Concord's Brief Life, Despite Being Exceeded

Concord's launch was met with underwhelming reception, ultimately leading to a rapid server shutdown. This article delves into the reasons behind the game's premature demise.

Firewalk Studios' Hero Shooter, Concord, Grounds to a Halt Two Weeks Post-Launch

Lack of Hype Spells the End

Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, Concord, is ceasing operations a mere two weeks after its release. Game Director Ryan Ellis announced the closure on September 3rd, 2024, via the PlayStation Blog, attributing the decision to the game's failure to meet expectations.

Ellis stated that while certain aspects resonated with players, the overall launch fell short of their goals. Consequently, servers were taken offline on September 6th, 2024. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store will receive automatic refunds, while physical copies are subject to retailer return policies.

Firewalk and Sony's ambitions for Concord were evident from the outset. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, based on their perceived potential, initially seemed promising, especially considering positive comments from Ellis and Firewalk's studio head, Tony Hsu. Concord was even slated for inclusion in the upcoming Prime Video anthology series, Secret Level. An ambitious post-launch roadmap, including a Season 1 launch in October and weekly cutscenes, was also outlined.

However, the game's poor performance necessitated a drastic revision of these plans. Only three cutscenes were released—two from the beta and one shortly before the shutdown announcement—leaving the future of the planned storyline uncertain.

The Downfall of Concord

Concord's performance declined from the start. Despite an eight-year development period, player interest remained significantly low, peaking at only 697 concurrent players. At the time of writing, the player count is a mere 45 (excluding PlayStation 5 users). This starkly contrasts with the beta's peak of 2,388 players, falling far short of expectations for a Sony-published AAA title.

Several factors contributed to Concord's failure. Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted that while the gameplay was solid and the content complete, the game lacked differentiation from existing hero shooters, offering little incentive for players to switch. He criticized the uninspired character designs and noted that the game felt outdated, reminiscent of Overwatch 1.

The $40 price point also placed Concord at a disadvantage against popular free-to-play competitors like Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, and Valorant. Coupled with minimal marketing, the lack of player interest is unsurprising.

Ellis' statement suggests Firewalk Studios will explore alternative approaches to reach players, leaving the possibility of a future return open. The revival of Gigantic, transitioning from a live-service to a buy-to-play model after a six-year hiatus, demonstrates that discontinued games can be resurrected.

While a free-to-play model has been suggested, this alone may not address the underlying issues of bland character designs and sluggish gameplay. A comprehensive overhaul, similar to the successful redesign of Final Fantasy XIV, is arguably necessary for a true revival.

Game8's review (56/100) described Concord as a visually appealing but ultimately lifeless game, highlighting the unfortunate outcome of eight years of development. For a more detailed perspective, read our full review (link to review).