Following the disappointing launch of Concord last month, Ryan Ellis, the Director of the game, has decided to step down. Sony took the drastic step of pulling the game from sale and offering refunds to all purchasers.
Since the game was taken offline, there has been a lack of communication regarding the future of Concord and the impact on the employees at Firewalk Studios. According to sources within the development team, Ellis, who previously worked at Bungie on Destiny 2, will now take on a supporting role at the company.
With Sony remaining silent on the matter, speculation is rife about what lies ahead for Firewalk and Concord. Considering the significant investment and effort put into the game’s development, it seems unlikely that Concord will be abandoned entirely. Despite the rough launch, the core gameplay was enjoyable, featuring exciting first-person shooting and unique character loadouts. Our review of Concord gave it an 8/10, highlighting its potential for success in the future.
While Concord initially aimed to break away from the typical free-to-play model, it struggled to attract players with its upfront price tag. Transitioning to a free-to-play format may be the best way forward, requiring careful consideration of monetization strategies and content delivery.
Offering Concord to PlayStation Plus subscribers is one option, but the fate of the PC version remains uncertain. Sony may choose to focus on its PlayStation audience, leaving the PC platform behind.
Alternatively, Firewalk may pivot to support other PlayStation Studios, or face the unfortunate prospect of layoffs and potential closure. However, there is still hope for Concord’s revival, with a strong game at its core that could find success with the right relaunch strategy.
