Sony has withdrawn its recently launched Concord game. The game went live on August 23, 2024, and was taken away on September 6 due to a shockingly poor performance. Fans of Sony games believed it would return later, but now, the hope has been quelled.
The player-versus-player (PvP) first-person shooter game has joined the graveyard of failed projects because of the recent closure of its development studio, Firewalk Studios. It was difficult for Sony Interactive Entertainment to take this step, but they had to.
So, what caused this downfall, and what lesson can be learned from it? Our casino online real money news section examines the fall of the Concord game and the reasons behind it.
Why Sony Shut Down the Concord Game and Firewalk Studios
Concord was a multiplayer first-person shooter game with combat events based on the fictional Concord galaxy. Players attacked enemies using guns, knives, and explosives. But…
Disappointing Performance at Launch
On launch day, this game had only 697 Steam players. And instead of rising, the number only kept decreasing with time. This number was a far cry from some of Sony’s worst launches, like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which launched with 13,000 people playing simultaneously on Steam. Redfall, which didn’t do well, still had up to 6,000 players on launch day.
Because of this failed performance, Firewalk Studios’ game director, Ryan Ellis, stepped down from his office. After considering the situation, the company decided to cancel the game and close the development studio for good.
After the cancellation and closure, Sony decided to refund everyone who purchased the Concord game.
Causes of Poor Launch Performance
Below are some of the causes of the poor performance of the Concord game. Some of the reasons before also affect some casino online real money games.
Extended production time
According to Sony’s CEO, Hermen Hulst, the Concord game was under development for eight years. This time is enough for a gaming trend to have died down since the game genre continually evolves. The competitive nature of the PvP first-person shooter space is another factor to consider.
Stiff competition
We’ve seen how games like Call of Duty, Battlefield, Apex Legend, and others compete with one another. This meant a new release, such as the Concord game, which would compete heads-up with these games, would be in for a great deal of challenge from the get-go. And players don’t have the time to play every life service hero shooter in the market.
Pricing
Price is another factor that most likely pulled the rug from under the Concord game. At $40, the game was perceived as overpriced compared to other free games of the same genre. Sony’s big budget for the game made it fit to attach such a price for profitability. However, it has only resulted in an unwanted outcome.
Original but not new
Sony’s target for the Concord game was to make it the next Star Wars or Fortnite on PlayStation. And that’s probably one of the issues. Many players felt they had seen this game idea before, and despite being original, it was no longer a new thing. So many returned to their more trending PvP shooter.
Design
Critics stressed the game’s average graphics and lack of uniqueness in the character designs. The choice of game style was not entirely appealing. The map design was poor, and the flow of gameplay was lagging so much. To be fair, other aspects of the game’s design were exceptional, though.
Still, Concord could not withstand the aggressive market competition because it failed to offer a unique experience that would make it stand out.
Concord Game Rating
The score rating of Concord’s game was 64% on Metacritic, 22% on OpenCritic, 45% on US PC Gamer, and 3 out of 5 on Digital Trends, Eurogamer, and Video Games Chronicle. Only 25,000 units were sold.
The game only generated about $1 million in revenue despite an alleged development cost of an estimated $200 million. Another report also revealed that the estimated cost of the game could be up to $400 million if other expenses were added.
Sony’s Steps To Prevent Recurrence
Firewalk Studios is not the only development studio Sony has shut down after Concord’s failure. To strengthen its studios, the company also closed Neon Koi. Sony is concentrating on projects that will meet the company’s and players’ expectations. Thus, farewell, Concord game.
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In a Short Shot
Firework Studios, founded in 2018, acknowledged the supporters who have been there for them via a post on its Twitter (Now X) account. The developer studio expressed gratitude to their players.
The team revealed the risk they took in developing the Concord game. The studio also emphasized the team’s creativity and innovation, citing the number of talented developers available.
The Concord game is one of the failures encountered while pursuing success. Regardless, Sony Interactive Entertainment has taken reasonable steps to demonstrate the team’s commitment to giving players the best experience.
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