As a long-time gamer with a deep appreciation for the hero shooter genre, I was both excited and intrigued when I heard about Firewalk Studios’ Concord. The game’s unique selling points and visually stunning graphics caught my attention, but I couldn’t help but wonder about its monetization strategies.
I must admit, despite Firewalk Studios assuring us that Concord on PlayStation is unlike most hero shooters, it’s hard to ignore the striking similarities to games such as Overwatch, Apex Legends, VALORANT, and Marvel Rivals.
I was among those fans eagerly anticipating Firewalk’s monetization strategies after recognizing that a live service game requires sustainable revenue. Yet, an unexpected announcement from Concord left me astounded – they don’t plan to employ the conventional battle pass system to support the game long-term.
Concord won’t include a battle pass
— Concord (@PlayConcord) July 24, 2024
Online, Firewalk announced that Concord will forgo a battle pass. Their intention is to create a “rewarding and rich experience from the get-go,” where simply playing the game, advancing levels, and finishing tasks brings “significant rewards.”
Mark DeRidder, Concord’s Gameplay Animation Director, made it clear again that “Concord doesn’t have a Battle Pass; you own Concord.” This statement brings up concerns about how Concord plans to generate revenue without relying on a Battle Pass, which has been a significant factor in Fortnite’s continued success.
In contrast to Helldivers 2 for PlayStation shooters, which includes an initial fee and a battle pass cost, Concord offers a one-time purchase price of approximately $40/£35. While seasonal content will still be available, players won’t have to pay extra for it; instead, they can spend their money on customizing the appearance of their characters.
Players were pleased with the new experience on X (previously known as Twitter), as Concord doesn’t only seem interested in our money (for the time being). One fan exclaimed, “W is here without a Battle Pass,” while another expressed, “I may not be good at this game, but I’ll still purchase it. The absence of battle pass coercion is enough reason for me to buy it.”
Critics have pointed out that Concord’s beta version had a rather chilly reception, falling short of the anticipated high marks. Another observation was made, “Concord is unlikely to become the most successful live service game. Concord may not generate sufficient sales to maintain its servers for an extended period.”
The open beta of Concord, which didn’t cost anything, reached a surprising low point on July 18 with only 2,388 participants. In contrast, Marvel Rivals’ beta registration saw an impressive 52,671 players – a figure representing twenty-two times more people. It seems that Concord is aiming to cater to fewer players, but the challenge lies in attracting that smaller audience to their platform first.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-07-25 12:42