Short answer: yes. Netrunner is active in 2026, with new cards, maintained rules, legal print-and-play proxies, online play, local tournaments, Continental Championships, and a World Championship. But the familiar Fantasy Flight Games product called Android: Netrunner is still discontinued. The current game is supported independently by Null Signal Games, a volunteer-run nonprofit that publishes original cards compatible with the 2012–2018 game.
That distinction matters. It explains why an old store page can say “discontinued” while players are simultaneously preparing for a new tournament or printing a current set. The commercial product line ended. The game and its community did not.
[EDITORIAL PLACEHOLDER: MODULE: Upcoming Netrunner Events Near You]
Netrunner in one minute
Netrunner is a two-player asymmetric card game. One player is the Corporation, or Corp. The other is the Runner, a hacker trying to break into the Corp’s servers. The two players use different decks, different card types, and different information.
The Corp installs agendas, assets, upgrades, and defensive ice into servers. Most Corp cards enter play face down, so the Runner has to decide whether a protected card is valuable, dangerous, or bait. The Runner builds a rig of programs, hardware, and resources, then spends actions and credits to make runs on those servers.
Both sides normally try to reach seven agenda points. The Corp scores agendas by installing and advancing them. The Runner steals agendas by successfully breaching the right servers. Other win conditions exist, including the Corp defeating a Runner who cannot survive damage and the Runner winning if the Corp must draw from an empty deck.
The appeal is not just card efficiency. It is uncertainty. The Corp knows where the secrets are but must make the Runner believe the wrong story. The Runner sees the Corp’s investments but has to decide when a run is worth the risk. Each side is playing a different game, yet every decision changes the other player’s calculation.
What happened to Android: Netrunner in 2018?
Fantasy Flight Games launched Android: Netrunner in 2012, adapting Richard Garfield’s earlier Netrunner design to FFG’s Android setting and Living Card Game model. In June 2018, Fantasy Flight announced that the product line would end. Its official announcement said the company’s licensing term was coming to an end and that the license agreement had reached its conclusion.
Fantasy Flight stopped offering Android: Netrunner products for sale beginning October 22, 2018. Reign and Reverie was the final expansion, and FFG’s organized-play program also ended.
This is the safe answer to “why did Netrunner die?” The license term concluded. Fantasy Flight did not publicly explain the private negotiations or provide a detailed account of why the agreement was not extended. Claims that poor sales killed the game, that one company deliberately pulled the license, or that a particular corporate strategy caused the ending go beyond the reviewed primary evidence.
Did Netrunner actually die?
For a short time, “dead” was understandable shorthand. New FFG cards stopped. Official FFG tournaments stopped. Retailers could no longer reorder the line. Players with established collections could keep playing, but the machinery of a supported expandable card game was gone.
Then the community rebuilt that machinery. Volunteers organized under the name Project NISEI, later renamed Null Signal Games. They created new cards, rules support, balance lists, prize kits, tournament structures, beginner products, and digital tools. By 2026, the continuation is no longer a small packet of fan cards. It is a durable publishing and organized-play ecosystem.
The accurate formulation is simple: Android: Netrunner as an FFG product is discontinued. Netrunner as a playable and expanding game is active.
Who is Null Signal Games?
Null Signal Games describes itself as a registered nonprofit games publisher staffed entirely by volunteers. It publishes original Netrunner cards, maintains rules and competitive formats, commissions art, supports translations, and runs organized play. Revenue is reinvested into future sets and event support.
Null Signal’s cards are designed to work with Fantasy Flight-era Android: Netrunner cards. The organization also curates tournament card pools through rotation, bans, restrictions, and points lists. That gives current Netrunner something old discontinued games rarely have: a living rules and balance process.
Null Signal is independent. Its site and rules state that the organization is not associated with, produced by, or endorsed by Fantasy Flight Games, R. Talsorian Games, or Wizards of the Coast. Do not read “current publisher” as “the company bought the Android: Netrunner license.” Null Signal’s public materials do not make that claim.
Older articles may refer to Project NISEI or simply NISEI. The organization changed its name to Null Signal Games in 2022 after concerns that the earlier name appropriated a cultural identity.
Are new Netrunner cards still being released in 2026?
Yes. The latest expansion as of this update is Vantage Point, released March 2, 2026. It contains full playsets of 66 new cards and supports all seven major factions. It is a normal rotating expansion, not a standalone game and not a replacement core set.
Elevation arrived in April 2025 as the recommended companion to System Gateway. Together, System Gateway and Elevation form the non-rotating Netrunner Core Sets used as the foundation of Startup and Standard.
New sets are only one sign of support. Null Signal also issued a Standard balance update effective August 1, 2026, maintains a current rules reference, sells 2026 casual tournament kits, and is operating a 2026 competitive season.
Because Netrunner changes, this section should always carry a visible update date. Before buying beyond the beginner products or entering an event, check Null Signal’s products page and supported formats page.
What should a new player buy?
Start with System Gateway – Remastered Edition. It is the cleanest beginner product and the only purchase required for two people to learn together. One copy contains two ready-to-play teaching decks, additional deckbuilding cards, player aids, and a full playset of every card in the set.
System Gateway does not include a pile of plastic tokens. You will need small coins, poker chips, cubes, or similar objects to track credits and other counters. Opaque card sleeves become important if you combine cards with different backs or use printed proxies.
When you want more deckbuilding depth, add Elevation. Null Signal calls it the ideal second purchase, and the two sets together are designed as a deep self-contained pool. After that, Vantage Point expands you into the current Startup card pool.
A sensible path is:
- System Gateway teaching decks.
- System Gateway deckbuilding with one customized Corp deck and one customized Runner deck.
- System Gateway plus Elevation as the full Core Sets experience.
- Add Vantage Point for the current Startup pool.
- Expand toward Standard only when you want its larger card pool or main competitive environment.
There are no randomized boosters in Null Signal products. A purchased or printed set contains fixed cards and full playsets as described on its product page.
Can you play Netrunner for free?
You can get remarkably close. Null Signal offers its sets as free or pay-what-you-want print-and-play PDFs. Its NetrunnerDB print tool can also generate printable PDFs for decks made from supported Null Signal cards. Jinteki.net allows browser play without buying a paper collection.
Paper play still has practical costs. Printed card faces should be placed in opaque sleeves with ordinary cards behind them for stiffness. You need tokens or counters, and two paper players need a place and time to meet. Professionally printed cards are also available through Null Signal’s shop, print-on-demand partners, resellers, and some local game stores.
Most importantly, Null Signal permits compliant proxies at all levels of its organized play. Check the live organized-play policy before a tournament, because the word “proxy” does not mean that every homemade card or sleeve setup automatically meets event standards.
Can old Android: Netrunner cards be used?
Yes, with important limits. Null Signal cards are designed to be compatible with the Fantasy Flight version published from 2012 through 2018. Cards from the original 1990s Netrunner collectible card game are not designed for the modern game.
Compatibility is not the same as tournament legality. Standard and Startup rotate older sets and use balance lists. Eternal includes nearly the entire historical pool but uses a points list and bans a small number of cards. Casual groups can agree to use whatever card pool they enjoy.
If an old printing of a card is legal because the same card appears in a current legal set, the old printing may be used. Null Signal treats printings of the same card as equivalent, while NetrunnerDB provides the definitive current rules text.
Different card backs are normal. FFG cards, early NISEI cards, and current Null Signal cards can have visibly different backs. Use consistent opaque sleeves, especially at competitive in-person events.
What are the current Netrunner formats?
The live Supported Formats page is the authority. As of August 22, 2026, the main choices are:
- Core Sets: System Gateway plus Elevation. This is a stable, non-rotating pool without a ban list and a strong home for extended learning.
- Startup: System Gateway, Elevation, and Vantage Point, with the current Startup balance update and a Corp deckbuilding restriction. It is the smaller organized-play format for new and experienced players.
- Standard: the flagship organized-play format. It includes System Gateway, Elevation, the Ashes, Borealis, and Liberation cycles, plus Vantage Point, subject to the current Standard ban list.
- Eternal: nearly the entire FFG and Null Signal card pool. It uses a seven-point deckbuilding system and a small banned list.
- Snapshot and other formats: historical or special ways to play. Snapshot preserves the late-2018 FFG-era environment; community formats add more options.
Do not copy a legal-set list into a deckbuilding plan and assume it will stay correct forever. New sets, rotation, and balance updates can change legality. Check the official page again before submitting a tournament deck.
How hard is Netrunner to learn?
The basic turn structure is manageable. Players spend actions, usually called clicks, to draw, gain credits, install or play cards, advance agendas, and make runs. The difficulty comes from asymmetry, hidden information, timing, and learning what the other side might be able to do.
System Gateway reduces that burden. Its tutorial identities have no special abilities, and the starter decks introduce the game before adding advanced cards. The official Learn to Play guide teaches Corp and Runner separately, which fits the way the game works.
New players should switch sides early. Playing only Runner can make Corp decisions feel mysterious, and playing only Corp can make Runner pressure feel arbitrary. A few games on each side quickly turn hidden information from confusion into strategy.
The comprehensive rules are a reference, not a first assignment. Use them when a specific interaction matters. For ordinary learning, start with System Gateway, the guided lessons, and a patient opponent.
How can you play Netrunner online?
Jinteki.net is the main browser-based way to play Netrunner online. It supports active games and current formats, but the site itself warns that its automated implementation may not cover every rule perfectly. Players should still understand the rules and communicate when an edge case appears.
NetrunnerDB is the companion card database and deckbuilder. It is where players search current card text, build decks, read published lists, and export or print decks.
Always Be Running tracks online and in-person events. Null Signal also runs free online competitive events, including regional District, Megacity, and Continental Championships, which makes meaningful organized play possible even when no local store scene exists.
How active is organized play in 2026?
Netrunner has a real organized-play ladder, though “ladder” should not imply that every event requires qualification. Casual Tournament Kits support local Standard or Startup events. District Championships are the most accessible competitive tier. Megacity Championships are larger two-day regional events. Continental Championships take place in the Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa, and Asia-Pacific, both in person and online.
The 2026 World Championship is scheduled for October 2 through 4 at Palais des Congrès in Montréal. The main event uses Standard, and the season tracker lists Worlds as open. Players can earn first-round byes through high-level events, but they do not need a championship invitation simply to enter Worlds.
The invitation-only Circuit Breaker Invitational is different. It is an online showcase for players who earned invitations through qualifying performances during the prior season.
These facts justify saying the game is actively organized. They do not justify inventing a global player count or promising a large weekly scene in every city. Netrunner remains a niche game whose local strength depends heavily on organizers.
Where can you play Netrunner in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania produced multiple concrete signs of activity in 2026. Game Masters in Pittsburgh hosted a District Championship in April and a NANPC event in August. The Philadelphia area hosted a beginner-friendly Startup event at Franklin’s East Falls and a District Championship through Alternate Universes. Always Be Running also lists a recurring Thursday meetup at The Games Keep in West Chester.
Those examples should be handled carefully. The dated events are already over and should not be presented as upcoming. The Alternate Universes page also notes a venue move from Holmes to Ridley in Folsom, so the current Store record needs to be resolved before publication. The West Chester recurring listing should be confirmed directly with the venue or organizer.
The useful conclusion is that recent scenes exist in western and southeastern Pennsylvania. The useful service is a current event module that tells readers what is happening next.
[EDITORIAL PLACEHOLDER: MODULE: Netrunner in Pennsylvania]
[EDITORIAL PLACEHOLDER: MODULE: Netrunner Stores and Communities Near You]
How do you find Netrunner events anywhere?
Start with Always Be Running, the main community tournament and meetup calendar. Filter for upcoming events, recurring meetups, location, and event type. Then check the organizer’s linked page or Discord for the latest time and venue.
Null Signal’s community directory lists groups around the world and points players back to Always Be Running for recurring events. Its competitive season tracker explains the official event tiers.
If nothing appears nearby, online play is not a consolation prize. Jinteki.net has an active lobby, and Null Signal schedules online events across time zones. A new player can learn locally with a friend, practice online, and enter a remote event without building a large travel schedule.
[EDITORIAL PLACEHOLDER: MODULE: Upcoming Online Netrunner Events]
Frequently asked questions
Is Android: Netrunner discontinued?
Yes. Fantasy Flight Games discontinued the Android: Netrunner product line in 2018. Netrunner continues independently under Null Signal Games with compatible new cards and organized play.
Did Null Signal Games buy Netrunner?
Do not describe it that way. Null Signal publishes original compatible material and explicitly says it is not associated with or endorsed by Fantasy Flight Games, R. Talsorian Games, or Wizards of the Coast.
Is Netrunner a collectible card game with random boosters?
Current Null Signal products have fixed contents. A set includes the listed cards and full playsets; there are no randomized boosters.
Can one person play Netrunner alone?
The standard game is designed for two players, one Corp and one Runner. Community-made solo tools may exist, but the official learning and tournament game is two-player.
Can you build your own decks?
Yes. System Gateway begins with fixed teaching decks, then provides cards for customized Corp and Runner decks. Tournament formats define deck size, influence, legal sets, and balance restrictions.
Are proxies legal?
Null Signal allows compliant proxies at all levels of its organized play. Use opaque sleeves and follow the current organized-play policy.
Can old FFG cards be mixed with Null Signal cards?
Yes. FFG-era Android: Netrunner cards are designed to be compatible with Null Signal cards. Current format legality and balance restrictions still apply. Cards from the 1990s Netrunner CCG are not compatible with the modern game.
What is the best Netrunner set for beginners?
System Gateway – Remastered Edition. One copy teaches two players and contains the full set. Elevation is the recommended second purchase.
Do you have to qualify for the Netrunner World Championship?
The 2026 World Championship is listed as open. Some players earn first-round byes, but entry is not invitation-only. The Circuit Breaker Invitational is the invitation-only event.
The bottom line
Android: Netrunner ended as a Fantasy Flight Games product in 2018. Netrunner did not end as a game. In 2026, it has a current beginner set, a 2025 core expansion, a 2026 new release, live rules and balance updates, free print-and-play cards, browser play, local and online tournaments, and an October World Championship.
That does not make it a mass-market game with a guaranteed crowd at every store. It makes it something more specific: a niche competitive card game with unusually strong community infrastructure and a credible path for new and returning players.
Start with System Gateway. Check the live format page before buying deeper. Use NetrunnerDB for cards and decks, Jinteki.net for online play, and Always Be Running for events. Then find the closest Corp, choose a server, and run.
[EDITORIAL PLACEHOLDER: MODULE: See Every Tabletop Event This Week]
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