be transported and immersed into the action in a way that's never been possible before until now, through the magic and presence of VR.

Firewall Zero Hour is currently available on PS4.