Concord, Sony's Major Flop, Continues to Get Updates on Steam

Despite its short-lived presence on store shelves, Concord continues to receive updates on Steam, sparking curiosity and speculation about its future. Dive in to explore these updates and the buzz they've created.

Concord SteamDB Updates Ignite Speculations

Will Concord Become Free-to-Play? Get Improved Gameplay? Speculations Arise

Remember Concord, the hero-shooter that fizzled out almost as soon as it launched? Although it's been offline since September 6th, its Steam page has been bustling with activity.

Since September 29, SteamDB has logged over 20 updates for Concord, managed by accounts such as "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping." These account names suggest that the updates might be centered on backend enhancements and quality assurance, with "QAE" possibly indicating "Quality Assurance Engineer."

When Concord debuted in August, it aimed to disrupt the hero shooter scene with its $40 price tag—a daring move in a market dominated by free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. However, the launch turned into a debacle. Just two weeks later, Sony pulled the game and issued refunds, citing a lack of player engagement and poor reception. Concord was quickly labeled a flop, with dismal reviews across the board.

So, why is a game that bombed so badly still getting updates? In the shutdown announcement, Ryan Ellis, former Game Director at Firewalk Studios, hinted at exploring new avenues to better connect with players. This has led to widespread speculation that Concord might be preparing for a revival, possibly transitioning to a free-to-play model to eliminate the entry cost that many players found prohibitive.

Given Sony's substantial investment—reportedly around $400 million—it's understandable that they're keen on salvaging their project. The ongoing updates suggest that Firewalk Studios could be in the midst of a major overhaul, aiming to enhance the game's appeal by addressing criticisms about lackluster characters and uninspired gameplay.

Sony has yet to confirm any of these speculations, maintaining silence on Concord's future. Could the game return with refined mechanics, a wider audience appeal, or a new monetization strategy? Only those within Firewalk Studios and Sony hold the answers. Yet, even a free-to-play relaunch would face stiff competition in the already saturated hero shooter market.

Currently, Concord is not available for purchase, and no official word has come from Sony regarding its next steps. Whether these updates will lead to a triumphant return or remain a footnote in gaming history remains to be seen.