Concord Was Short-Lived, But Not The Shortest-Lived

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

Firewalk Studios' Hero Shooter, Concord, Grounds to a Halt Weeks After Launch

Lack of Hype Leads to Game's Demise

Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, Concord, is ceasing operations just two weeks post-launch. Game Director Ryan Ellis announced the closure on September 3rd, 2024, via the PlayStation Blog, citing unmet expectations. The statement acknowledged positive player feedback in certain areas but ultimately determined the launch fell short of its goals. Servers went offline on September 6th, 2024. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation Store will receive automatic refunds; physical copies require retailer returns.

Firewalk and Sony clearly envisioned a larger future for Concord. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, based on confidence in the studio's potential, initially seemed promising, especially with positive comments from Ellis and Firewalk's studio head, Tony Hsu. Concord was even slated for inclusion in the Prime Video anthology series, Secret Level. An ambitious post-launch roadmap, including a Season 1 launch in October and weekly cutscenes, was initially planned.

However, poor performance necessitated a drastic shift in plans. Only three cutscenes were released – two from the beta and one shortly before the shutdown announcement. The future of the planned storyline remains uncertain.

Concord's Downfall: A Multifaceted Issue

Concord's decline was evident from the outset. Despite an eight-year development period, player interest remained minimal. Concurrent player counts struggled to reach 1,000, peaking at only 697. At the time of writing, the player count is a mere 45 (excluding PlayStation 5 users). This pales in comparison to the beta's peak of 2,388 players, falling significantly short of expectations for a Sony-published AAA title.

Several factors contributed to Concord's failure. Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted strong gameplay mechanics and complete content but noted a lack of differentiation from existing hero shooters, offering insufficient incentive for players to switch. He cited uninspired character designs and a gameplay style reminiscent of the older Overwatch 1, hindering its appeal.

The $40 price point also placed Concord at a disadvantage against popular free-to-play competitors like Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, and Valorant. Coupled with minimal marketing, the lack of player engagement is unsurprising.

Ellis stated that Firewalk Studios will explore options to better reach players, leaving the possibility of a future return open. The revival of Gigantic, transitioning from a live-service to a buy-to-play model after a server shutdown, demonstrates the potential for a comeback.

While a free-to-play model, similar to Foamstars, has been suggested, this alone may not address the core issues of bland character designs and uninspired gameplay. A comprehensive overhaul, akin to the successful Final Fantasy XIV redesign, might be necessary for a successful relaunch.

Game8 awarded Concord a 56/100, describing it as a visually appealing but ultimately lifeless game, highlighting the unfortunate outcome of eight years of development. A full review is available.