In a shocking turn of events, Sony and Firewalk Studios have announced the immediate cessation of sales for their newly launched game Concord, with servers set to go offline on September 6th. This drastic decision comes merely 10 days after the game's release, marking one of the fastest shutdowns in recent gaming history.
A Rocky Launch and Swift Action
Concord, which launched on August 23rd, faced immediate challenges upon release. The game received mixed user reviews on Steam and struggled to maintain a player base. According to SteamDB, the game's all-time peak concurrent player count reached a mere 697, with numbers dwindling to just 30 active players at the time of the announcement.
Refund Process and Next Steps
Sony is taking swift action to address the situation:
- All purchases will be fully refunded automatically across digital platforms
- Physical copy owners should contact their retailers for refund information
- Sales have ceased immediately on all platforms
Ryan Ellis, Game Director at Firewalk Studios, stated in a PlayStation Blog post that some aspects of the game and the initial launch did not land the way the studio intended. The team will use this time to explore options that will better reach our players.
Industry Implications
This rapid shutdown raises questions about the state of the competitive shooter market and the challenges faced by new entrants. Priced at $40/£35/€40, Concord struggled to compete in a landscape dominated by free-to-play alternatives.
While some speculate that Concord might return as a free-to-play title, the damage to its reputation may be difficult to overcome. The gaming community will be watching closely to see how Sony and Firewalk Studios respond to this setback and what lessons can be learned for future launches in the highly competitive online gaming space.
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