PlayStation is in turmoil: the company is going to shut down the game’s servers Concorda “hero shooter” released two weeks ago on PlayStation 5 and PC by its studio Firewalk.
The game is no longer available to purchase on Steam or the PlayStation store, and the servers will be shut down on September 6.
Concord was released on August 23, but it made headlines for the wrong reasons: the game was poorly received and the servers weren’t busy enough. Faced with this disastrous launch, Firewalk spoke out on the PlayStation blog Tuesday noon.
“We have decided to take the game offline as of September 6, 2024 and explore options, including those that will better reach our players,” said Ryan Ellis, Concord Game Director. “While we determine the best path forward, sales of Concord will cease immediately and we will begin offering full refunds to all players who purchased the game for PS5 or PC.”
The blog post is very short. And while Ellis does talk about exploring options in the future, the fate of Concord remains nebulous.
Just look at the numbers of simultaneous players on SteamDB to find that the game was not going well. Concord had a peak of 697 players on Steam, and while that doesn’t count players elsewhere, it’s still very low. It’s worth noting that this is a PvP (player-versus-player) game, so people must be showing up. Looking at the graph on SteamDB, there were 33 players logged in as of Tuesday morning. For comparison: 23,000 people are playing Cyberpunk 2077 via Steam at the time of this writing.
Concord will perhaps rise again as did Cyberpunk 2077 after its own disastrous launch. As a reminder, CD Projekt studio had to refund players when it launched Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020 due to a slew of bugs, but it has regained the trust of players with excellent updates and hard work. It is unclear at this time whether PlayStation and Firewalk will attempt to save Concord. Or if it is possible.
There is still some positive on the horizon for PlayStation. Its studio Team Asobi is about to launch Astrobota game for which the craze is very promising. You can also read our first impressions of the game right here.
For refunds:
- PlayStation Store/PlayStation Direct : Refunds will be returned to the original payment method within 30-60 days. If the original payment source is not available, the amount will be credited to the PSN wallet.
- Boutique Steam : Refunds will be processed within the next few days, and confirmations will be sent once they have been processed.
- Boutique Epic Games : Refunds will also be made in the coming days and customers will receive direct confirmation.
- Physical copies: Customers must follow the refund procedure of the relevant retailer.
PlayStation in Turmoil: Server Shutdown for Underperforming Game Concord
In a shocking move, PlayStation has announced the shutdown of its game servers for Concord, a ”hero shooter” released just two weeks ago on PlayStation 5 and PC by its studio Firewalk. The game’s poor reception and lack of players have led to this decision, with the servers scheduled to go offline on September 6, 2024.
A Disastrous Launch
Concord was released on August 23, but it made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The game received negative reviews, and the servers struggled to attract a significant player base. According to SteamDB, the game’s peak player count on Steam was a mere 697, with only 33 players logged in as of Tuesday morning. This is a stark contrast to popular games like Cyberpunk 2077, which has over 23,000 players online at the time of writing.
The Fate of Concord Remains Uncertain
In a brief blog post on the PlayStation blog, Ryan Ellis, Concord Game Director, announced the shutdown of the game’s servers, citing the need to “explore options” to better reach players. While Ellis hinted at a possible revival, the future of Concord remains uncertain.
Refunds for Players
As a result of the shutdown, sales of Concord have ceased, and players who purchased the game for PS5 or PC will be eligible for full refunds. PlayStation Store and PlayStation Direct customers can expect refunds to be returned to the original payment method within 30-60 days. If the original payment source is no longer available, the amount will be credited to their PlayStation wallet.
A Lesson from Cyberpunk 2077
Concord’s struggles are reminiscent of the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, which was marred by bugs and glitches. However, CD Projekt’s studio worked tirelessly to update and improve the game, eventually regaining the trust of players. It remains to be seen if PlayStation and Firewalk will attempt to salvage Concord, or if it will become a cautionary tale in the gaming industry.
A Bright Spot for PlayStation
While Concord’s shutdown is a setback for PlayStation, the company’s studio Team Asobi is gearing up to launch Astrobot, a game that has generated significant buzz. Our first impressions of the game are available to read here, offering a glimmer of hope for the console giant.
Key Takeaways
Concord, a “hero shooter” released on August 23, will have its servers shut down on September 6, 2024.
The game received negative reviews and struggled to attract players, with a peak player count of 697 on Steam.
Players who purchased the game for PS5 or PC will be eligible for full refunds.
The future of Concord remains uncertain, with the possibility of a revival or reboot.
* This move serves as a reminder of the importance of quality control and player feedback in game development.
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