Concord's Reign Cut Short, Leaves Legacy

Concord: A Short-Lived Hero Shooter's Demise

Firewalk Studios' Concord, a 5v5 hero shooter, 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 retailer returns.

The closure is a significant setback, considering Sony's acquisition of Firewalk Studios based on their perceived potential and the ambitious post-launch plans, including a planned first season and weekly cutscenes. However, poor performance limited them to releasing only three cutscenes.

Concord's struggles began early. Despite an eight-year development, it failed to attract a substantial player base, peaking at only 697 concurrent players. Analyst Daniel Ahmad points to several factors: a lack of innovation, uninspired character designs, and a high price point ($40) compared to free-to-play competitors like Apex Legends and Valorant. Minimal marketing further hampered its success.

While Firewalk Studios is exploring future options, the game's core issues—bland character designs and uninspired gameplay—need addressing. Simply making it free-to-play, as some suggest, wouldn't solve the fundamental problems. A complete overhaul, similar to the successful revival of Final Fantasy XIV, might be necessary for a potential return. Game8's 56/100 review highlights the tragic contrast between Concord's visual appeal and its ultimately lifeless gameplay. A full review is available for further details.