Despite its swift demise weeks after launch, Concord, Sony's ill-fated hero shooter, continues to receive updates on Steam, sparking considerable speculation among gamers. This article delves into these mysterious updates and explores the possibilities they suggest.
Concord's SteamDB Update Mystery: Speculation Runs Rampant
Free-to-Play Resurgence? Gameplay Overhaul? Theories Abound
Remember Concord? The hero shooter that fizzled faster than a damp squib? While officially offline since September 6th, its Steam page shows a surprising flurry of activity.
Since September 29th, SteamDB logs indicate over 20 updates, originating from accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping." These account names strongly suggest internal Sony teams, possibly Quality Assurance Engineers ("QAE"), focusing on backend improvements and bug fixes.
Concord's August launch was a high-profile flop. Its $40 price tag proved a significant hurdle in a market dominated by free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The game's poor reception led to its rapid delisting and refunds for players. Critical reviews were overwhelmingly negative, effectively declaring it "dead on arrival."
So why the continued updates? Ryan Ellis, former Firewalk Studios Game Director, hinted at exploring alternative strategies in the shutdown announcement, including methods to better reach the player base. This fuels ongoing speculation of a potential relaunch, possibly as a free-to-play title. This would address the major criticism of its initial paid model.
Given Sony's substantial investment—reportedly up to $400 million—attempts to salvage the project are understandable. The updates suggest Firewalk Studios might be overhauling the game, adding features and addressing past criticisms, such as underwhelming characters and uninspired gameplay.
However, this remains pure conjecture. Sony's silence regarding Concord's future is deafening. Will it return with refined mechanics, broader appeal, or a revised monetization strategy? Only Firewalk Studios and Sony possess the answers. Even a free-to-play transition wouldn't guarantee success in such a competitive landscape.
Currently, Concord remains unavailable for purchase, and Sony offers no official statements. Whether this troubled title can rise from the ashes remains to be seen.
