Despite its swift demise after launch, Concord, Sony's ill-fated hero shooter, continues to receive updates on Steam. This unexpected activity has sparked considerable speculation within the gaming community. Let's delve into the ongoing updates and the theories surrounding them.
Concord's SteamDB Updates Fuel Speculation
Free-to-Play Resurgence? Gameplay Overhaul? The Possibilities Abound
Remember Concord? The hero shooter that fizzled out almost immediately? While officially offline since September 6th, its Steam page shows a consistent stream of updates.
Since September 29th, SteamDB has logged over 20 updates attributed to accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping." These account names suggest a focus on backend improvements and bug fixes, with "QAE" possibly indicating "Quality Assurance Engineer."
Concord's August launch was a significant misstep. Priced at $40, it faced stiff competition from established free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The launch was disastrous, resulting in Sony pulling the game and issuing refunds within two weeks. Low player counts and overwhelmingly negative reviews effectively sealed its fate.
So why the continued updates? Ryan Ellis, the then-Game Director at Firewalk Studios, hinted at exploring alternative strategies in the shutdown announcement, including methods to better reach players. This has fueled speculation of a potential comeback, possibly as a free-to-play title. This shift could address the pricing concerns that plagued the initial release.
Given Sony's substantial investment – reportedly up to $400 million – attempts to salvage the project aren't surprising. The updates suggest Firewalk Studios might be using this time for a complete overhaul, adding new features and addressing criticisms regarding underwhelming characters and uninspired gameplay.
However, this remains purely speculative. Sony has remained silent on Concord's future. Will it return with refined mechanics, broader appeal, or a revised monetization strategy? Only Firewalk Studios and Sony possess the answer. Even a free-to-play model would present a challenging uphill battle in a saturated market.
For now, Concord remains unavailable, and Sony offers no official updates. Whether it rises from the ashes remains uncertain, but the ongoing updates certainly keep the possibility alive.
