Sony Shuts Down Firewalk Studios After Concord's Disastrous Launch

Firewalk Studios Shuts Down: The End of Concord

Sony is making significant changes within its gaming division, announcing the closure of Firewalk Studios, the development team behind the ill-fated PlayStation game Concord. This decision comes in the wake of a rocky launch that saw the game go offline shortly after its release.

Context Behind the Closure

In a message sent to PlayStation staff, Hermen Hulst, CEO of the PlayStation studio business group, addressed the situation. He stated, "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." With this decision, Firewalk Studios is being closed alongside Neon Koi, another mobile game development studio.

What's Next for Sony's Gaming Strategy?

Hulst did not shy away from discussing the disappointing performance of Concord, noting that it "didn’t hit Sony’s targets." He emphasized that the lessons learned from this experience will help the company to strengthen its live service capabilities for future projects.

Disastrous Launch and Poor Sales

Concord premiered on August 23rd on both PS5 and PC, but by September 6th, the game was taken offline due to underwhelming sales. Reports estimate that the game sold fewer than 25,000 copies at launch. Furthermore, its all-time peak player count on Steam reached only 697, which is lower than the launch peak of the poorly reviewed game The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

What Does This Mean for Gamers?

The closure of Firewalk Studios is a significant blow for both its talented team and the gaming community that anticipated Concord’s promise. This development indicates a shift in Sony's strategy, as they plan to reassess and refine their approach to live service titles moving forward. Fans may wonder what lies ahead for the talented developers who contributed to Firewalk and whether they will find new opportunities within the industry.

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale

The closure of Firewalk Studios serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges within the competitive gaming landscape. As companies innovate and experiment with new formats, it’s crucial that they learn from failures and adapt strategies accordingly. Sony's commitment to utilizing lessons from this experience could ultimately pave the way for future successes in their gaming portfolio.