San Mateo, California: Sony has made the decision to shut down Concord and its associated studio, Firewalk Studios, just two weeks after the release of the game. The closure comes as a result of poor sales and challenges faced by the game in the competitive team shooter market. Firewalk Studios’ game director, Ryan Ellis, has transitioned into a different role within the company following the struggles of Concord, and Sony has announced the termination of the project.
Hermen Hulst, from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Studio Business Group, stated, “After much consideration, we have concluded that the best course of action is to permanently end the game and close the studio.” This move results in 172 employees at Firewalk Studios losing their jobs. The online gaming industry is known for its harsh nature, and Concord may have struggled due to its lengthy development time, which allowed other games in the genre to establish themselves in the market.
Gamers today are accustomed to free-to-play models with in-game purchases, such as battle passes or seasonal content. Concord’s $40 price tag may have deterred potential players, or the game’s entry into an already saturated market may have made it challenging to gain a foothold. The closure of Firewalk Studios and the termination of Concord represent another setback in the game development world, plagued by layoffs and closures in recent years. The consolidation of the industry in the hands of a few major players could lead to a decrease in experimentation and tighter profit margins moving forward.
Recent events in the gaming industry have highlighted the challenges faced by developers, with closures like Firewalk Studios becoming more common. With companies like Netflix and Microsoft also facing closure of game development studios, the landscape of the gaming industry continues to shift. The closure of Concord and Firewalk Studios serves as a reminder of the volatile nature of the industry and the need for adaptability and innovation to thrive in the ever-changing market.