Playstation Shuts Down Concord Two Weeks After Launch

PlayStation's decision to shut down "Concord" just two weeks after its launch marks a significant and swift response to the game's poor performance. Here are the key details and implications of this move.

Reasons for Shutdown

"Concord," a hero shooter developed by Firewalk Studios, was acquired by Sony in April, and its launch was highly anticipated. However, the game failed to meet expectations in several critical areas:

Low Player Numbers: The game struggled to maintain a substantial player base, with concurrent player numbers on Steam dropping to as few as a few dozen players at times. On Steam, the peak was fewer than 700 players, a stark contrast to the numbers needed to sustain a live-service game.
Poor Sales: "Concord" sold only around 25,000 copies across all platforms, including Steam and PS5, in its first week. This is a mediocre number for a high-profile release, especially considering the game's development and marketing costs.
Competition: The game faced stiff competition from other free-to-play team shooter games like "Overwatch 2" and "Apex Legends," which likely contributed to its lack of traction.

Impact on Players and Refunds

Given the game's poor performance, Sony has decided to halt digital sales and offer refunds to all players who purchased "Concord" on PS5, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. For those who bought physical copies, refunds are available at the place of purchase.

Developer and Studio Implications

Firewalk Studios, founded in 2018 and acquired by Sony in April, had high hopes for "Concord." However, the game's failure raises questions about the studio's future projects and whether Sony will continue to support them. The shutdown of "Concord" could lead to significant changes within the studio, including potential layoffs.

Market and Industry Implications

The failure of "Concord" highlights several broader industry issues:

Live-Service Game Challenges: The game's inability to sustain a player base underscores the challenges of maintaining live-service games, which require continuous updates and engagement to keep players interested.
Market Saturation: The hero shooter genre is highly competitive, with established titles like "Overwatch 2" and "Apex Legends" dominating the market. This makes it difficult for new games to gain traction.
Development and Marketing Costs: The significant investment in "Concord" and its subsequent failure emphasize the risks involved in game development and marketing. The game's development and marketing costs likely ran into tens of millions of dollars, making the shutdown a costly decision for Sony.

Future Possibilities

While "Concord" is being taken offline, there is speculation about its potential future. One possibility is that Firewalk Studios could rework the game as a free-to-play title, which might help it compete more effectively in the market. However, this remains speculative, and the future of "Concord" is currently uncertain.

Community Reaction

The community reaction to the shutdown has been mixed, with some expressing disappointment and others criticizing the game's quality and marketing. Some users have compared "Concord" to other infamous game failures, such as the "E.T." game for the Atari 2600, highlighting the game's poor reception and commercial failure.

Marketing and Promotion

Despite the game's failure, Sony had heavily marketed "Concord" in the months leading up to its release. The game was featured prominently in the PlayStation Store, and Sony sponsored streamers to promote it. However, these efforts were not enough to generate sufficient interest and player engagement.

Technical and Gameplay Issues

Players and critics have pointed out several technical and gameplay issues that contributed to the game's poor reception. These include lackluster character engagement, unimpressive gameplay, and a general feeling that the game did not offer anything new or compelling compared to existing titles in the genre.