Concord: A Fleeting Presence in History

Firewalk Studios' Concord: A Short-Lived Hero Shooter

Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, Concord, met an abrupt end just two weeks after its launch. The game's servers went offline on September 6th, 2024, a decision announced by Game Director Ryan Ellis due to the game failing to meet expectations. While some aspects resonated with players, the overall launch fell short of the studio's goals. Digital purchases received automatic refunds, while physical copies require contacting the retailer for returns.

High Expectations, Dismal Results

The closure is a setback for both Firewalk Studios and Sony, who had high hopes for Concord. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk, coupled with positive early feedback, suggested a bright future. Concord was even slated for inclusion in the Prime Video series, Secret Level. Ambitious post-launch plans, including a season one launch and weekly cutscenes, were ultimately scrapped due to poor performance. Only three cutscenes were released before the shutdown.

The Reasons Behind the Failure

Concord's struggles began early. Despite an eight-year development cycle, player interest remained low, peaking at only 697 concurrent players. This pales in comparison to its beta peak of 2,388. Analysts point to several factors contributing to the failure: a lack of innovation, uninspired character designs, a high price point of $40 compared to free-to-play competitors, and minimal marketing. The game, while mechanically sound, failed to stand out in a crowded market.

A Future for Concord?

Firewalk Studios plans to explore future options to better connect with players. While a free-to-play model has been suggested, many believe a more substantial overhaul is needed to address the fundamental issues of bland character designs and less-than-stellar gameplay. The possibility of a revival remains, however, as evidenced by the successful relaunch of Gigantic. A complete redesign, akin to the transformation of Final Fantasy XIV, might be the key to resurrecting Concord from its premature demise. Game8's review summarized the situation perfectly: a visually appealing but lifeless game. Read our full review for more details!