Concord, Firewalk Studios' 5v5 hero shooter, met a swift and unexpected end, its servers going offline mere weeks after launch. This article delves into the reasons behind the game's premature demise.
Firewalk Studios' Hero Shooter Fails to Take Flight: Servers Shut Down After Two Weeks
A Lack of Buzz Leads to Closure
Firewalk Studios announced the closure of Concord on September 3rd, 2024, just two weeks after its release. Game Director Ryan Ellis, in a PlayStation Blog post, attributed the decision to the game's failure to meet expectations. While acknowledging positive player feedback on certain aspects, Ellis stated that other elements and the overall launch fell short of their goals. Consequently, servers were taken offline on September 6th, 2024. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store received automatic refunds, while physical copies required retailer returns.
The ambition behind Concord was evident. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk Studios, fueled by confidence in their potential, suggested a promising future, especially given positive comments from Ellis and Firewalk's studio head, Tony Hsu. The game was even slated for inclusion in the Prime Video anthology series, Secret Level. An ambitious post-launch roadmap, including a Season 1 launch in October and weekly cutscenes, was initially planned. However, poor performance forced a drastic revision of these plans, resulting in only three cutscenes being released.
The Factors Contributing to Concord's Downfall
Concord's struggles were apparent from the outset. Despite an eight-year development period, the game failed to capture significant player interest. Concurrent player counts remained extremely low, peaking at just 697 and dwindling to a mere 45 at the time of writing (excluding PlayStation 5 players). This starkly contrasts with its beta peak of 2,388 players.
Several factors contributed to Concord's failure. Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted the game's lack of differentiation from existing hero shooters, offering little incentive for players to switch. He criticized the uninspired character designs and the game's perceived stagnation in the style of Overwatch 1. The $40 price point also placed it at a disadvantage compared to popular free-to-play competitors like Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, and Valorant. The near absence of marketing further exacerbated the situation.
Ellis' statement hinted at Firewalk Studios exploring future options to better connect with players, leaving open the possibility of a future return. The successful revival of Gigantic, transitioning from a live-service to a buy-to-play model, demonstrates that discontinued games can find new life. While a free-to-play model has been suggested, addressing the core issues of bland character designs and uninspired gameplay is crucial for any potential revival. A complete overhaul, similar to the successful redesign of Final Fantasy XIV, might be necessary.
Game8's review scored Concord a 56/100, describing it as "tragic" to see eight years of work result in a visually appealing but ultimately lifeless game. For a more detailed analysis, refer to our full review.
