Concord's Reign: Brief but Unforgotten

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

Firewalk Studios' Hero Shooter, Concord, Grounds to a Halt Two Weeks Post-Launch

Lack of Hype Leads to Closure

Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, Concord, is ceasing operations just two weeks after its release. 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 some areas but admitted shortcomings in others. 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 and Sony's ambitions for Concord were evident. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, based on their perceived potential, appeared promising, especially with positive comments from Ellis and Firewalk's studio head, Tony Hsu. Concord was even slated for an episode in the Prime Video series, Secret Level. An ambitious post-launch roadmap, including a season one launch in October and weekly cutscenes, was initially planned. However, the game's poor performance necessitated a drastic revision of these plans, resulting in only three cutscenes being released.

Factors Contributing to Concord's Failure

Concord's performance was consistently weak. Despite an eight-year development period, player interest remained minimal, peaking at only 697 concurrent players. Current player counts are significantly lower. These numbers exclude PlayStation 5 users, but even considering them, the performance pales in comparison to the beta's peak of 2,388 players.

Several factors contributed to Concord's failure. Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted strong gameplay mechanics but criticized the lack of differentiation from existing hero shooters and uninspired character designs, stating the game felt outdated. The $40 price point also placed it at a disadvantage against free-to-play competitors. Minimal marketing further hampered its success.

Ellis's statement indicated Firewalk will explore future options to better engage players. A potential revival is possible, as demonstrated by Gigantic's successful return after a period of inactivity. However, simply making Concord free-to-play wouldn't address fundamental issues like bland character designs and sluggish gameplay. A more comprehensive overhaul is likely necessary for a successful relaunch.

Game8's 56/100 review described Concord as "visually appealing, yet lifeless," highlighting the disparity between its presentation and gameplay. For a more detailed analysis, refer to our full review.