Concord shutting down. After much criticism in the gaming community after its release, the game couldn’t hold on. Advertised as an ambitious first-person hero shooter, Concord will go offline just two weeks after its release.
The game, developed by Firewalk Studios and backed by Sony, was released on August 23, 2024, exclusively for PlayStation 5 and PC. However, despite the anticipation, the game struggled to find its footing in an increasingly competitive market, leading to the announcement of its closure on September 6, 2024.
Concord shutting down so what’s the reason?
Concord shutting down might not come as a surprise to those closely following the game’s journey. Shortly after it was launched, it became evident that the title was not connecting with the player community as anticipated. Sales data showed a significant lack of success, with sales of fewer than 25,000 units on both platforms combined. Moreover, the game reached a peak of only 697 concurrent players on Steam, which is significantly lower compared to the high numbers usually observed in the competitive hero shooter genre.
In light of these disappointing results, Firewalk Studios and Sony have decided to pull the plug on Concord. The developers acknowledged that while some aspects of the game did connect with players, many others did not land as intended. This realization led to the tough decision of Concord shutting down, as the team began to explore new options to better reach their audience.
On the player side, it was also observed that the game was criticized and ridiculed many times because of the SJW and Woke culture. The production, which has been heavily criticized, especially on Reddit, maybe the biggest reason for the lack of connection between players and producers.
Sony put a lot of faith in this game and advertised it. The news of Concord shutting down also brings attention to the financial implications for the players. Sony has immediately halted all sales of Concord and initiated a full refund process for anyone who purchased the game. Whether through the PlayStation Store, Steam, or the Epic Games Store, players will be refunded the amount they purchased.
The game’s struggle has been exacerbated by the fact that it competes in a genre dominated by successful free-to-play games like Overwatch and Valorant. Concord entered the market with a $40 price tag, a decision that seemingly hindered its ability to attract a significant player base. The consequences of Japanese gaming culture and a lack of familiarity with the F2P (free-to-play) structure sealed the game’s fate.
What’s next for Concord’s developers?
As Concord shutting down becomes a reality, questions arise about the future of Firewalk Studios and their next steps. The team’s willingness to admit their missteps and take corrective measures came after it was too late. Moreover, the producer’s focus for now remains on managing the closure and ensuring that all affected players are adequately compensated.
Sony is competing with Microsoft and the PC gaming market. Microsoft’s 2023 purchase of Activision Blizzard has affected Sony’s strategies and decisions. Sony has focused on securing exclusive content and enhancing its first-party studios, but maintaining this competitive edge is expensive. The fate of Concord shows the challenges of launching new IPs in today’s gaming environment.
Featured image credit: PlayStation
