Concord Dev Thanks Fans For Their Support But Admits, "None Of Us Know What's Next"

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous gaming titles, I can’t help but feel a pang of empathy for the team at Firewalk Studios, particularly Jon Weisnewski, the lead character designer of Concord. The challenges they faced during development, from multiple acquisitions to engine upgrades, pandemic delays, and the unforgiving market of arena shooters, are not unfamiliar terrains for us gamers.


The most recent major title from PlayStation, the multiplayer shooting game Concord, was released in late August but faced such significant issues at launch that Sony chose to halt sales and deactivate it starting September 6. The game’s lead character designer, Jon Weisnewski, has expressed gratitude to fans in anticipation of the server shutdown, while expressing uncertainty about what lies ahead for the studio

On social media, Weisnewski shared that the Firewalk Studios team is full of determined individuals who managed to create Concord under a variety of tough circumstances. These situations ranged from several acquisitions, such as Sony’s purchase in 2023, to an upgrade of the engine from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5. Weisnewski additionally highlighted that Concord was developed during the pandemic and experienced delays, yet he emphasized that “it’s remarkable we managed to release it at all.”

To all who attended Concord, thank you. Your positivity and constructive feedback amidst the chaos was incredibly valuable to everyone at Firewalk. Creating a positive community was our goal, and we noticed each one of your streams, posts, discussions, and even emojis. We saw everything!

Regarding the future, Weisnewski confessed that none of us can predict what lies ahead, however, I am certain that this team possesses an extraordinary surge of energy when confronted with a challenge

When Sony revealed that Concord was closing, game director Ryan Ellis commented, “Although numerous elements of the game struck a chord with players, we are aware that other parts and our initial release didn’t quite hit the mark as planned.”

Ellis mentioned that the team plans to investigate various strategies to more effectively connect with their players, hinting at a possible future return of the game. However, it’s essential to note that this isn’t definitive yet. At present, Sony is offering refunds to everyone. If Concord reappears in the market, which some speculate might happen under a new model, many are curious about what unique elements it could introduce to stand out amidst the competition in the arena shooter genre. Some skeptics argue that Concord may struggle for success, even with changes

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that Concord, a groundbreaking game, is the debut production from Firewalk Studios. An extraordinary team of developers, who have contributed significantly to iconic games such as Call of Duty, Destiny, Apex Legends, and Halo, founded this studio. When Sony took over Firewalk from ProbablyMonsters in 2023, the team was a mighty force of approximately 150 talented individuals. Interestingly, Sony and Firewalk had been collaborating for quite some time before the acquisition

In 2023, Sony announced that Firewalk would aid their endeavor to shape the future of interactive experiences for PlayStation gamers, focusing on a new generation of live-service games. Additionally, Sony is collaborating with Jade Raymond’s team at Haven, known for their work on Assassin’s Creed, on a multiplayer game titled Fairgame$, which revolves around heists. However, it should be noted that Sony is reducing its commitment to live-service projects

Initially, Sony intended to launch approximately ten live-service games by 2026, however, they subsequently reduced this number in half, signaling a shift towards prioritizing quality over quantity in their projects. Regrettably, Naughty Dog’s highly anticipated project, The Last of Us Online, which was previously touted as the studio’s most ambitious game, has been canceled

As per a report, one of the final significant decisions made by former PlayStation head, Jim Ryan, involved ordering PlayStation teams to produce more games-as-a-service titles. This move reportedly upset several PlayStation developers, and industry veteran Connie Booth appears to have been singled out for criticism. After 30 years with PlayStation, Booth departed in October 2023 without any official explanation given. Some speculate that she was dismissed from her role. Now, Booth holds an executive position at Electronic Arts

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2024-09-05 18:16