Let's be real - No one had high hopes for this Concord game, but it seems that even having low expectations ... wasn't nearly low enough.
Early reviews from gamers have painted a bleak picture of a game that is nothing more than a generic DEI Overwatch clone, complete with unnecessary pandering to modern audiences by including pronouns for everyone involved, including for... robot characters? ...Huh?
With beta sessions dwindling and overall player sentiment low, it's clear Sony's Concord is struggling to find any footing whatsoever.
Concord Beta Sessions: What You Need to Know
The Concord beta is divided into two separate sessions, running over consecutive weekends.
Concord Beta Early Access weekend: 12-14 July (Friday-Sunday)
Concord Open Beta weekend: 18-21 July (Thursday-Sunday)
Originally, to play the Concord Early Access beta, users were required to initially pre-order the game through the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Direct, Epic Games Store, or Steam. After pre-ordering, they'd receive an email containing codes for themselves and four of their friends, allowing to access the beta early.
This all changed, though, as Sony found there was less-than-stellar preorders and participants - they've now opened up the early access beta for its upcoming 5v5 sci-fi shooter Concord to all PlayStation Plus users...
Initially, this beta access was exclusive to those who had pre-ordered the game, but due to the overwhelmingly negative reception and a disappointingly low install base, Sony had no choice but to extend access to everyone on PlayStation 5 in an attempt to salvage the game's early performance and generate some much-needed interest.
...YIKES.
Further details: For the Concord Open Beta, anyone can play by installing it onto PS5 or PC when it launches on July 18 at 10am PST/1pm EST/6pm BST, with no pre-purchase required. PS5 users can pre-download the beta from July 17 at 10am PST to jump straight in at launch.
The Hype vs. Reality
It's fascinating to observe how many so-called "professional" review outlets are bending over backwards to hype this game, despite the general public sentiment that Concord is not worth supporting. The disconnect between the critical praise and player reception is stark once again, and it raises questions about the motivations behind these glowing reviews.
Summing up my tweet above: Imagine my shock when I discovered that Morgan Park, the writer of a positive Concord article, is already listed on KotakuDetected for pushing DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) propaganda and slanderous attacks against Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong.
...Or how IGN's Travis Northup is trying hard to push it now as well:
It's clear that these same voices promoting lackluster titles are the ones pushing a specific agenda, further alienating genuine gamers... Unfortunately for these "journalists", gamers are seeing right through it.
Gamers Fight Back
From my perspective, the community sentiment around Concord seems overwhelmingly negative. Many gamers believe that Concord should have just been free for all PlayStation Plus subscribers. Sony needs a reality check if they think this game can survive with ANY price tag... But even if Concord were free-to-play, it would still face an uphill battle for relevance.
The game is misguided and tone-deaf. If it had launched a few years ago, it might have seemed late to the party; now, it just seems sad. Hero shooters are still dominated by Overwatch 2, which remains one of the most played and is free. Competing against such a giant is a formidable challenge, and Concord just... doesn't measure up.
Some players have expressed that while trying Concord, they couldn't help but think they could be playing Overwatch 2 for free. The gameplay doesn't feel nearly as polished, making the idea of paying for Concord even less appealing. Additionally, there's frustration over the wasted first-party talent and development time. There are clear gaps in the market, such as the need for a competent Payday or Tarkov competitor, which makes Sony's decision to focus on a 5v5 hero shooter even more baffling.
It's clear that gamers are not interested in another generic hero shooter, especially one that doesn't bring anything new to the table. The community is tired of being served the same old concepts and is demanding more innovation and quality from AAA developers. Many are fed up with the relentless push of DEI and woke garbage insidiously infiltrating their beloved hobby. Concord's poor reception is even more proof that the gaming community won't stand for it any longer. The overwhelmingly negative response to the game's early access and open beta sessions shows that players are more discerning than ever, refusing to support games that prioritize political agendas over quality gameplay.
Concord is what happens when developers lose touch with their audience. The message is clear: gamers want engaging, well-crafted games, not pandering clones wrapped in a veneer of inclusivity. Don't say we didn't try to warn you, Sony.
~Smash
At the rate the industry is going, I might never need to buy a new gaming console, LOL.
I guess Playstation should of known that gamers were gonna see right through there lame tactics with this new game, that might I add was filled with lots of DEI garbage was being offered in an early restricted beta release. I highly doubt that many gamers will be choosing to play such a crap game
We’re witnessing the collapse of the entire nonsensical woke structure. It’s not in free-fall quite yet, but as long as we keep going it will be.