Concord's launch was met with underwhelming response, resulting in a rapid server shutdown. This article delves into the reasons behind the game's premature demise.
Firewalk Studios' Hero Shooter, Concord, Grounds After Two Weeks
Lack of Hype Leads to Closure
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 the game's failure to meet expectations. The statement acknowledged positive player feedback in some areas but admitted shortcomings in others, leading to the September 6th, 2024 shutdown. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store will receive automatic refunds; physical copies require retailer returns.
Firewalk and Sony clearly envisioned a larger future for Concord. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, based on confidence in the studio's potential, appeared promising, especially considering positive statements 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 1 launch in October and weekly cutscenes, was initially planned.
However, the game's poor performance necessitated a drastic change of plans. Only three cutscenes were released – two from the beta and one shortly before the 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 low. Concurrent player counts barely reached 1,000, peaking at 697 and dwindling to 45 at the time of writing (excluding PlayStation 5 players). 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 strong gameplay mechanics and complete content, yet criticized the game's lack of differentiation from existing hero shooters, offering insufficient incentive for players to switch. Ahmad noted uninspired character designs and a gameplay style reminiscent of older titles, stating it "felt stuck in the OW1 era."
The $40 price point also proved disadvantageous against popular free-to-play competitors like Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, and Valorant. Coupled with minimal marketing, the lack of player engagement is unsurprising.
Ellis' statement indicated Firewalk will explore future options to better reach players. A potential revival remains possible, as demonstrated by the successful relaunch of Gigantic. However, simply transitioning to a free-to-play model, as seen with Foamstars, might not address the fundamental issues of bland character design and sluggish gameplay. A significant overhaul, akin to the successful redesign of Final Fantasy XIV, is arguably necessary for a successful 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 analysis, refer to our full review.
