Rare Concord Plaque Hits $3,000 at Goodwill Auction

A commemorative plaque marking the launch of Sony's troubled shooter Concord is now fetching bids exceeding $3,000 on Goodwill's online auction platform.

The plaque, awarded to Chelsea Grace, a "funding Freegunner, Northstar Crew" member, honors the global launch of Concord on August 23, 2024. Grace, credited as outsourcing and co-development lead, may not have personally donated the item. It’s uncertain whether the plaque was misplaced and donated when PlayStation shut down developer Firewalk Studios late last year.

Concord, a live-service hero shooter from Sony’s Firewalk Studios, is widely regarded as one of PlayStation’s biggest failures. Due to critically low player engagement, Sony took Concord offline just two weeks post-launch. Estimates suggest it sold only about 25,000 copies. In our review, we gave Concord a 7, noting: "Concord lacks innovation and depth compared to other hero shooters, but its engaging competitive gameplay, 16 unique characters, and 12 thoughtfully crafted maps lay a foundation for potential long-term success."

For collectors and fans, this plaque holds significant value. It has already drawn numerous bids, currently listed at $3,002 (thanks, Dexerto). Proceeds benefit Goodwill, an organization that has supported over 25 million people in finding employment and advancing their careers.

Tim Miller, lead creator of Amazon’s upcoming Prime Video animated anthology Secret Level, commented on Concord’s closure in November, stating: "I genuinely don’t understand why it failed. The team was incredibly talented and gave their all, so it’s heartbreaking."

Sony’s investment in Concord proved costly. The initial development deal was valued at $200 million, though sources indicate this figure didn’t cover the full development costs, the acquisition of the Concord IP, or Firewalk Studios itself. It’s believed that ProbablyMonsters, Firewalk’s former parent company, secured $200 million in funding in 2021.