Concord Was Short-Lived, But Not The Shortest-Lived

Concord's launch was underwhelming, resulting in a rapid server shutdown. This article delves into the reasons behind the game's swift demise.

Firewalk Studios' Hero Shooter, Concord, Grounds to a Halt Weeks After Launch

Lack of Hype Leads to Game's Demise

Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, Concord, ceased operations just 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. The statement acknowledged positive player feedback in certain areas but admitted that other aspects and the launch itself fell short of their goals. Servers were taken offline on September 6th, 2024. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store received automatic refunds; physical copies require retailer returns.

Firewalk and Sony's ambitions for Concord were evident from the outset. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, driven by confidence in the studio's potential, seemed promising, especially considering positive comments from Ellis and Firewalk's studio head, Tony Hsu. Concord was even slated for inclusion 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 necessitated a drastic shift in 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.

Factors Contributing to Concord's Failure

Concord's decline was evident from the start. Despite an eight-year development period, the game struggled to attract players, peaking at only 697 concurrent players. Current player counts are significantly lower. These numbers exclude PlayStation 5 users, but even considering them, the game's performance pales in comparison to its beta 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 highlighted the game's lack of 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 He criticized the uninspired character designs and noted that the game felt outdated, stuck in the style of Overwatch 1.

The game's $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 future options to better reach players, leaving the possibility of a return open. The revival of Gigantic, transitioning from a live-service to a buy-to-play model after a lengthy hiatus, demonstrates that discontinued games can find new life.

While some propose a free-to-play model, similar to Foamstars, this alone may not address the core issues of bland character designs and uninspired gameplay. A complete overhaul, akin to the successful redesign of Final Fantasy XIV, is arguably necessary for a potential resurgence.

Game8's 56/100 review described Concord as "visually appealing, yet lifeless," highlighting the unfortunate outcome of eight years of development. For a detailed review, see the link below.