Concord Was Short-Lived, But Not The Shortest-Lived

Firewalk Studios' Concord, a 5v5 hero shooter, met an abrupt end just two weeks after its release. The servers went offline on September 6th, 2024, a decision announced by Game Director Ryan Ellis due to the game's failure to meet expectations.

A Quiet Launch and a Quicker Demise

Ellis acknowledged player engagement with certain aspects of the game, but admitted the overall launch fell short of goals. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation Store received automatic refunds; physical copies require retailer returns.

Initial optimism surrounding Concord, fueled by Sony's acquisition of Firewalk Studios and positive internal feedback, quickly faded. Ambitious post-launch plans, including a first season and weekly cutscenes, were drastically scaled back due to poor performance. Only three cutscenes—two from beta testing and one pre-announcement—were released.

Why Did Concord Fail?

Concord's struggles began early. Despite an eight-year development, player interest remained minimal, peaking at only 697 concurrent players. Analyst Daniel Ahmad attributed this to a lack of innovation, uninspired character designs, and a failure to stand out from established competitors. The $40 price tag, combined with almost nonexistent marketing, further hampered sales.

Ellis hinted at future possibilities for Concord, suggesting Firewalk will explore options to better connect with players. While a free-to-play model has been suggested, many believe a more substantial overhaul—addressing bland character design and gameplay—is necessary for any potential revival. Game8's 56/100 review highlighted the irony of eight years of development resulting in a visually appealing but ultimately lifeless game. A full review is available.