Concord, Sony's Major Flop, Continues to Get Updates on Steam

Despite its swift demise, Sony's hero shooter, Concord, continues to receive updates on Steam weeks after its removal from digital stores. This unexpected activity has sparked widespread speculation among gamers.

Concord's Post-Launch Updates Fuel Speculation

Free-to-Play Relaunch or Gameplay Overhaul? The Mystery Deepens

Remember Concord? The hero shooter that flopped spectacularly? While officially offline since September 6th, its Steam page shows a surprising number of updates.

SteamDB data reveals over 20 updates since September 29th, attributed to accounts like "pmtest," "sonyqae," and "sonyqae_shipping." These account names suggest a focus on backend improvements and quality assurance.

Concord's August launch, priced at $40, faced immediate challenges competing with free-to-play giants like Overwatch, Valorant, and Apex Legends. Its poor reception led to a quick delisting and refunds for players. The game was widely considered a failure.

So, why the continued updates? Firewalk Studios' former Game Director, Ryan Ellis, hinted at exploring options to better reach players. This, coupled with the updates, fuels speculation of a potential free-to-play relaunch. Removing the purchase barrier could address a major criticism of the original release.

Sony's substantial investment—reportedly up to $400 million—makes an attempt to salvage the project plausible. The ongoing updates suggest a possible game overhaul, adding new features and addressing criticisms of weak characters and uninspired gameplay.

However, Sony remains silent on Concord's future. The possibility of a revamped game with improved mechanics, broader appeal, or a new monetization model remains purely speculative. Even a free-to-play model faces an uphill battle in a saturated market.

Currently, Concord remains unavailable, and official announcements are absent. Only time will tell if these updates signal a resurrection, or if Concord remains a cautionary tale in game development.