Concord's Troubling Launch: A Major Misstep for PlayStation
- PlayStation's Concord, a hero shooter game, did not reach 700 concurrent players on its launch day on Steam.
- The game had been in development for eight years but failed to attract a large player base initially.
- The low player count at launch raises questions about the game's popularity and potential success.
In a surprising turn of events, PlayStation's highly anticipated game, Concord, has launched to dismal numbers, peaking at just 697 concurrent players on Steam. Despite being in development for eight years, the game has failed to attract a significant player base, raising concerns about its viability in the competitive gaming market. While some argue that Concord is not primarily a Steam title, comparisons to other games, such as Sony's Helldivers 2, highlight the stark contrast in player engagement, with Helldivers 2 enjoying much higher numbers shortly after its release. The launch of Concord has drawn unfavorable comparisons to last year's poorly received Gollum game, which managed to attract more players at launch. Observers note that the game's lack of appeal, rather than its quality, is the primary reason for its underwhelming performance. As it stands, Concord risks becoming one of the worst major game launches in history if current trends continue. Compounding the issue is the game's unclear revenue model, which was marketed as a selling point. Unlike typical live service games that rely on microtransactions, Concord's strategy raises questions about its long-term sustainability, especially with such a limited player base. The developers have outlined a roadmap for future content, but the potential for investment remains uncertain given the current player engagement. Ultimately, the failure of Concord underscores a broader issue in the gaming industry: the creation of titles that players neither wanted nor needed. As the gaming community reflects on this launch, it serves as a cautionary tale for future projects.