Two weeks after Sony took the unusual step of removing Concord from its online store (something that has never happened before), the fate of Firewalk Studios, the studio behind the sci-fi shooter, is beginning to take shape as director Ryan Ellis steps down from his leadership role. Originally touted as a major title for PlayStation, the game failed to capture the attention of gamers, and now its future remains uncertain.
Attention Freegunners: we will be conducting routine maintenance later today at 9am PT | 12pm ET | 6pm CET. Servers will be offline for approximately 1 hour. pic.twitter.com/ll0fRlVe6i
— Concord (@PlayConcord) September 3, 2024
Concord’s struggles and Ellis’ resignation
Ellis, who was previously the creative director for Destiny 2 at Bungie, joined Firewalk Studios in 2017 to lead the development of Concord. The game was conceived as a PVP-only sci-fi hero shooter, but despite high hopes, it struggled to find an audience after its release. It is estimated that the game only sold around 25,000 copies, a dismal figure considering the brand and budget behind it. Sony had invested heavily in the project, acquiring Firewalk in 2023, but the results were far from what anyone expected.
According to multiple sources, Ellis announced to Firewalk staff last week that he would be stepping down as game director. Although he will remain at the studio in a support capacity, his departure from the helm is important for the Concord team. Ellis was closely associated with the game and insiders describe him as extremely passionate about the project, which compounded the personal toll he took as the game struggled to get back on its feet.
Sony has been tight-lipped about what this means for Firewalk Studios or the future of Concord. Ellis himself expressed his disappointment in a recent PlayStation Blog post, admitting that certain aspects of the game’s launch “didn’t land the way we intended” and hinting at possible changes to reach a broader audience.
A studio in limbo
The failure of Concord has left Firewalk Studios in a state of uncertainty. While some believe that the game will be relaunched – possibly as a free-to-play title or as part of a PS Plus subscription – many within the studio are less optimistic. Sources close to the situation reveal that there is a growing sense that Concord may not return at all, with employees now being asked to come up with new ideas for future projects.
Firewalk Studios currently employs between 150 and 170 people, and the team was already working on a roadmap for Concord that spanned three seasons. This included a series of cutscenes designed to expand on the game’s world and characters. However, with the game’s sudden cancellation and Ellis’ resignation, much of that content is now on hold. Some employees are bracing for the worst, with layoffs and even the possible closure of the studio being discussed internally.
Several developers have already left Firewalk, while others are preparing for a possible severance package. The atmosphere at the studio has been described as tense as employees wait to see if Sony will offer a reprieve or decide to close the studio altogether. Firewalk’s relatively high operating costs could make it a target for cuts, especially in the current industry climate where both Sony and rival Microsoft have been downsizing their gaming divisions.
Sony’s track record with studio closures
Sony’s recent history makes it unlikely that Firewalk will be released again. This year, the company cut many jobs in its gaming division. Some projects were canceled and the London studio closed. With another quarter coming up and pressure to cut costs, there are concerns that Firewalk could be canceled.
Concord hasn’t done well, but Sony still has to decide what to do with Firewalk. Some think the studio might work on another of Sony’s projects. But we don’t know what Sony will do. The studio is uncertain. Developers hope for the future, but Concord has failed. The Firewalk team is waiting for Sony’s decision. Will Firewalk redeem itself, or will it suffer the same fate as Sony’s other failed acquisitions? We don’t know yet.
Image credits: Sony
