Firewalk Studios' Concord: A Short-Lived Hero Shooter

Concord, Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, met an abrupt end just two weeks after its launch. The game's failure to meet expectations led to the shutdown of its servers on September 6th, 2024, as announced by Game Director Ryan Ellis on the PlayStation Blog. While some aspects resonated with players, the overall reception fell short of the studio's goals. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store received automatic refunds; physical copies require contacting the retailer for returns.

High hopes surrounded Concord's release. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk Studios, based on their perceived potential, hinted at a bright future. Plans included an October launch for the first season, weekly cutscenes, and even a segment in the Prime Video series, Secret Level. However, the game's underperformance drastically altered these plans. Only three cutscenes—two from the beta and one pre-announcement—were released.

Concord's struggles began early. Despite eight years of development, player interest remained low, peaking at a mere 697 concurrent players. Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted the game's lack of innovation and uninspired character designs as key factors in its failure. The game, while "content complete," failed to differentiate itself from existing hero shooters, and its $40 price tag placed it at a disadvantage against free-to-play competitors. The absence of significant marketing further hampered its success.

Firewalk Studios intends to explore future options, leaving open the possibility of Concord's return. The revival of Gigantic serves as an example of a game finding new life after a shutdown. However, simply making Concord free-to-play, as some suggest, might not solve the underlying issues of bland character designs and sluggish gameplay. A more substantial overhaul, similar to the successful relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV, may be necessary for a potential comeback. Game8's review awarded Concord a 56/100, highlighting its visual appeal juxtaposed with its lifeless gameplay. A full review is available for further reading.