Only two weeks after launch, PlayStation made the shocking decision toshut downConcord. Firewalk Studios’ much-derided hero shooter had a disastrous launch, one that analysts estimated only 25,000 players picked up, according toIGN. In aPlayStation Blogpost, game director Ryan Ellis was transparent about the fact that “aspects of the game and our initial launch didn’t land the way we’d intended” and that Firewalk will shut the game down on September 6 to “explore options, including those that will better reach our players.”
It’s possible thatConcordwill never return, or that it will become the video game industry’s next comeback story. I didn’t like what I played ofConcordduring its beta, but I understand that some players see the potential of this first-person shooter that found a middle ground betweenDestinyandOverwatch. There are steps Firewalk can take to giveConcorda second chance at life, even if its fate is ultimately in the hands of players if it ever comes back.
I echo my colleague Giovanni Colantoniowrote about the failure ofConcordshortly after its release: We can critique its lack of original ideas and premium release model, but generally, apathy wasConcord’s greatest enemy. If Firewalk and Sony want people to care aboutConcord, overcoming that apathy will be the greatest challenge in givingConcorda second wind.
Is a comeback possible?
So, what does the path to rehabilitatingConcordlook like? There are no easy answers, especially with a game that was functionally dead on arrival. Still, history shows us that it can be done. So where could Sony make an impact?
Most crucially,Concordneeds a better sales pitch. It was billed as a sci-fi hero shooter with weekly cutscenes, but that wasn’t appealing enough. Why should players care aboutConcord? That’s something Sony has struggled to get across, but it needs a better answer. If Firewalk wants to emphasize its characters and narrative, those need to be a priority rather than slow dripped out in weekly cutscenes. Character designs could use improving, and the premise of why these Freegunners are fighting each other needs to make more sense.
If Firewalk believes that gameplay is king, thenConcordneed a stronger hook like a defining mode. The hero shooter market is oversaturated at this point, so whenever it comes back, we’ll need a reason to pickConcordover the likes ofOverwatch 2orMarvel Rivals. Then, there’s the matter of how Sony releases it, as even Ellis admits the game needs a way to “better reach” players. While we can debate whether the $40 price tag played a part inConcord’s failure, the resounding feedback that it should have been a free-to-play game should make the best direction for aConcordre-launch clear.
On top of that, PlayStation may want to consider expanding the number of platformsConcordis on or offering it via services like PlayStation Plus. That’s its best chance at reaching the greatest number of players possible if that’s a priority. It also needs to make good on those who bought the game at launch to salvage good will. Sony is already doing that with full refunds, but some sort of bonus at the relaunch for returning players wouldn’t hurt as a peace offering.
There’s a much bigger problem that’s more challenging to solve: Sony needs to change the social narrative aroundConcord. While its release has given PlayStation a ton of bad PR, a re-release could have the potential to be more successful than its original release because the video game industry loves a good comeback story. Games likeFinal Fantasy XIV,No Man’s Sky, andCyberpunk 2077recovered from rocky releases with relaunches that won back players who thought they were lost causes. While doing the same withConcordwill require a lot of follow-through and Firewalk, the studio will earn sympathy from players who felt that their eight years of work was mishandled by Sony. you’re able to see the early markings of an underdog tale in pockets of the public response to the shutdown news.
The disastrous launch ofConcordhas done more for its notoriety than any pre-release marketing, and people will be paying attention to where it goes next. Its cameo in Amazon’s upcomingSecret Levelshow could do more to drum up mainstream attention for the IP as well, so long as it isn’t cut. Sony needs to keep people in the loop about whereConcord’sgoing, what it’s changing, and when we can expect it to reemerge. If killingConcordpermanently is the right thing to do, so be it, but if Sony and Firewalk are truly committed to a relaunch, then they can’t repeat the past. It’s time to adapt or die.
