Despite its swift demise after launch, Concord, Sony's ill-fated hero shooter, continues to receive updates on Steam. This unexpected activity has sparked considerable speculation among gamers.
Concord's SteamDB Updates Fuel Speculation: Free-to-Play Resurgence?
Remember Concord? The hero shooter that flopped spectacularly? While officially offline since September 6th, its Steam page shows a steady stream of updates, exceeding 20 since September 29th, according to SteamDB. These updates, attributed to accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping," suggest potential backend improvements and quality assurance efforts.
Concord's August launch, priced at $40, was a significant misstep in a market dominated by free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The game's poor reception led to its rapid removal from stores and refunds for players. Its low ratings and minimal player base sealed its fate as a commercial failure.
The continued updates, however, hint at a possible revival. Former Firewalk Studios Game Director, Ryan Ellis, hinted at exploring options to better reach players. This, coupled with the updates, fuels speculation of a free-to-play relaunch, addressing the initial criticism of its paid model.
Sony's substantial investment—reportedly up to $400 million—makes a salvage attempt plausible. The ongoing updates suggest Firewalk Studios might be overhauling the game, potentially adding features and refining gameplay to address criticisms of lackluster characters and uninspired design.
While Sony remains silent, the possibility of Concord's return with improved mechanics, broader appeal, or a revised monetization strategy remains open. However, even a free-to-play model faces an uphill battle in the fiercely competitive hero shooter genre.
Currently, Concord is unavailable for purchase, and its future remains uncertain. Only time will tell if these speculations materialize, and whether Concord can rise from its initial failure.
