Sony Bombshell: Updates Roll Out for Notorious 'Concord'

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 or Gameplay Overhaul? The Possibilities Abound

Remember Concord? The hero shooter that fizzled out faster than a damp squib? Despite its official shutdown on 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 improvements and quality assurance ("QAE" likely stands for Quality Assurance Engineer).

Concord's August launch was a significant misstep. Priced at $40, it faced stiff competition from established free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The launch was disastrous, leading to Sony pulling the game and issuing refunds within two weeks. Poor player reception and overwhelmingly negative reviews sealed its fate.

The continued updates are puzzling. However, Ryan Ellis, then-Game Director at Firewalk Studios, hinted at exploring alternative strategies in the shutdown announcement, including methods to better engage players. This fuels speculation of a potential comeback, possibly as a free-to-play title. This shift could address the criticism of its high 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 rectifying the initial criticisms of weak characters and uninspired gameplay.

While unconfirmed, Sony remains silent on Concord's future. Will it return with refined mechanics, broader appeal, or a revamped monetization strategy? Only Firewalk Studios and Sony possess the answer. Even as a free-to-play title, it faces an uphill battle in a saturated market.

Currently, Concord remains unavailable, and Sony offers no official statement. Only time will reveal if these speculations hold merit or if Concord will truly rise from the ashes.