Is This (Finally) the End for the Troubled Title?
Source/Credit: TheGamer
In an unprecedented move (man - I'm saying that a lot when it comes to Concord...), Sony has begun manually removing the digital version of Concord from players' PlayStation 5 consoles that are connected to the internet. This move somehow marks a new low in the troubled history of the hero shooter, raising questions about the game's future and whether it will ever see the light of day again.
Released with literally ZERO fanfare from the masses, Concord quickly turned into a financial disaster for Sony and its developer, Firewalk Studios, amassing what some have estimated upwards of $250 million dollars lost over the 8 years of development. The game's servers were shut down just over a week after launch, and full refunds were issued to players. While server closures are not uncommon for live-service games, the complete removal of Concord from players' consoles takes this situation to a whole new level.
If you were among those dozens of folks who purchased and downloaded the digital version of Concord, you'll be greeted with a notification on your PlayStation 5 home screen that reads:
TheGamer reported that while the physical edition of Concord can still be booted, players can't progress past the title screen, because it is now an unsupported live-service game.
However... the complete removal of digital content is something we've rarely seen before, raising questions about why Sony decided to take this step. Is it a way to clean up their digital storefront, or are they trying to quietly erase a project they no longer have faith in?
The Tumultuous Life of Concord
From the very beginning, Concord seemed destined for trouble. The high-budget, live-service game was meant to capture a significant player base and become a staple in the multiplayer gaming landscape. I covered in-depth the troubles behind the scenes at Firewalk Studios that proved to be quite telling upon release. The game failed to resonate with players, and its tiny player base dwindled almost immediately after launch.
Sony and Firewalk Studios’ decision to shut down the game so soon after release was unprecedented for a publisher of Sony’s size and stature. With the digital version now being manually removed from consoles, the future of Concord is now more uncertain than ever. Speculation has run wild, and now it feels like Sony might consider re-releasing Concord as a free-to-play title in a desperate bid to recover its investment. Others, however, are convinced that Sony would prefer to sweep this disaster under the rug and move on. Ouch. But hey, tax breaks, am I right?
Adding to the confusion is the fact that Amazon's upcoming Secret Level anthology series still plans to feature an episode based on Concord. How this will play out given the game's current status is anyone's guess... But I can only imagine how bad this game will get lambasted again once the pot gets stirred after that episode drops.
Changing My Mind: Concord May Never Return
Initially, I thought there might be a slim chance for Concord to make a comeback in some form. Maybe Sony would find a way to pivot, rebrand, and re-release the game to a warmer reception. But nah... after seeing these recent developments, I’m not so sure. Manually deleting the game from players' consoles tells me that Sony isn't just hitting the reset button—they may be hitting "delete" on Concord altogether. What happens to all those employees now?
The future seems all-too-predictable.
This is more than just damage control; it feels like Sony is distancing itself entirely from a project that they no longer see as viable. While dozens may still hold out hope for a revival, the reality seems bleak. The removal of Concord from players' consoles could very well be the final nail in the coffin for a game that never truly found any footing.
Sony’s handling of Concord serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in the live-service game market. While some will definitely always argue that there's still a path forward for the title, I think that Concord is unlikely ever to see the light of day again.
~Smash