As a longtime gaming enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Concord‘s failure is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the video game industry. With its grandiose promises and Sony’s backing, I was among many who eagerly anticipated the release of this supposedly groundbreaking PvP shooter.
In the world of video games, it’s not uncommon to see new releases with much fanfare that ultimately fail to meet expectations. Just in 2024 alone, we’ve seen several high-profile flops such as Skull and Bones and Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. However, among this year’s disappointments, none has fallen quite as flat as the recent release, Concord, from Firewalk Studios.
At Sony’s PlayStation Showcase on May 24, 2023, when Concord was unveiled for the first time, fans were left slightly puzzled. The trailer suggested a vibrant, multiplayer team-oriented shooter that bore resemblance to Overwatch. However, instead of igniting excitement as anticipated, it seemed more like a fizzling firework in the live-service shooter market, offering little novelty.
Despite the closed beta hinting at the game’s future, the official release marked its downfall. In just two weeks following the launch, the game shut down its servers. The total number of copies sold during this brief period was a mere 25,000. Yes, that’s correct. At its peak, Concord had only 697 concurrent players, many of whom were content creators or reviewers.
Firewalk Studios suddenly halted all sales and started a refund policy for previous buyers, causing confusion among both fans and critics. It seems something drastic happened to make them take such quick action.
This project, after eight long years of dedicated effort from developers, designers, and artists, didn’t manage to survive beyond a month, which is quite a tough pill to digest.
In their endeavor, Concord aimed at penetrating a market far from novel. Previously, Play vs Play (PvP) live-service games appeared as the elusive key to fortune; titles such as Destiny and Overwatch paved the way, achieving monumental success and spawning numerous copycats.
In the past, strategies that propelled companies like Bungie and Blizzard to success may not yield the same results today. That’s because the landscape of the live-service shooter market has significantly changed. We’re now in a battleground filled with seasoned titans and numerous up-and-coming contenders, all vying for the spotlight.
From a graphical perspective, Concord felt polished and refined. It had the Sony seal of quality.
However, here’s the painful part: After spending eight years and an impressive $400 million, what was produced was essentially what gamers are already familiar with. Given such a significant investment, fans were anticipating something revolutionary. Instead, they received a game that resembled another PvP live-service shooter, lacking any distinctive twist to make it stand out.
According to certain reviewers, the characters lacked depth and required improvement following feedback from the beta phase. Since eight years had already been invested, a bit more time for refinement wouldn’t have hurt. However, Sony opted to stick with the original launch plan instead.
On top of that, when Concord initially launched, it came with a high price point of $40, leaving many enthusiasts struggling to accept it. After all, there are numerous free games within the same genre available. So, why pay $40 upfront for an entirely new experience in this game? A more strategic business approach might have steered clear of such an outcome.
To wrap things up, Sony’s marketing strategies require particular attention due to some missteps. The initial reveal trailer, unveiled only a few months prior to the launch, seemed to place too much focus on cinematics rather than the gameplay, which is crucial for any multiplayer title.
At first, there were whispers that Concord might return with an improved plan, but personally, I find it extremely challenging, if not impossible, to revive the game. Unfortunately, Firewalk Studios has been permanently closed down by Sony, leaving no future plans in sight.
In light of Concord’s results, it can be inferred that Sony might benefit from continuing to focus on genres where they shine particularly brightly. Helldivers 2 serves as a notable exception, receiving high praise for its frequent content updates. Within just three months, the game managed to sell nearly 12 million copies, surpassing all predictions and setting a new standard for success.
Lesson learned from Concord was undeniably expensive for Sony, yet it might serve as valuable insight for shaping their future live service strategies, or perhaps ensuring continued triumph in solo player experiences.
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2024-11-06 00:12