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

Despite its swift demise, Concord, Sony's ill-fated hero shooter, continues to receive updates on Steam. This unexpected activity has sparked considerable speculation among gamers. Let's delve into the ongoing updates and the theories surrounding them.

Concord's SteamDB Updates Fuel Speculation: Free-to-Play Resurgence?

Remember Concord? The hero shooter that fizzled out almost immediately? Although officially offline since September 6th, its Steam page shows a surprising number of updates.

SteamDB logs reveal over 20 updates since September 29th, attributed to accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping." These account names suggest a focus on backend fixes and improvements, with "QAE" likely referring to "Quality Assurance Engineer."

Concord's August launch was a high-profile flop. Priced at $40, it faced stiff competition from free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The launch was disastrous; Sony pulled the game and issued refunds within two weeks. Poor player numbers and overwhelmingly negative reviews sealed its fate.

So, why the continued updates? Ryan Ellis, former Firewalk Studios Game Director, hinted at exploring alternative strategies, including improved player reach, in the game's shutdown announcement. This has fueled speculation of a potential comeback, possibly as a free-to-play title. This would address a major criticism: the game's hefty price point.

Sony's substantial investment (reportedly up to $400 million) makes an attempt to salvage the project understandable. The updates suggest Firewalk Studios might be overhauling the game, adding features, and addressing criticisms like weak character designs and uninspired gameplay.

However, Sony remains silent on Concord's future. Will it return with improved mechanics, broader appeal, or a revised monetization strategy? Only Firewalk Studios and Sony possess the answers. Even as a free-to-play title, Concord would face an uphill battle in a saturated market.

Currently, Concord is unavailable for purchase, and Sony hasn't offered official updates. The future of this once-promising title remains uncertain, leaving gamers to ponder whether it will ever rise from the ashes.