Sony's Disappointing 'Concord' Receives Ongoing Updates on Steam

Despite its swift demise weeks after launch, Sony's Concord, a hero shooter that flopped spectacularly, continues to receive updates on Steam. This unexpected activity has sparked considerable speculation amongst gamers and industry observers.

Concord's Post-Launch Updates Fuel Speculation

The SteamDB platform shows over 20 updates to Concord since September 29th, attributed to accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping," suggesting internal Sony work, possibly focused on backend improvements and quality assurance.

Concord's initial August launch, priced at $40, faced immediate criticism for its high cost in a market dominated by free-to-play competitors like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The game quickly failed to gain traction, resulting in a rapid pull from stores and refunds to players. Its low ratings and minimal player base sealed its fate, at least initially.

The ongoing updates raise questions about Sony's intentions. Former Firewalk Studios Game Director, Ryan Ellis, hinted at exploring alternative player engagement strategies following the game's shutdown. This, coupled with the substantial reported investment of up to $400 million, fuels speculation about a potential relaunch, possibly as a free-to-play title. This would address a key criticism levied against the original release.

The updates could indicate Firewalk Studios is actively working to revamp Concord, improving gameplay, addressing criticisms of character design and overall mechanics. However, Sony remains silent on its plans, leaving the game's future uncertain. Even a free-to-play model wouldn't guarantee success in the highly competitive hero shooter landscape.

For now, Concord remains unavailable, and its revival remains purely speculative. Whether it rises from the ashes of its initial failure remains to be seen.