Following a turbulent launch with low player counts and mixed reviews, PlayStation’s live-service hero shooter Concord is shutting down, with developers issuing full refunds.
Game director Ryan Ellis of Firewalk Studios made the announcement in a PlayStation blog post on Tuesday, citing the need for time to “determine the best path ahead.” Consequently, the game will be removed from digital stores and taken offline on Friday, September 6, just two weeks after its launch.
“While many aspects of the experience were well-received by players, we acknowledge that certain elements of the game and the initial launch did not meet our intentions,” Ellis wrote. “Therefore, we have decided to take the game offline starting September 6, 2024, and explore alternative options that better cater to our players.”
The developers are also offering full refunds to game owners. PlayStation users will receive refunds to their original payment methods, while Steam and Epic Games Store players can expect refunds in the coming days. Those who bought the game from a retailer like Amazon will need to contact the retailer directly for a refund.
Although the blog post does not specify what Firewalk Studios will focus on to revamp the game, there have been numerous criticisms from both reviewers and players. Whether Concord missed the hero-shooter trend, lacked originality, needed gameplay adjustments, or players were fatigued with live-service games, the team has plenty to address if they intend to relaunch Concord successfully.
Concord underwent an eight-year development period, according to lead character designer Jon Weisnewski. After being acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2023, Firewalk Studios was committed to three seasons, with the first season, Tempest, set to launch in October. The game also had two beta phases in July, during which all playable characters were available.
