The game was released in late August 2024 for PlayStation 5 and PC platforms. However, it faced immediate challenges upon launch, leading to its rapid removal from sale and the subsequent closure of Firewalk Studios.
Reasons for the Flop
Several factors likely contributed to Concord's poor performance:- Low Player Count: Reports indicate that the game struggled to attract and retain players, particularly on Steam. Analysts estimated only about 25,000 copies were sold in the opening week, an unusually low figure for a first-party Sony title.
- Competitive Market: The first-person shooter genre is highly saturated and competitive. Concord may have struggled to differentiate itself from established franchises and other popular shooters.
- Technical Issues: While specific details are scarce, it's possible that the game faced technical problems or performance issues that deterred players.
- Marketing Challenges: The game's marketing strategy may not have effectively communicated its unique selling points or generated sufficient pre-launch excitement.
- Gameplay and Design: PlayStation CEO Herman Hulst noted that while "certain aspects of Concord were exceptional," others "did not land with enough players." This suggests potential issues with core gameplay mechanics or overall game design.
Impact of the Studio Closure
The closure of Firewalk Studios and the cancellation of Concord have several implications:- Job Losses: Approximately 210 roles have been eliminated across Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi (another Sony-owned studio closed simultaneously), with the majority coming from Firewalk.
- Financial Impact: The rapid closure of the game and studio likely represents a significant financial loss for Sony, considering the resources invested in development and marketing.
- Live Service Strategy: This setback may cause Sony to reevaluate its approach to live service games, potentially leading to more cautious investments in the future.
- Industry Perception: The closure adds to a growing list of high-profile studio shutdowns and game cancellations in the industry, potentially affecting developer and consumer confidence.
Future Prospects
The future of Concord and its associated intellectual property appears bleak:- Permanent Shutdown: Sony has confirmed that Concord has been "permanently sunset," indicating no plans for revival or relaunch.
- Lessons Learned: Sony has stated they will "take the lessons learned from Concord and continue to advance our live service capabilities," suggesting a focus on applying these insights to future projects rather than reviving this particular IP.
- Industry Trends: This closure may contribute to a broader industry reassessment of the risks associated with developing new IPs in the competitive multiplayer space.
- Talent Redistribution: While the closure is unfortunate, the industry may benefit from the redistribution of talented developers to other studios and projects.
An Update from PlayStation Studios
*Below is an internal email from Hermen Hulst, CEO, Studio Business Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment distributed today to SIE employees. ********************************************************************************** Dear Team, Today, I want to share some important updates from Sony...
sonyinteractive.com
