Sony has announced the discontinuation of Concord and the closure of the studio responsible for the game. Servers for the competitive team shooter, developed by Firewalk Studios, were shut down two weeks following its release due to disappointing sales. In light of this, Firewalk’s game director, Ryan Ellis, transitioned to a more supportive role. Sony assessed its options for the project, and the final decision has now been made.
Hermen Hulst from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Studio Business Group stated, "After much thought, we have determined the best path forward is to permanently sunset the game and close the studio. I want to thank all of Firewalk for their craftsmanship, creative spirit, and dedication."
The online gaming industry is highly competitive, and Concord may have struggled due to its prolonged development time, during which other team shooters established strong positions and set high expectations among players. Numerous games in the genre offer free-to-play models supplemented by battle passes or seasonal content. The $40 price tag for Concord might have deterred players, or perhaps the market was already too saturated for the game to gain a foothold.
These developments highlight ongoing challenges in the video game industry. Firewalk Studios’ closure, while notable for its level of commercial failure, is part of a trend of industry turbulence, including layoffs and shutdowns. For instance, Sony Interactive Entertainment acquired Firewalk just last spring. Similarly, Netflix recently closed its AAA gaming studio before announcing any projects, and Microsoft shut down three studios from the Zenimax family earlier this year. As a few companies increasingly dominate the gaming industry, there may be less room for experimentation, raising the likelihood of similar sudden changes.
This update, as of October 29, 2024, 2:40 PM ET, includes additional context regarding Concord and the broader trend of studio closures.