No. We doubt it. There’s nothing that could save Concord, that’s why it’s being shutdown 2 weeks after launch.
Sony has announced that it will be taking the Concord servers offline on September 6, just two weeks after the game’s launch. This decision comes as a surprise, given that the game was expected to be a significant new entry in the live-service genre. To appease disappointed players, Sony is offering full refunds, which will be processed across various platforms.
RELATED: IGN and Kotaku Reviews Aren't Influencing Game Sales Anymore
Concord, developed by Firewalk Studios, was envisioned as a first-person hero shooter with a sci-fi twist. The studio, supposedly inspired by David Lynch’s Twin Peaks series, aimed to create a game that would stand out in a crowded market. However, the game’s rapid failure raises questions about how a project with such potential could collapse so quickly.
Concord’s development cycle was extensive and reportedly had a substantial budget behind it. Firewalk Studios began working on the game when titles like Overwatch were dominating the multiplayer shooter landscape. Despite the industry’s advancements, Concord’s development dragged on, seemingly unable to capitalize on the momentum of its peers. When it finally launched, the gaming world had shifted, and the expectations were much higher.
The game’s launch was nothing short of disastrous. Reports indicate that the number of copies sold on both PlayStation 5 and Steam was shockingly low. On launch day, the player count was so minimal that it became a point of ridicule on social media. The game’s failure is particularly puzzling given its high budget and backing by a AAA publisher like Sony, both of which should have ensured at least a moderate level of success.
One of Concord’s unique selling points was its diverse cast of characters. However, this attempt at inclusivity may have backfired. Critics argue that the characters were so diverse that they became bland and forgettable, lacking the strong identities that make characters in games like Overwatch or Apex Legends memorable. This sentiment was echoed by both players and other developers, who criticized the uninspired design choices.
The game was developed with a “modern audience” in mind, featuring characters that were meant to be relatable to today’s gamers—essentially, average people with no standout qualities. This approach, however, alienated many players who felt that the characters were unattractive and unremarkable. Examples from the game include protagonists who are deliberately designed to subvert traditional hero tropes, which did not resonate with the majority of the gaming community.
The Boring Anti-Heroes of Concord
In Concord, the cast of playable characters is varied but fails to stand out in meaningful ways. The characters include 1-Off, an Anchor class who uses a vacuum-themed arsenal, such as the CC-1090 Industrial Vacuum as a primary weapon, which can suck up debris to charge his abilities. His abilities, like the Trash Bomb, which hurls a compressed pile of garbage at enemies, reflect a literal and uninspiring take on his role.
Another character, Star Child, a Breacher, comes equipped with a Skullbreaker Shotgun and abilities like Rage Rush, where he charges forward under the protection of a diamond-hard skin. This aggressive but straightforward skill set doesn’t offer much in of innovation or excitement.
Lennox, a Warden, has a similar problem with a skill set centered around gunplay with abilities like Exploding Knife and Claxton Healing, offering health regeneration. Despite the name, the character doesn’t bring any notable flair, making him easy to overlook in a crowded roster.
Teo, a Ranger class, who might have been the face of relatable heroism, ends up bland with his Smoke Grenade and Cluster Grenade abilities that feel generic in the context of other hero shooters. The rest of the characters, like It-Z, Roka, and Emari, follow similar patterns, with abilities and designs that are functional but lack the engaging qualities necessary to captivate players.
The overall design choices for these characters contribute to the game’s lack of appeal, as they come off as archetypal without the depth or creativity needed to make them memorable.
The developers’ response to negative reviews and poor sales only added fuel to the fire. Their statements suggested that Concord was more a project for the developers themselves than for the gaming audience. This perception, that the game was a form of self-expression for the creators rather than a product made for its players, further damaged its reputation.
Is Free-to-Play with a Paid Battle the Answer?
At its core, Concord’s gameplay is solid, but without compelling characters or an engaging story, there is little to keep players invested. To salvage the game, Firewalk Studios would need to overhaul its character designs and narrative direction, embracing what gamers want—cool, sexy, and badass characters—and moving away from their original agenda. However, this scenario seems increasingly unlikely.
As it stands, there is little hope for Concord’s future. Sony might treat the game like a totaled vehicle, stripping it for parts—repurposing its mechanics and assets in another project. The player base is currently so small that it doesn’t even justify the cost of keeping the servers online.
The downfall of Concord is a is proof that game developers should prioritize creating games for their audience, not for a nebulous “modern audience.” As seen with other titles like Star Wars: Outlaws and Dustborn, games that try to infuse modern, divisive political messages often fail to resonate with players. Sadly, this seems to be the final chapter for Concord.