Sony Shuts Down Game Concord After Launch Issues

Sony and Firewalk Studios have announced the shutdown of their recently released game Concord just two weeks after its launch on August 23, 2024, due to severe player backlash and disappointing sales figures. The game, which was criticized for its design choices and perceived promotion of 'woke' ideologies, will be taken offline on September 6, 2024, with full refunds being issued to all players who purchased it on PS5 or PC. Game Director Ryan Ellis acknowledged that while some aspects of the game resonated with players, others did not meet expectations, and the studio aims to explore better options moving forward. Concord struggled with low player counts from the outset, with peak concurrent players reaching only 2,388 during its Open Beta. Firewalk Studios had invested significant resources into the game, estimated to be between $100 million and $200 million, marking this as a costly failure for Sony. The future of the game remains uncertain as the studio considers its next steps.