September 3rd 2024.
It's a shame to see Concord, a highly anticipated live service game from Sony, fail so quickly. Despite all the negative publicity leading up to its release, fans were still hopeful that it would be a success. Unfortunately, it seems that the game didn't live up to expectations and Sony has officially announced its closure on both PlayStation 5 and PC.
The signs of Concord's downfall were evident from the start. The game struggled to gain traction on Steam and only managed to sell a measly 25,000 copies worldwide. For a game that was in development for eight years and rumored to have a budget of over $100 million, this is a major disappointment. Ryan Ellis, the game's director, addressed the situation on the PlayStation Blog, admitting that while some aspects of the game were well-received by players, others fell short of their intentions.
With such a swift and embarrassing failure, it's unclear if Concord will ever make a comeback. As of now, it's no longer available for purchase on PlayStation 5 or PC, almost as if it never existed. Ellis did mention that they will be exploring options for the game's future, but it's uncertain if it will ever return.
For those who have already purchased Concord, Sony is offering full refunds. The process may take up to 60 days, but they have outlined the steps on the blog for those who bought the game through different storefronts. It's a small consolation for fans who were hoping for a successful live service game from Sony.
While Concord may not have been a terrible game, it failed to stand out in a market saturated with similar titles. The initial reveal drew unfavorable comparisons to popular games like Overwatch and Guardians of the Galaxy, and the beta did little to change public opinion. The low player numbers on Steam only emphasized the lack of interest in the game.
Many will see this as a victory, not necessarily because of the game itself, but because it calls into question Sony's future plans for live service games. They had initially boasted about releasing 12 first-party titles, but that number was later reduced to six. With Concord being the first to fail and no updates on their other live service game, Fairgame$, for months, there are rumors of a power struggle within Sony. It's unclear what side former PlayStation boss Jim Ryan took, but his departure just weeks before Naughty Dog scrapped their multiplayer project raises suspicions.
It's not just Sony facing uncertainty in the gaming industry. Xbox has also come under fire for their handling of live service games, and it's been a rough year for both companies. With the future of the industry and their own brands hanging in the balance, it's a concerning time for gamers everywhere.
Will this failure deter Sony from pursuing more live service games? Only time will tell. In the meantime, fans can share their thoughts and opinions by emailing, commenting, following on Twitter, or signing up for the newsletter. And for those who want to submit letters or features, there's now a convenient Submit Stuff page available. Sign up for exclusive gaming content and be the first to know about upcoming releases.
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