Sony's Disappointing 'Concord' Still Receiving Support

Despite its swift removal from digital stores shortly after launch, Sony's hero shooter, Concord, continues to receive updates on Steam, sparking considerable speculation among gamers. This article delves into these mysterious updates and the various theories surrounding them.

Concord's SteamDB Update Mystery

Free-to-Play Relaunch? Gameplay Overhaul? Theories Abound

Remember Concord? The hero shooter that flopped spectacularly? While officially offline 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 a focus on backend improvements and quality assurance ("QAE").

Concord's August launch was a significant misstep. Priced at $40, it faced stiff competition from free-to-play juggernauts like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The launch was widely considered a failure, leading to a rapid pull from shelves and refunds for players. Low player counts and negative reviews sealed its fate.

So, why the continued updates? Ryan Ellis, the then-Game Director at Firewalk Studios, hinted at exploring options to better reach players in the game's shutdown announcement. This has fueled speculation of a potential resurgence, possibly as a free-to-play game. Removing the initial purchase barrier is a widely discussed possibility.

Sony's substantial investment—reportedly up to $400 million—makes a complete abandonment unlikely. The updates suggest a possible game overhaul, addressing initial criticisms such as lackluster characters and uninspired gameplay.

However, Sony remains silent on Concord's future. Will it return with improved mechanics, a wider appeal, or a revised monetization strategy? Only Firewalk Studios and Sony know for sure. Even a free-to-play relaunch would face a challenging uphill battle in a saturated market.

Currently, Concord remains unavailable. Until an official announcement from Sony, the future of this once-promising title remains uncertain. Whether it will rise from the ashes of its initial failure remains to be seen.