Concord: Sony's 8-Year Development Hero Shooter Revealed

Concord, Sony’s new live service hero shooter, has been in development for approximately eight years, with the game launching for Digital Deluxe Edition owners on PlayStation 5 and PC. Lead character designer Jon Weisnewski celebrated this milestone, noting that while the game’s development has been lengthy, the team is committed to supporting it moving forward. However, concerns about its viability as a live service game have emerged due to low pre-launch player numbers on Steam. Concord, launching amidst a crowded market of live service shooters, mirrors the challenges faced by other major titles and reflects Sony's recent strategic shifts following layoffs and cancellations within its gaming divisions.

Concord faces several challenges, including low player engagement on PC pre-launch, intense competition in the crowded live service shooter market, and pressures stemming from its lengthy development cycle amidst a backdrop of industry layoffs and cancellations.

Background information on Concord reveals it as a 5v5 first-person shooter, aligning with Sony's trend of releasing titles simultaneously on both PS5 and PC. This strategic move follows the successful launch of Helldivers 2, indicating a potential focus on cross-platform engagement. The game also connects to the broader narrative of rising development costs in the gaming industry, exemplified by recent high-profile failures like Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Players will be keen to see how Concord navigates these complexities in the coming months.