Concord's Reign, Though Brief, Not a Record

Firewalk Studios' Concord: A Short-Lived Hero Shooter

Concord, Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, met an abrupt end just two weeks after its launch. The game's failure to meet expectations led to the swift shutdown of its servers, as announced by Game Director Ryan Ellis on September 3rd, 2024. The announcement, published on the PlayStation Blog, highlighted a disconnect between player reception and the studio's goals. While some aspects resonated with players, others fell short, resulting in the September 6th, 2024 server closure. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store will be automatically refunded; physical copies will require returns through the respective retailer.

High Hopes, Dismal Reality

The closure marks a significant setback for Firewalk Studios and Sony, who had high hopes for Concord. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, based on their perceived potential, seemed promising. Plans included a Concord episode in the Prime Video series, Secret Level, and an ambitious post-launch roadmap featuring a season one launch and weekly cutscenes. However, the game's poor performance forced a drastic revision of these plans, resulting in only three cutscenes being released.

Factors Contributing to Concord's Failure

Concord's struggles began early. Despite an eight-year development period, it failed to attract a substantial player base, peaking at only 697 concurrent players. This pales in comparison to its beta peak of 2,388 players. Analyst Daniel Ahmad points to several factors: a lack of innovation and uninspired character designs, leaving it feeling outdated compared to competitors. The $40 price tag also put it at a disadvantage against free-to-play rivals like Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, and Valorant. Minimal marketing further exacerbated the problem.

A Future for Concord?

While the immediate future is uncertain, Ellis stated Firewalk will explore options to better connect with players. The possibility of a return isn't entirely ruled out, as demonstrated by the successful revival of Gigantic. However, simply making Concord free-to-play might not solve its underlying issues—bland character designs and sluggish gameplay. A more comprehensive overhaul, akin to the transformation of Final Fantasy XIV, might be necessary for a successful relaunch. Game8's 56/100 review summarized the situation perfectly: a visually appealing but lifeless game. For a more detailed perspective, read our full review.