Sony kills off Concord creator, dashing any hopes of the PS5 game returning
It's all over for Concord, though the writing was already on the wall
💀 Concord is officially dead
📆 The game was shutdown on August 23, 2024, but there was a hope it could return
🪦 However, Sony has now closed the game’s creator Firewalk Studios
😢 Sony also shut down mobile game developer Neon
Concord will not be returning as Sony has closed the game’s creator, Firewalk Studios. The Japanese company is also shutting down mobile game developer Neon Koi.
Sony announced Concord would be taken offline two weeks after it launched in August. The game failed to break 700 players when it released on Steam, and PS5 player numbers were equally dire.
Full refunds were offered to those who bought the game, but some hoped Concord could return under a new guise or in a revised form. Clearly, that won’t be the case and the game is gone for good.
PlayStation co-CEO Hermen Hulst made the following statement regarding Firewalk Studios closure in an internal email, which has been published on Sony Interactive’s website.
“Dear Team,
“Today, I want to share some important updates from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Studio Business Group.
“We consistently evaluate our games portfolio and status of our projects to ensure we are meeting near and long-term business priorities. As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen SIE’s Studio Business, we have had to make a difficult decision relating to two of our studios – Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios.
“Expanding beyond PlayStation devices and crafting engaging online experiences alongside our single-player games are key focal areas for us as we evolve our revenue streams. We need to be strategic, though, in bringing our games to new platforms and recognize when our games fall short of meeting player expectations.
“While mobile remains a priority growth area for the Studio Business, we are in the very early stage of our mobile efforts. To achieve success in this area we need to concentrate on titles that are in-line with PlayStation Studios’ pedigree and have the potential to reach more players globally.
“With this re-focused approach, Neon Koi will close, and its mobile action game will not be moving forward. I want to express my gratitude to everyone at Neon Koi for their hard work and endless passion to innovate.
“Regarding Firewalk, as announced in early September, certain aspects of Concord were exceptional, but others did not land with enough players, and as a result we took the game offline. We have spent considerable time these past few months exploring all our options.
“After much thought, we have determined the best path forward is to permanently sunset the game and close the studio. I want to thank all of Firewalk for their craftsmanship, creative spirit and dedication.
“The PvP first person shooter genre is a competitive space that’s continuously evolving, and unfortunately, we did not hit our targets with this title. We will take the lessons learned from Concord and continue to advance our live service capabilities to deliver future growth in this area.
“I know none of this is easy news to hear, particularly with colleagues and friends departing SIE. Both decisions were given serious thought, and ultimately, we feel they are the right ones to strengthen the organization. Neon Koi and Firewalk were home to many talented individuals, and we will work to find placement for some of those impacted within our global community of studios where possible.
“I am a big believer in the benefits of embracing creative experimentation and developing new IP. However, growing through sustainable financials, especially in a challenged economic environment is critical.
“While today is a difficult day, there is much to look forward to in the months ahead from the Studio Business Group and our teams. I remain confident that we are building a resilient and capable organization driven by creating unforgettable entertainment experiences for our players.
“Thank you for your continued support.”
Sony acquired Firewalk Studios last year, and had high hopes that Concord could be its next big success. It even released a limited edition Concord PS5 controller. However, the game reportedly sold 25,000 copies and received “mixed or average” reviews on Metacritic.
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.