Firewalk Studios' Concord: A Quick Look at its Unexpected Demise

Firewalk Studios' hero shooter, Concord, met an abrupt end just two weeks after its launch. The game's servers were shut down following a disappointing reception, prompting refunds for digital purchases and leaving players wondering what went wrong.

A Lackluster Launch

Game Director Ryan Ellis announced the closure on September 3rd, 2024, via the PlayStation Blog. While acknowledging some positive player feedback, he admitted the launch fell significantly short of expectations. Refunds were offered for digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store.

The game's failure is a surprising turn of events, considering the high hopes surrounding its development. Sony's acquisition of Firewalk Studios, fueled by confidence in their potential, suggested a promising future. Plans included a post-launch roadmap with a first season and weekly cutscenes, even featuring in the Prime Video series, Secret Level. However, poor performance forced a drastic change of plans, with only three cutscenes ultimately released.

Why Did Concord Fail?

Concord's struggles began early. Despite eight years of development, it failed to attract a substantial player base, peaking at only 697 concurrent players. Analyst Daniel Ahmad pointed to several factors contributing to this failure. He noted that while the gameplay was solid, the game lacked originality, failing to distinguish itself from existing hero shooters. Uninspired character designs and a $40 price tag, compared to free-to-play competitors, further hampered its success. The lack of marketing also played a significant role.

Ellis hinted at future possibilities, suggesting Firewalk will explore options to better connect with players. The possibility of a comeback isn't entirely out of the question, as demonstrated by the revival of Gigantic. However, simply making Concord free-to-play likely wouldn't solve the underlying issues of bland character designs and uninspired gameplay. A complete overhaul might be necessary for any potential resurgence. Game8's 56/100 review summarized the situation perfectly: a visually appealing game lacking life. For a more detailed analysis, check out our full review.