Despite its swift demise after launch, Concord, Sony's ill-fated hero shooter, continues to receive updates on Steam. This unexpected activity has sparked significant speculation within the gaming community.
Concord's SteamDB Updates Fuel Speculation: Free-to-Play Resurgence or Gameplay Overhaul?
Remember Concord? The hero shooter that fizzled out almost immediately? While officially unavailable since September 6th, its Steam page shows a steady stream of updates. SteamDB logs reveal over 20 updates since September 29th, attributed to accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping," suggesting internal development and quality assurance efforts.
Concord's August launch was a significant misstep. Its $40 price tag proved a major hurdle in a market dominated by free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The game's poor reception led to its rapid removal from digital stores and refunds for players. Its low player count and overwhelmingly negative reviews effectively declared it "dead on arrival."
The ongoing updates are puzzling. However, former Firewalk Studios Game Director, Ryan Ellis, hinted at exploring alternative strategies, including improved player reach, during the game's shutdown announcement. This fuels speculation that Concord might be poised for a comeback, possibly as a free-to-play title. This would address the pricing criticism that contributed to its failure.
Sony's substantial investment—reportedly up to $400 million—makes a complete abandonment unlikely. The updates suggest Firewalk Studios is actively working to revamp the game, potentially adding features and addressing earlier criticisms of weak character design and uninspired gameplay.
While Sony remains silent, the possibilities are intriguing: improved mechanics, broader appeal, or a revised monetization model. Only Firewalk Studios and Sony possess the answers. Even a free-to-play transition would face a challenging uphill battle in a saturated market.
Currently, Concord remains unavailable for purchase, and Sony offers no official statements regarding its future. The future of Concord remains uncertain, but the ongoing updates suggest that the game's story isn't entirely over.
