Concord Is Officially Dead, Studio Axed

Summary

The video discusses the disastrous launch and rapid shutdown of *Concord*, a game developed by Firewalk Studios and backed by Sony. Despite substantial investment, the game failed to attract players, leading Sony to pull it from shelves and permanently close Firewalk. The video critiques Sony's shortsighted corporate decisions, particularly the focus on immediate financial gains rather than long-term innovation. The failure of *Concord* is framed as a stark example of the gaming industry’s growing trend of prioritizing trends and profits over creativity, with a call for Sony to return to its roots of producing quality, innovative games.

Takeaways

• 😀 The game *Concord* was pulled from store shelves shortly after launch due to a disastrous release, marking one of the biggest failures in AAA gaming history.
• 😔 Sony invested heavily in Firewalk Studios, but the game failed to meet market expectations, leading to the studio’s closure.
• 💸 Sony’s decision to shut down Firewalk was influenced by short-term financial pressures from investors, prioritizing immediate cost-saving over long-term growth.
• ⚠️ Despite its flaws, *Concord* had some polish and competence in its design, indicating that the developers at Firewalk had potential that was not fully realized.
• 🔮 Sony’s attempt to relaunch *Concord* in a free-to-play model would likely have been unsuccessful due to a lack of market interest and the ongoing cost of maintaining an online game.
• 💔 The closure of Firewalk after a single failure exemplifies the current trend of short-sighted decision-making in the gaming industry, where one bad product can end a studio's career.
• 🏢 Sony’s decision to close Firewalk, despite its talented team, reflects a corporate culture that values financial returns over nurturing creative talent and innovation.
• 😓 The game *Concord* is now seen as a massive failure, with its reputation tarnished, making the brand almost impossible to recover or relaunch.
• 🕹️ The script criticizes the trend of chasing market trends instead of focusing on what made a company successful—creating quality, innovative games.
• 💥 Sony’s actions mirror those of other corporate giants like EA, Activision, and Ubisoft, who are often criticized for prioritizing profit over creativity, leading to a loss of industry trust.
• 🌟 The failure of *Concord* and the closing of Firewalk have left a sense of disillusionment, as many believed Sony could have done more to foster the studio’s potential.

Q & A

What was the main reason behind the failure of *Concord*?

The main reason for *Concord*'s failure was its disastrous launch, with poor reception, low player interest, and high expectations that were not met. It struggled to attract players, which ultimately led to Sony pulling the game from stores and dlisting it.

How did Sony respond to the failure of *Concord*?

Sony decided to shut down Firewalk Studios, the developer behind *Concord*, and permanently sunset the game. This decision was made after Sony determined that continuing to support *Concord*, even with a potential free-to-play model, would not yield enough success to justify the costs.

What was Firewalk Studios' role in the development of *Concord*?

Firewalk Studios was the developer of *Concord*. They were acquired by Sony to work on the game, which was meant to be a competitive PvP first-person shooter, but it failed to meet expectations in both gameplay and player engagement.

What lessons does Sony claim to have learned from the failure of *Concord*?

Sony mentioned that they learned lessons about the competitive nature of the PvP first-person shooter genre and acknowledged that *Concord* did not meet player expectations. However, the exact nature of these lessons was left unclear, with the speaker expressing doubt about what Sony actually learned.

Why did Sony decide to shut down Firewalk Studios despite the money invested?

Sony shut down Firewalk Studios due to *Concord*'s failure to meet financial targets. They prioritized saving money in the short term, focusing on immediate returns for investors, rather than taking a longer-term approach to support the studio and the potential of future games.

How does the speaker feel about Sony’s decision to close Firewalk Studios?

The speaker feels frustrated and disappointed by Sony’s decision, arguing that it reflects a shortsighted corporate mentality that sacrifices long-term potential and innovation for immediate financial gain. They also criticize Sony for abandoning talented developers and creative teams.

What comparison is made between Sony and other major gaming companies?

The speaker compares Sony to other big gaming corporations like EA, Activision, and Ubisoft, suggesting that Sony has now become just another greedy, soulless corporation focused on profits rather than innovation or the player experience.

What does the speaker suggest Sony should focus on instead of following trends?

The speaker suggests that Sony should focus on what made them famous: creating good games, particularly single-player games, with a strong creative drive, rather than trying to chase trends or copy other successful titles in the market.

What impact has the failure of *Concord* had on Sony's reputation?

The failure of *Concord* has significantly tarnished Sony's reputation. The speaker argues that Sony has lost its identity as a leading innovator in gaming and is now seen as just another corporate entity prioritizing profits over quality and creativity.

Is there any possibility of *Concord* making a comeback in the future?

Although *Concord* as a brand is essentially dead, the speaker acknowledges that there is a slim possibility that elements of the game, such as its lore or intellectual property, could be reused in the future, though this seems unlikely given its poor reception.