In a surprising and unprecedented move, Sony and developer Firewalk Studios have announced the removal of their live service shooter, ‘Concord,’ from the market. The game, which launched on PlayStation 5 and PC, has been met with a disastrous reception, resulting in the decision to pull it from sale on the PlayStation Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. All purchases will be refunded, and the game will be taken offline on September 6, 2023.
This drastic action is rarely seen in the gaming industry since the infamous launch of ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ in 2020. ‘Concord’ suffered from low sales, with estimates suggesting only around 25,000 copies were sold on Steam and PlayStation 5 combined. These numbers are particularly concerning considering the game’s $40 price tag and its planned monetization through post-release purchases.
The game’s decline in popularity was rapid, plummeting from the #37 best-selling game on the PS Store to #100 within days of its release. The future of ‘Concord’ and Firewalk Studios remains uncertain. While a potential pivot to a free-to-play model with no PS Plus requirement is possible, the game could also be written off as a failure, potentially leading to the studio’s closure.
