Concord's Brief Existence, Yet Lasting Impact

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

Firewalk Studios' Concord: A Short-Lived Hero Shooter

Lack of Hype Leads to Closure

Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, Concord, shut down just two weeks after its release. Game Director Ryan Ellis announced the closure on September 3rd, 2024, via the PlayStation Blog, citing unmet expectations. The game, while possessing some appealing qualities, failed to resonate with players as intended. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store will receive automatic refunds; physical copies require retailer returns.

Firewalk Studios and Sony had ambitious plans for Concord. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, fueled by confidence in the studio's potential, seemed promising, especially considering positive feedback from Ellis and studio head Tony Hsu. Concord was even slated for inclusion in the Prime Video series, Secret Level. An extensive post-launch roadmap, including a Season 1 launch and weekly cutscenes, was initially planned. However, the game's poor performance necessitated a drastic change of plans, resulting in only three cutscenes being released.

Concord's Downfall: A Multifaceted Issue

Concord's decline was evident from the start. Despite an eight-year development period, player interest remained minimal, peaking at a mere 697 concurrent players. This pales in comparison to its beta peak of 2,388 players.

Several factors contributed to Concord's failure. Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted strong gameplay mechanics but criticized the game's lack of originality and uninspired character designs, stating it felt outdated compared to current hero shooters. The $40 price point also proved disadvantageous against free-to-play competitors, coupled with a near absence of marketing.

Ellis' statement suggests Firewalk Studios will explore new avenues to reach players, leaving the possibility of a future return open. The revival of Gigantic demonstrates that discontinued games can be resurrected, although a simple shift to a free-to-play model might not resolve Concord's fundamental issues of uninspired character design and slow gameplay. A complete overhaul, similar to the successful redesign of Final Fantasy XIV, is arguably necessary.

Game8's 56/100 review described Concord as "visually appealing, yet lifeless," highlighting the tragedy of eight years of development culminating in such a result. A full review is available for further insights.