 | Digital Release | PlayStation 5 August 20, 2024 (AU, EU, JP, NA) PC August 23, 2024 – Epic Games, Steam |
| Delistings | September 03, 2024 – Removed from Sale September 06, 2024 – Server Shutdown |
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| Developer | Firewalk Studios | |
| Publisher | Sony | |
| Available On | Digital None Retail PlayStation 5 (not recommended) |
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| Links | SteamDB page PlayStation.com page [Archive] |
Delisting
Ryan Ellis, game director at Firewalk Studios announced in a PlayStation Blog post on September 3rd, 2024 that Concord would be removed from sale immediately and shut down just days later on September 6th. The full announcement continues below.
Concord fans — we’ve been listening closely to your feedback since the launch of Concord on PlayStation 5 and PC and want to thank everyone who has joined the journey aboard the Northstar. Your support and the passionate community that has grown around the game has meant the world to us.
However, while many qualities of the experience resonated with players, we also recognize that other aspects of the game and our initial launch didn’t land the way we’d intended. Therefore, at this time, we have decided to take the game offline beginning September 6, 2024, and explore options, including those that will better reach our players.
While we determine the best path ahead, Concord sales will cease immediately and we will begin to offer a full refund for all gamers who have purchased the game for PS5 or PC. If you purchased the game for PlayStation 5 from the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Direct, a refund will be issued back to your original payment method.
Customers who purchased from other digital storefronts will also be refunded. More information about refunds from Steam and Epic can be found below:
Steam Store – Steam Store will refund players who bought the game over the coming days. Steam will send confirmation of the refund once it has been processed.
Epic Games Store – Epic Games Store will refund players who bought the game over the coming days and will contact each customer directly to confirm that the refund has been processed.
Other retailer refunds – For customers who have purchased a physical copy at a retailer location outside of PlayStation directly, please refer to the refund process of the retailer you purchased it from to obtain your refund.
Once refunded, players will no longer have access to the game.
We’ll keep you updated and thank you again to all the Freegunners who have joined us in the Concord galaxy.
* Refunds for PlayStation Store and PlayStation Direct purchases may take 30-60 days to appear on your bank statement. If your original payment source was unavailable, the purchase amount will be refunded to your PSN wallet.
PlayStation Blog Announcement – September 03, 2024
Concerns began growing just days after the game’s release. IGN and other outlets reported that the game had sold roughly 25,000 copies across all platforms and that player data on Steam showed less than 700 daily players in-game with counts only trailing off. Although physical copies of the game remain available they will not provide any form of access to the game.
Less than two months later, the search for “the best path ahead” for the game came to an end as an internal email from Studio Business Group CEO, Hermen Hulst, explained that Concord would be permanently sunset and that Firewalk Studios would be closed. The full announcement which also confirms the closure of mobile developer, Neon Koi, continues below.
Today, I want to share some important updates from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Studio Business Group.
We consistently evaluate our games portfolio and status of our projects to ensure we are meeting near and long-term business priorities. As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen SIE’s Studio Business, we have had to make a difficult decision relating to two of our studios – Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios.
Expanding beyond PlayStation devices and crafting engaging online experiences alongside our single-player games are key focal areas for us as we evolve our revenue streams. We need to be strategic, though, in bringing our games to new platforms and recognize when our games fall short of meeting player expectations.
While mobile remains a priority growth area for the Studio Business, we are in the very early stage of our mobile efforts. To achieve success in this area we need to concentrate on titles that are in-line with PlayStation Studios’ pedigree and have the potential to reach more players globally.
With this re-focused approach, Neon Koi will close, and its mobile action game will not be moving forward. I want to express my gratitude to everyone at Neon Koi for their hard work and endless passion to innovate.
Regarding Firewalk, as announced in early September (An Important Update on Concord), certain aspects of Concord were exceptional, but others did not land with enough players, and as a result we took the game offline. We have spent considerable time these past few months exploring all our options.
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 PvP first person shooter genre is a competitive space that’s continuously evolving, and unfortunately, we did not hit our targets with this title. We will take the lessons learned from Concord and continue to advance our live service capabilities to deliver future growth in this area.
I know none of this is easy news to hear, particularly with colleagues and friends departing SIE. Both decisions were given serious thought, and ultimately, we feel they are the right ones to strengthen the organization. Neon Koi and Firewalk were home to many talented individuals, and we will work to find placement for some of those impacted within our global community of studios where possible.
I am a big believer in the benefits of embracing creative experimentation and developing new IP. However, growing through sustainable financials, especially in a challenged economic environment is critical.
While today is a difficult day, there is much to look forward to in the months ahead from the Studio Business Group and our teams. I remain confident that we are building a resilient and capable organization driven by creating unforgettable entertainment experiences for our players.
Thank you for your continued support.
About the Game
Assemble your crew of Freegunner space outlaws and team up online with friends for thrilling 5v5 PVP modes across the galaxy in Concord.
Concord is a new team-based first-person shooter for PS5® and PC*. Handpick your personal roster of Freegunners from the crew of the Northstar – a group of outlaws and adventurers working as guns-for-hire.
ASSEMBLE YOUR CREW
From powerful mystics to skilled gunslingers and helpful healers, each Freegunner brings their own unique skills, personality, and abilities that cater to a wide-range of playstyles.
Create your own custom squads of Freegunners with Crew Builder to bring an arsenal of different role types to the match or focus on your favourite characters to master their gameplay and unlock unique modifiers, cosmetics, background lore, and more – you decide when to play your characters and how you impact the match.
PLAY. PROGRESS. PERSONALIZE.
Earn and unlock a wide range of character customization items and learn more about the characters, worlds, and factions in the Concord Galaxy with the Galactic Guide.
You’ll also be able to progress toward and unlock Freegunner Variants—versions of each of the 16 Freegunners with added Combat Trait modifiers to their base abilities. As you learn and master the characters, Combat Traits empower you to tailor each character to your playstyle.
MODES FOR EVERY MOOD
With an array of objective and respawn-based modes with emphasis on teamplay, Concord has six different PVP modes that let you determine the level of challenge you are looking for.
NORTHSTAR CREW STORIES
As your journey in Concord unfolds, so will the stories of the Northstar crew. Each week, you will be greeted by new cinematic vignettes that deliver ongoing narratives that expand upon the characters and their adventures.
AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE
Alongside a day-one lineup of 16 playable Freegunners, six PVP modes, and 12 maps, the crew of the Northstar and the galaxy of Concord will grow through regular post-launch updates that introduce new Freegunners, Variant traits, game modes, maps and worlds, and weekly cinematic vignettes for no additional cost.
BUILT FOR PS5 AND PC
Team up with friends across both PlayStation®5 consoles and PC with seamless online cross-play support.
*PlayStation Network Account required, subject to the PlayStation Terms of Services and User Agreement.