Concord’s One-Year Anniversary: Unpacking Sony’s $400 Million Catastrophe

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The cooperative shooter game “Concord” celebrated its first anniversary recently, having been canceled approximately 50 weeks earlier.

Commemorating the first anniversary of an infamous misstep by Sony Interactive Entertainment serves as a haunting reminder to the gaming world: When creators prioritize political correctness over gameplay quality, they risk tarnishing their reputation.

Overconfidence Behind the Scenes

On April 20, 2023, Herman Hulst, head of PlayStation, declared that Sony had taken over Firewalk Studios. In a blog post, he extended a warm welcome to the new team members, inviting them to join the “Sony PlayStation Studios family.

He expressed his enthusiasm in revealing that we’ve broadened our partnership with Firewalk Studios. We are delighted to now include Firewalk Studios as part of PlayStation Studios. Known for housing a remarkably gifted team of creative minds responsible for some of gaming’s most acclaimed experiences, Firewalk is currently immersed in developing their inaugural AAA multiplayer game exclusively for PlayStation.

The popular multiplayer game, labeled “AAA,” eventually evolved into the hero shooter called Concord. This groundbreaking title marked Firewalk Studios’ inaugural release, a studio that had recently been purchased by Sony.

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I couldn’t help but feel my heart pound with anticipation just like Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan, as per their recent press release.

Firewalk Studios is guided by an elite group of individuals who have extensive experience and a strong enthusiasm for developing remarkable multiplayer games designed to create lasting memories. I believe that the studio’s forthcoming project will significantly enhance PlayStation Studios’ collection, and their proficiency in live service and technology will play a crucial role in expanding PlayStation’s influence.

Before anything had really been announced about the project, some gamers were getting hopeful.

In their studio boasting many experienced professionals from the industry, Sony’s leadership felt incredibly optimistic about the project’s success. They were so positive, in fact, that they increased the initial budget substantially to approximately $400 million and are said to have referred to it as “The Future of PlayStation.

Beginning of the End for Concord

Reflecting on the anniversary of the Concord disaster, it’s evident now that the confidence placed in those events was greatly unfounded.

Despite attracting fewer than 700 participants initially, the game’s launch was unfortunately unsuccessful, leading to its closure only two weeks after its debut.

Participants aimed to ascend to the highest level within the game before its scheduled closure. However, rather than engaging in regular gameplay, they opted for an unconventional approach – leaping from heights in-game, since this method allowed them to amass experience points at a rapid pace.

Right now, every game of Rivalry in Concord serves as the quickest means to accumulate XP for achieving Platinum, quite literally. (ha-ha)

The original sentence implies that playing every match of Rivalry in Concord is currently the fastest way to gain XP necessary for reaching Platinum level, which is humorous because it uses “literally” and emojis to emphasize the speed at which XP can be earned. The paraphrase maintains this emphasis on the speed and necessity of playing these games but presents it in a more formal and clear manner while still conveying the humor with the “(ha-ha)” at the end.

— Radec (@realradec) September 3, 2024

The director, Ryan Ellis, resigned from his role at the company, following swift closure of the company, Firewalk, by Sony. Notably, this failed venture was recognized and displayed at the Museum of Failure, given its notable position among the greatest blunders in video game history.

With so much talent, it seemed like the project was destined for greatness, so what went wrong?

As a passionate gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about 2016, a year that marked the arrival of a revolutionary title – Overwatch. This hero shooter quickly became a sensation, shaping the genre with its engaging gameplay and unforgettable characters. In the same spirited vein, we at Firewalk embarked on a journey in 2016 to create something captivating for the very same audience. And so, we dedicated almost eight years to developing our own masterpiece, Concord, which we’re eager to share with you soon.

Because of its long-term development and scheduled launch in 2024, the game found itself competing in a market that was starting to become challenging. By then, hero shooters had already gained significant popularity but were beginning to decline in popularity. As a result, Firewalk needed to demonstrate that their game offered a compelling reason for players to purchase it.

It failed.

The Game Had Nothing to Offer

The video game “Concord” was met with a highly critical reception on platforms like Metacritic, with its user score reaching a lowly 17% out of 100. Many players found it to be an unsuccessful attempt at emulating the style of “Overwatch.” They were particularly frustrated by the repetitive menu and character selection screens that appeared each time they died, interrupting the game’s overall flow.

A significant number of people expressed their disapproval towards the character designs, claiming they were dull, unattractive, and lacked inspiration. One notable instance, backed by over 14,000 users on Reddit, voiced similar sentiments.

Given its lack of initial appeal, and a price tag of $40, many players found the game unattractive due to the risk involved. After all, most other popular games in the same genre, like Overwatch 2 and Valorant, are free to play.

A Hard Lesson for the Industry

On this anniversary, the closure of Firewalk and the inactive Concord servers remind us of a sobering tale about the game’s downfall. This story offers a chilling lesson about the dangers of overconfidence and complacency within the gaming industry. In today’s world, where gigantic free-to-play games reign supreme, achieving success is not just about having substantial budgets or adopting safe strategies.

The desired elements – compelling characters, unique concepts, and flawless timing – can only manifest when game studios prioritize meeting player expectations.

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2025-08-29 20:05