Sony Flop 'Concord' Still Receiving Steam Updates

Despite its swift removal from digital stores shortly after launch, Sony's ill-fated hero shooter, Concord, continues to receive updates on Steam. This unexpected activity has sparked considerable speculation within the gaming community.

Concord's SteamDB Update Spree Fuels Speculation

Free-to-Play Relaunch or Gameplay Overhaul? Theories Abound

Remember Concord? The hero shooter that fizzled out faster than a damp squib? While officially unavailable since September 6th, its Steam page shows a surprising number of updates.

Since September 29th, SteamDB logs over 20 updates for Concord, attributed to accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping." These account names suggest the updates might focus on backend fixes and improvements, with "QAE" possibly indicating "Quality Assurance Engineer."

Concord's August launch aimed to disrupt the hero shooter market with a $40 price tag – a risky move against free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. The launch was disastrous; within two weeks, Sony pulled the plug and issued refunds. Low player numbers and overwhelmingly negative reviews effectively declared it dead on arrival.

So, why the continued updates for a seemingly defunct game? Ryan Ellis, then-Game Director at Firewalk Studios, hinted at exploring options to better reach players in the shutdown announcement. This, coupled with the ongoing updates, fuels speculation of a potential relaunch, possibly as a free-to-play title. This could address the criticism of its high price point.

Given Sony's substantial investment (reportedly up to $400 million), attempts to salvage the project aren't surprising. The updates suggest Firewalk Studios might be overhauling the game, adding features, and addressing criticisms of weak character design and uninspired gameplay.

However, this remains purely speculation. Sony's silence shrouds Concord's future. Will it return with improved mechanics, broader appeal, or a new monetization strategy? Only Firewalk Studios and Sony know for sure. Even a free-to-play transition would face a tough battle for attention in a saturated market.

For now, Concord remains unavailable, and Sony offers no official statements. Whether it rises from the ashes remains to be seen.