Firewalk Studios' Concord, a 5v5 hero shooter, met an abrupt end just two weeks after its release. The game's servers are now offline, a consequence of failing to meet player expectations. Let's delve into the reasons behind this swift shutdown.

A Lackluster Launch

Game Director Ryan Ellis announced Concord's closure on September 3rd, 2024, via the PlayStation Blog. He acknowledged that while some aspects resonated with players, the overall launch fell short of expectations. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation Store will receive automatic refunds; physical copies require contacting the retailer for returns.

Sony's acquisition of Firewalk Studios, driven by confidence in their potential, seemed promising. Concord was even slated for inclusion in Prime Video's "Secret Level" anthology. An ambitious post-launch roadmap, including a season one launch and weekly cutscenes, was initially planned. However, the game's poor performance necessitated a drastic change of course. Only three cutscenes were released, leaving the future of the planned narrative uncertain.

The Factors Contributing to Concord's Demise

Concord's struggles were evident from the outset. Despite an eight-year development period, it failed to attract a substantial player base. Concurrent player counts remained extremely low, peaking at a mere 697. This starkly contrasts with its beta peak of 2,388 players.

Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted several key factors. While praising the gameplay mechanics and complete content, he pointed to the game's lack of originality within the crowded hero shooter genre. Its uninspired character designs and failure to differentiate itself from competitors like Overwatch proved detrimental. The $40 price tag also placed it at a disadvantage against popular free-to-play alternatives. The absence of a significant marketing campaign further exacerbated the problem.

Ellis stated that Firewalk Studios will explore future options to better connect with players. A potential revival is not entirely ruled out. The successful relaunch of Gigantic, shifting from a live-service to a buy-to-play model, demonstrates the possibility of a second chance for discontinued titles. However, simply making Concord free-to-play might not suffice. Addressing the core issues of bland character designs and uninspired gameplay through a significant overhaul is likely necessary for any future success.

Game8's review scored Concord a 56/100, highlighting the contrast between its visual appeal and its ultimately lifeless gameplay. The game's short lifespan serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of innovation, marketing, and addressing core gameplay flaws in the highly competitive hero shooter market.