As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the magical world of gaming, witnessing the rise and fall of beloved titles and studios is always a bitter pill to swallow. However, the recent events surrounding Sony and their handling of various projects have left me utterly flabbergasted. It’s as if I’ve stumbled upon a comedy sketch where tragedy and farce are inexplicably intertwined.
It’s confirmed: Sony has declared that Concord and Firewalk Studios are closing permanently. From the start, the first-person shooter game didn’t seem very promising. Ever since its announcement, it was clear that people weren’t keen on purchasing what it offered, and as we got closer to launch, it became increasingly apparent that Concord would find it difficult to attract an audience- a struggle that was far greater than most had anticipated.
In just two weeks after its debut, the game “Concord” faced poor sales and mixed reviews from critics, prompting it to be taken offline. Anyone who purchased the game was given a refund. At that time, Firewalk Studios and Sony stated they would collaborate on finding another path for the game, hinting at a potential future for it. Many speculated that it might reappear as a free-to-play shooter, but upon closer examination, it seemed unlikely that “Concord” would get another chance. This was especially true given its status as one of the biggest and most high-profile first-party flops in the history of the video game industry.
Currently, Sony has announced the closure of Firewalk Studios, and Neon (formerly Savage Game Studios) is also ceasing operations. This unfortunate news comes with numerous repercussions. Primarily, it’s disheartening because hundreds of people are losing their jobs, adding to the thousands who have been let go in this industry over the past couple of years. Moreover, it’s disappointing to see a new intellectual property (IP) struggling so much. Creative industries like gaming thrive on fresh ideas, and witnessing a major first-party IP falter is never a positive sign. This situation might lead certain high-level executives to reconsider the risks associated with investing in entirely new properties, which contradicts our goal of moving forward.
As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the recent closure of Firewalk Studios. This event seems to be yet another symptom of a broader issue at PlayStation, and it’s becoming increasingly evident that Sony has been making some questionable decisions over the past few years. The PS5 generation, in many ways, has seen Sony at its most perplexing.
Approximately one and a half years ago, Sony bought Firewalk Studios in April 2023. Prior to this acquisition, Sony had agreed to finance and distribute the studio’s debut game, suggesting they had faith in the potential of the game, Concord. However, it remains puzzling where such confidence originated from, given that, based on our current knowledge of Concord, we can confidently say it was not destined for long-term or even short-term success. In fact, despite its individual gameplay strengths, Concord was a flawed $40 Overwatch clone launched in 2024, entering a market already saturated with similar live service shooter games.
The decision to heavily rely on ‘Concord’ was already questionable, but Sony’s handling of the subsequent issues is even more regrettable. The closure of Firewalk Studios, mere two years after acquisition, leaves hundreds jobless. The game they had been laboring on for years was only kept online for a fortnight. Furthermore, Neon Koi, a mobile studio acquired just a few years ago as part of Sony’s major mobile initiative, is also being closed despite co-CEO Hermen Hulst stating it remains crucial to the company’s strategy. It’s challenging to find instances where other publishers have managed a difficult situation with such clumsy ineptitude and lack of finesse. In essence, the leadership at PlayStation has managed to make a spectacle of itself.
It’s no shock that our discussion returns to Sony’s questionable dreams for live services yet again. We’re only a few games into these endeavors, and the tally of missteps is already significant. Project Concord was abandoned, Firewalk Studio closed down. The Last of Us Online was scrapped, with Naughty Dog still not on track to release a new game this generation. London Studios was shuttered, and its live service project cancelled. The partnered AAA indie studio Deviation Games also closed before it could unveil its game. To date, Sony has only found success in Helldivers 2, which seems more like an unexpected triumph than something deliberately orchestrated by the company- and even that victory, Sony seems to have stumbled with its PSN requirements on PC, demonstrating how easily one can snatch defeat from the brink of victory.
It’s clear from a financial point of view why Sony sought additional income sources beyond their high-budget single-player games. However, the shutdown of Firewalk and the poor decisions surrounding Concord serve as stark reminders of how poorly they have managed these new streams. In his email to PlayStation staff announcing the closure of Firewalk and Neon Koi, co-CEO Hermen Hulst mentioned that lessons would be learned from Concord’s failures, but it seems doubtful if this version of PlayStation has the ability to learn from its own mistakes effectively.
In simpler terms, this version of PlayStation seems stuck on a questionable path for the future, making one poor decision after another. For instance, shutting down a studio shortly after purchasing it, letting go of 900 employees earlier in the year, investing heavily into Spider-Man 2, enjoying its success, but still laying off staff at Insomniac. They also invested billions in Bungie, yet the studio’s situation worsened significantly. The company also appears to focus on maximizing profits by raising prices for games, consoles, accessories, or subscriptions. Selling a professional console for $700 without including a disc drive or even a stand is another example of their approach.
…and that’s barely touching on the issue. This is the version of PlayStation we’re currently using, and the Concord incident serves as another clear demonstration of this fact. It’s only natural to hope that Sony will learn from these expensive blunders – they’ve certainly been costly mistakes – but it seems they’ve made a series of bizarre choices that led them here, causing one to question if they truly understand the correct direction to take.
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.
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2024-10-31 14:41