Sony Cancels Concord Game and Shuts Down Firewalk Studios Development Team

In a bid to see their new acquisition, Firewalk Studios, flourish, Sony attempted to launch Concord as a significant title. However, the game was discontinued merely two weeks post-launch, leading to the studio’s closure in an effort to mitigate financial losses.

The exact financial impact of Concord on Sony remains ambiguous, but it certainly didn’t generate any returns, especially with all game purchases being refunded following the server shutdown. Reports suggest that the development costs for Concord may have ranged from $200 million to $400 million.

Rather than rebuilding Concord or leveraging the existing talent at Firewalk Studios for a different project, Sony has opted to completely shut down the studio just a year and a half after its acquisition according to press releases.

“While certain features of Concord were remarkable, others failed to engage players sufficiently, leading us to take the game offline. These past few months were spent thoroughly assessing our options,” stated Herman Hulst, the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Business Studios, in an internal communication.

“After extensive consideration, we’ve concluded that the most effective step forward is to permanently discontinue the game and close the studio. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone at Firewalk for their exceptional craftsmanship, innovative spirit, and unwavering dedication.”

Hulst made it clear that Concord is officially discontinued, dismissing any rumors of a potential revival. The decision has been made to cut losses and pursue new directions.

He also noted that Sony will continue to strengthen its investment in live services despite previous challenges encountered in that sector.

“The competitive nature of the PvP first-person shooter arena is ever-evolving, and regrettably, we did not meet our objectives with this title. We’ll draw from the lessons learned during the Concord experience to enhance our live service expertise and ensure future growth,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, there was no mention in the email regarding the fate of their episode in Secret Levels, leaving its current status uncertain until we see it in the upcoming Amazon show.

In their final farewell message, Firewalk Studios expressed their pride in their achievements and the community of players, signifying a heartfelt goodbye as they “sign off one last time.”

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