Concord Shutting Down: A Sudden Farewell to the Sci-Fi Shooter

In a surprising turn of events, Firewalk Studios and Sony have announced that their sci-fi shooter, Concord, will be going offline on September 6, 2024. This decision comes just 11 days after the game’s release, marking an abrupt end to what was anticipated to be a major addition to the PlayStation 5 and PC gaming libraries.

The Announcement

The announcement was made via an official PlayStation blog post by Ryan Ellis, the game director at Firewalk Studios. Ellis expressed gratitude to the community for their support but acknowledged that the game did not meet expectations in several key areas. As a result, the team has decided to cease sales immediately and offer full refunds to all players who purchased the game.

What Went Wrong?

Despite the high hopes and extensive development time, Concord struggled to capture a significant player base. On its release day, the game peaked at just 697 players on Steam, a number that dwindled rapidly in the following days. This lackluster performance, coupled with mixed feedback from the community, led to the difficult decision to shut down the servers and explore other options for the game’s future.

Refund Process

Players who purchased Concord will receive full refunds. Those who bought the game from the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Direct will have the refund issued back to their original payment method. Refunds for purchases made through other digital storefronts like Steam and Epic Games Store will also be processed, with each platform contacting customers directly to confirm the refund.

Speculation and Future Prospects

The sudden shutdown of Concord raises several questions about the future of the game and Firewalk Studios. Will the game be reworked and relaunched, or is this the end of the road for Concord? Given the significant investment in development, it’s plausible that the team might consider a free-to-play model or substantial gameplay overhauls to better align with player expectations.

Final Thoughts

The closure of Concord is a stark reminder of the volatile nature of the gaming industry. Even with substantial backing and a dedicated development team, success is never guaranteed. As the gaming community awaits further updates, one can only hope that Firewalk Studios will find a way to turn this setback into a learning experience and come back stronger.