Concord Closes Servers: Will It Return as Free-to-Play Doubts Arise

Sony's live service game, Concord, saw its servers shut down less than two weeks after launch due to low player engagement and poor sales, reportedly around 25,000 units. Industry experts have labeled this situation as unprecedented, noting that despite its competitive gameplay design, the game failed to resonate with players. Discussions among fans center on whether Concord could return as a free-to-play title, yet many express doubt about its viability given the lack of interest and the saturated market of live service games. Following its shutdown, some hope for a revival while acknowledging that fundamental changes would be necessary in its gameplay and structure to attract an audience.

While there is speculation about Concord potentially returning as a free-to-play game, experts believe its current state is too soundly rejected by players for that change to be successful without significant alterations to its design and appeal.

Concord was developed by Firewalk Studios and was part of PlayStation's push into live service games. It had a disappointing launch compared to other titles in the genre, making it one of the most notable failures in recent gaming history. Despite these setbacks, Concord has made an appearance in the upcoming Prime Video anthology series, "Secret Level," which includes other popular franchises like God of War and Mega Man, potentially keeping the property's name in circulation.