Concord's launch was underwhelming, resulting in 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 Weeks After Launch
Lack of Hype Spells Doom
Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, Concord, is ceasing operations just two weeks post-launch. Game Director Ryan Ellis announced the closure on September 3rd, 2024, via the PlayStation Blog, citing unmet 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. Physical copies require contacting the retailer for returns.
Firewalk and Sony clearly envisioned greater success for Concord. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, based on their perceived potential, seemed promising, particularly given positive statements from Ellis and Firewalk's studio head, Tony Hsu. Concord was even slated for an episode in the Prime Video anthology series, Secret Level. An ambitious post-launch roadmap, including a season one launch in October and weekly cutscenes, was initially planned.
However, the game's poor performance forced a drastic revision of these plans. Only three cutscenes were released (two from beta testing, one pre-announcement), leaving the future of the planned storyline uncertain.
Concord's Downfall: A Multifaceted Issue
Concord's decline was evident from the outset. Despite an eight-year development period, player interest remained extremely low, peaking at a mere 697 concurrent players. Current player counts are significantly lower. These figures exclude PlayStation 5 players, but even considering that, the numbers pale in comparison to the beta's peak of 2,388 players—a stark contrast to expectations for a Sony-published AAA title.
Several factors contributed to Concord's failure. Analyst Daniel Ahmad pointed out 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 He criticized the uninspired character designs and noted the game felt outdated, stuck in the style of Overwatch 1.
The $40 price tag also proved detrimental, placing it 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 strategies to better reach players. A future revival is possible, as demonstrated by the successful relaunch of Gigantic. However, simply making Concord free-to-play, as some suggest, might not address the core issues of bland character designs and uninspired gameplay. A more substantial overhaul, akin to the successful redesign of Final Fantasy XIV, may be necessary.
Game8's review scored Concord a 56/100, highlighting the tragic contrast between its visual appeal and lackluster gameplay. For a detailed analysis, refer to our full review.
