Sony Acknowledges Concord's Downfall and Plans Major Changes
- Concord, developed by Firewalk Studios, failed spectacularly with a budget of $200 million.
- Sony acknowledged poor consumer reception, emphasizing the need for early user testing.
- The failure of Concord will lead to significant changes in Sony's approach to future game development.
Concord, a video game developed by Firewalk Studios, became one of the largest failures in gaming history, attributed to its $200 million budget. During a recent earnings call, Sony discussed the negative reception received since the game's cinematic trailer was released, which sparked a significant amount of dislike among viewers. Feedback indicated a lack of consumer interest, driven by its generic aesthetic and an oversaturated hero shooter market. Sony has expressed a commitment to improve future projects by implementing more rigorous user testing and evaluations earlier in the development process. The company recognized the need for 'gates' that would enable better assessment of player interest prior to broader release. The failure of Concord serves as a cautionary tale about not gauging market demand before developing new IPs. Sony has several upcoming projects, including Marathon from Bungie. This title is undergoing community playtesting, and while its aesthetics received praise, concerns remain about its appeal within the competitive extraction shooter genre. The contrast of these two games highlights the importance of understanding the player's expectations in a crowded marketplace. Ultimately, Concord's missteps are prompting Sony to reevaluate how it approaches game design and marketing, hoping to avoid such a disaster in the future.