Despite its swift removal from digital stores weeks after launch, Sony's ill-fated hero shooter, Concord, continues to receive updates on Steam, sparking considerable speculation among gamers. This article explores these ongoing updates and the potential implications.
Concord's SteamDB Update Activity Fuels Speculation
Free-to-Play Relaunch? Gameplay Overhaul? The Possibilities Abound
Remember Concord? The hero shooter that fizzled out almost immediately? While officially unavailable since September 6th, its Steam page shows a surprising number of updates.
Since September 29th, SteamDB logs over 20 updates for Concord, attributed to accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping." These account names suggest the updates may focus on backend improvements and quality assurance ("QAE" possibly representing "Quality Assurance Engineer").
Concord's August launch was a significant misstep. Priced at $40, it faced immediate competition from established free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The launch was widely considered a failure; within two weeks, Sony pulled the game and issued refunds, citing low player numbers and negative feedback.
The continued updates, however, are intriguing. Former Firewalk Studios Game Director, Ryan Ellis, hinted at exploring alternative strategies in the shutdown announcement, including ways to better reach players. This has fueled speculation of a potential comeback, possibly as a free-to-play game. This would address a key criticism: the $40 price point.
Given Sony's substantial investment—reportedly up to $400 million—attempts to salvage the project aren't surprising. The updates suggest Firewalk Studios may be using this time to revamp the game, potentially adding features and addressing criticisms of underwhelming characters and gameplay.
However, Sony remains silent on Concord's future. Will it return with improved mechanics, broader appeal, or a revised monetization strategy? Only Firewalk Studios and Sony know for certain. Even a free-to-play relaunch faces a challenging uphill battle in a saturated market.
For now, Concord remains unavailable, and official announcements are pending. The future of Concord remains uncertain, but the ongoing updates offer a glimmer of hope for a potential resurrection from its initial failure.
