Concord has closed, future remains uncertain
Concord: The Hero Shooter That Never Took Off
Concord Servers Shut Down
On September 6, 2024, the servers of Concord officially shut down. This live-service game struggled to gather more than a hundred players simultaneously and sold only 25,000 units.
Thank you to all the Freegunners who joined us in the Concord galaxy.
Industry Reactions
Mat Piscatella, an executive at Circana, described this shutdown as "unprecedented." He compared it to Anthem and The Day Before, noting that Concord was "categorically rejected" by players.
This makes Concord one of the most significant stories of the year - a first-party game that never had a chance.
Future as Free-to-Play?
Some fans hope Concord will return as a free-to-play game. Many thought this change was "inevitable," but it's unclear if it would make a difference.
Concord had too many flaws in the public's eyes. The characters were forgettable, and the game offered little innovation in a saturated genre.
Pros and Cons
- Visual and sound design
- Maps and gunplay
- Core gameplay, especially in competitive modes
However, the game and the license were so categorically rejected that they might be considered irrecoverable.
What’s Next for Sony?
Concord is not entirely dead. An episode of the anthology series Secret Level will still feature it, alongside God of War and Warhammer 40K.
The future of Firewalk Studios, established in 2018 and acquired by Sony in 2023, is uncertain. The shadow of layoffs looms large.
Sony has other free-to-play games in the pipeline, like Fairgame$ and Bungie's Marathon. The latter has faced issues, including the firing of its initial director.
Final Thoughts
Sony's live-service strategy is likely under scrutiny, despite the success of Helldivers 2 earlier this year.
At least, the Japanese company can take comfort in the positive reception of Astro Bot. As for Concord, we'll have to wait to see what the future holds.
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Written by Streamers Visuals
