I think Concord's failure is different than other examples because it shows the niche it targeted is oversaturated. There are many games that fail spectacularly due to the same reason. We just don't see them because they tend to be smaller (just look at all the Vampire Survivors clones).
Great point! And it was one thing that I was thinking about before I started the piece and while I was writing it. Is the concept of yet another game in this really saturated genre the problem, rather than the game itself? Does this story actually work?
I landed on the idea of it being OK to draw a thread here as a point of interest, more as an interesting way to discuss redemption arcs in game launches. But like everyone, I'm really not sure exactly how this will play out. And I wrote that part towards the end very carefully considering this.
Either way, this one is on the list to revisit at a later date! Thanks for taking the time to read mate!
I wonder what the redemption arc would be? The game didn't appear to do anything wrong. It just didn't attract any interest. It doesn't need redemption - it needs an audience! My other take on this is that studios might over-emphasise 'captive' games as a bigger market than they are. Some people like playing one game and will rarely change their preferences. But most people like variety, not another escapist grind (and many of those who do have MMOs and JRPGs!).
I heard more about the game being taken off online that I did about its gameplay. That, and all the "woke" arguments around it. For me, it just didn't look interesting, and because it's a hero shooter I thought it was gonna be free, but it wasn't. Plus, with Marvel Rivals coming out, I'm not sure if Concord will be coming back any time soon.
Interesting. Yeah, I think the entry cost deterred a lot of people, including me.
Shows how much I'm into this genre, but this is the first I'm hearing of Marvel Rivals. Just looked it up, and point taken. Geez this space is hotly contested now. It's a bit ridiculous.
And just look how Marvel Rivals looks. The presentation of that game is fun, and while it is basically Overwatch, it's in third-person with Marvel characters. It has a couple of things making it pop. But yeah, too many hero shooters.
Console gaming is such a tricky industry to operate in. 8 years of development just to be crushed in a few days because numbers aren't there is insane. I still think they will try to make a comeback and milk some money from it but thats still though for the team.
Great post! Sony would be foolish to not at least try to get their money's worth out of Concord in some way. They really do seem to like shooting themselves in the foot at the moment though, so we'll see what happens down the line!
Never played TimeSplitters 2, but I've heard it is the best in the trilogy!
I'm keen to see where this ends up. But its interesting how games can launch and then evolve towards being successful. I'm making a note to revisit this next year, as I also think its a piece if NOTHING happens. Or at least a note!
TimeSplitters: I'd say Future Perfect has aged a little better than 2 mechanically, but 2 is considered the best in terms of unique settings and music.
Future Perfect (TimeSplitters 3) adds more voice acting and story telling, but they really dip into the wackiness of it all, and it can be overkill at times... like a bad stand-up set.
I find the evolution of larger, big-budget games fascinating. I don't think that's something anyone would have predicted before No Man's Sky really course corrected and showed developers that could be done.
Man, I'll just have to play TS2 and 3. I've only played the first one and it is a bare bones multiplayer game. No real single player story, just maps. It's fine for what it is (PS2 launch game), but the other titles sound so much more interesting.
The question about Concord is an interesting one. There's a bunch of different angles to look at but I think you're spot on about this being a business decision. Sony doesn't see a future with this game.
Will it come back with the PS5 Pro? Maybe there are console specific features that'll revive the game? But again, taking Concord off the shelf to make way for the next-gen console was probably the right thing to do from a marketing perspective.
Now they just need to deal with all the conversation around it's price 😬
I think the fact people needed to buy it was a huge factor in its failure, given so many of its peers are free to play!
Re PS5 Pro. It's a PR thing. So you get the bad news out of the way, and then to stop further discussion on it in press weeks later, you release something else big and shiny to take up column inches. The media only has so much time to cover each topic, so by grouping the announcements within a week of each other, they limit broader discussion on Concord.
But yeah, I literally just put on LinkedIn (so I'll say it here too) I've set a calendar note to revisit this in 12 months time. Don't really mind being wrong here, but I thought this was a good jumping point for discussing redemptions in gaming.
I would have loved to have tried it at least... but yeah. Online shooters aren't really my jam, and the entry cost (as opposed to others which are free to play) were a deterrent for me.
I think Concord's failure is different than other examples because it shows the niche it targeted is oversaturated. There are many games that fail spectacularly due to the same reason. We just don't see them because they tend to be smaller (just look at all the Vampire Survivors clones).
Great point! And it was one thing that I was thinking about before I started the piece and while I was writing it. Is the concept of yet another game in this really saturated genre the problem, rather than the game itself? Does this story actually work?
I landed on the idea of it being OK to draw a thread here as a point of interest, more as an interesting way to discuss redemption arcs in game launches. But like everyone, I'm really not sure exactly how this will play out. And I wrote that part towards the end very carefully considering this.
Either way, this one is on the list to revisit at a later date! Thanks for taking the time to read mate!
I wonder what the redemption arc would be? The game didn't appear to do anything wrong. It just didn't attract any interest. It doesn't need redemption - it needs an audience! My other take on this is that studios might over-emphasise 'captive' games as a bigger market than they are. Some people like playing one game and will rarely change their preferences. But most people like variety, not another escapist grind (and many of those who do have MMOs and JRPGs!).
I heard more about the game being taken off online that I did about its gameplay. That, and all the "woke" arguments around it. For me, it just didn't look interesting, and because it's a hero shooter I thought it was gonna be free, but it wasn't. Plus, with Marvel Rivals coming out, I'm not sure if Concord will be coming back any time soon.
Interesting. Yeah, I think the entry cost deterred a lot of people, including me.
Shows how much I'm into this genre, but this is the first I'm hearing of Marvel Rivals. Just looked it up, and point taken. Geez this space is hotly contested now. It's a bit ridiculous.
And just look how Marvel Rivals looks. The presentation of that game is fun, and while it is basically Overwatch, it's in third-person with Marvel characters. It has a couple of things making it pop. But yeah, too many hero shooters.
Console gaming is such a tricky industry to operate in. 8 years of development just to be crushed in a few days because numbers aren't there is insane. I still think they will try to make a comeback and milk some money from it but thats still though for the team.
Crushing isn't it!
Yeah, I hope something comes from this. Regardless, its sent ripples through the AAA game development industry.
Hoping Concord can be salvaged - people who enjoy it should be able to play it. Plenty of competent games out there - like TimeSplitters 2!
I'm genuinely curious here too! There's an interesting story of people playing it to get all the achievements ahead of it closing down on Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/playstation/448419/concord-gameplay-final-hours-close-servers-offline-time-date
There is some interest here at least.
And yeah, Timesplitters 2 is awesome. But wow it hasn't aged as well as I thought it would. Modern shooters are just so smooth!
Great post! Sony would be foolish to not at least try to get their money's worth out of Concord in some way. They really do seem to like shooting themselves in the foot at the moment though, so we'll see what happens down the line!
Never played TimeSplitters 2, but I've heard it is the best in the trilogy!
I'm keen to see where this ends up. But its interesting how games can launch and then evolve towards being successful. I'm making a note to revisit this next year, as I also think its a piece if NOTHING happens. Or at least a note!
TimeSplitters: I'd say Future Perfect has aged a little better than 2 mechanically, but 2 is considered the best in terms of unique settings and music.
Future Perfect (TimeSplitters 3) adds more voice acting and story telling, but they really dip into the wackiness of it all, and it can be overkill at times... like a bad stand-up set.
I find the evolution of larger, big-budget games fascinating. I don't think that's something anyone would have predicted before No Man's Sky really course corrected and showed developers that could be done.
Man, I'll just have to play TS2 and 3. I've only played the first one and it is a bare bones multiplayer game. No real single player story, just maps. It's fine for what it is (PS2 launch game), but the other titles sound so much more interesting.
Really fascinating to hear about these comebacks and failures - you're right it absolutely would not be acceptable in other industries
Imagine it with a startup industry. The founders, investors, and anyone involved would be publicly flayed.
Yeah, gaming is a weird and wacky space with business decisions. That's for sure.
The question about Concord is an interesting one. There's a bunch of different angles to look at but I think you're spot on about this being a business decision. Sony doesn't see a future with this game.
Will it come back with the PS5 Pro? Maybe there are console specific features that'll revive the game? But again, taking Concord off the shelf to make way for the next-gen console was probably the right thing to do from a marketing perspective.
Now they just need to deal with all the conversation around it's price 😬
I think the fact people needed to buy it was a huge factor in its failure, given so many of its peers are free to play!
Re PS5 Pro. It's a PR thing. So you get the bad news out of the way, and then to stop further discussion on it in press weeks later, you release something else big and shiny to take up column inches. The media only has so much time to cover each topic, so by grouping the announcements within a week of each other, they limit broader discussion on Concord.
But yeah, I literally just put on LinkedIn (so I'll say it here too) I've set a calendar note to revisit this in 12 months time. Don't really mind being wrong here, but I thought this was a good jumping point for discussing redemptions in gaming.
Genuinely believed was a couple aesthetic choices and a pve mode away from being a top tier live service.
I would have loved to have tried it at least... but yeah. Online shooters aren't really my jam, and the entry cost (as opposed to others which are free to play) were a deterrent for me.
its so weird because the entry cost is what tempted me to play it in the first place.
1. $40 Entry means harder for cheaters/bots
2. No BattlePass
3. Standard Progression
4. Weekly Cinematic Story Cutscenes
5. With an already announced Roadmap at the time.
i wished the market for these shooters was more nuanced since its already technically saturated.