Firewalk Studios, the developer behind PlayStation live-service hero shooter Concord, has reportedly lost its lead director following a disastrous launch of the game.
Kotaku’s Ethan Gach reports that game director Ryan Ellis informed staff last week that he would be stepping down from the role and transitioning into a support position, according to multiple sources.
Ellis has been the spokesperson for the studio, with his name appearing in all official statements from PlayStation regarding the game, including the one that announced the game’s closure after just two weeks, removal from online stores, and issuance of refunds across all platforms.
“While many aspects of the game resonated with players, we also understand that certain elements of the game and its initial launch did not meet our expectations,” reads the statement.
“Ryan truly believed in the project and uniting players through it,” a former developer told Kotaku. “Regardless of potential developmental improvements… he is a compassionate person with a lot of heart.”
Sources claim that the rest of the team is waiting to learn about their future following the removal of Concord to explore options that could lead to a better reception among players. While a potential comeback is on the table, many are doubtful and are preparing their resumes and portfolios.
“Some are being encouraged to develop pitches for entirely new projects that Firewalk, currently consisting of 150-170 employees, may pursue next,” according to Gach.
However, Gach also confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday that the company struggled with a “head in the sand mentality” and “toxic positivity,” issues that fellow Sony Interactive Entertainment studio Bungie reportedly faced before a major restructuring in August.
Concord stands out as one of the most significant video game failures in recent history. Launched on PlayStation 5 and PC on August 20, it struggled to attract a player base. Within a week, it had fewer than 700 concurrent players on Steam, and, as reported by analyst Simon Carless, it sold around 25,000 units in total after about eight years of development. The game went offline on September 6.
