Concord's Reign, Brief Yet Enduring

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

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

A Lack of Hype Leads to Closure

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 game, despite possessing certain appealing qualities, failed to resonate with players as intended. Servers went offline on September 6th, 2024. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store will receive automatic refunds; physical copies require retailer returns.

Firewalk Studios and Sony clearly envisioned a more successful future for Concord. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, based on confidence in the studio's potential, initially appeared promising, especially considering positive feedback from Ellis and Firewalk's studio head, Tony Hsu. Concord was even slated for inclusion in the upcoming Prime Video anthology series, Secret Level. An ambitious post-launch roadmap, including a Season 1 launch 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 closure announcement—leaving the future of the planned storyline uncertain.

The Factors Contributing to Concord's Failure

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 just 697. At the time of writing, only 45 players are online (excluding PlayStation 5 users). This starkly contrasts with the beta's peak of 2,388 players, falling far short of expectations for a Sony-published AAA title.

Several factors contributed to Concord's downfall. Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted strong gameplay mechanics and complete content, but criticized the game's lack of differentiation from existing hero shooters, offering little incentive for players to switch. He noted uninspired character designs and a feeling of being outdated, stuck in the era of Overwatch 1.

The $40 price point placed Concord at a considerable 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's statement suggests Firewalk Studios will explore alternative approaches to better reach players. A future revival remains a possibility. The successful revival of Gigantic, transitioning from a live-service to a buy-to-play model, demonstrates the potential for comeback.

While a free-to-play model has been suggested, this alone wouldn't address the core issues of bland character designs and sluggish gameplay. A comprehensive overhaul, similar to the successful redesign of Final Fantasy XIV, is likely needed for a potential resurgence.

Game8 awarded Concord a 56/100, describing it as a visually appealing but lifeless game. For a more detailed perspective, read our full review (link to review).