Concord OFFICIALLY SHUT DOWN Goes Offline & Refunds All Customers

Concord Just Did The Unthinkable... and pulled the plug!

It's official: We have triumphed ...in a way that honestly - no one could have seen coming, and Sony, along with Firewalk Studios, has hopefully learned a valuable lesson. In what's shaping up to be one of the most unprecedented flops in gaming history, Concord has been pulled offline and will no longer be sold, with refunds being offered to EVERYONE who purchased the game. With losses reportedly soaring well over $200 million, this has become a historical DISASTER in the video game industry.

Following a launch that was met with widespread criticism and disappointment, the developers behind Concord have issued an apology to the community.

“Concord fans — we’ve been listening closely to your feedback since the launch on PlayStation 5 and PC and want to thank everyone who has joined the journey aboard the Northstar,”

But despite their thanks, the reality is clear: the game's initial release didn’t land the way they had hoped. As a result, Concord will be taken offline starting September 6, 2024, while the developers “explore options” for the game's future.

The Cost of Failure: An Unprecedented Refund Policy

The announcement of Concord going offline is accompanied by a significant move - and one that I can't recall ever happening before: issuing full refunds to all players who purchased the game on PS5 or PC. Effective immediately, all sales have ceased, and the process for refunds has been set in motion.

Players who bought the game via the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Direct will see refunds returned to their original payment methods within 30-60 days. Refunds will also be available through Steam and Epic Games Store, and customers who purchased physical copies will need to follow the refund procedures of their respective retailers.

While the refund process is underway, one thing is clear: once the refund is processed, players will no longer have access to the game, effectively wiping Concord from the digital shelves and marking it as one of the most colossal failures in recent memory.

What Went Wrong?

How did a game that had so much potential end up here? It’s a question many are asking, and the answer may lie in the simple fact that Concord failed to resonate with the gaming community. The game's poorly executed launch, coupled with content stuffed to the brim with DEI agendas that failed to meet any expectations, has left many wondering what exactly Sony and Firewalk Studios were thinking. Don't say we didn't try to warn them, It seems the developers lost touch with what gamers want, resulting in a game that was out of step with the market and unable to find its footing.

This failure has come at a steep cost, both financially and reputationally, with over $200 million reportedly pissed down the drain. The decision to take the game offline and issue refunds is a rare and humbling moment in the gaming industry—a moment where gamers have clearly spoken, and for once, the developers are listening... albeit far too late in this instance.

...Oh and now what happens to that episode in the Amazon series 'Secret Level'?

A Valuable Lesson for the Gaming Industry

There’s no doubt that Concord will go down in history as one of the biggest flops ever, but it could also serve as a pivotal learning moment for Sony and Firewalk Studios. The community’s response to the game was clear: they wanted something better, something more aligned with their interests, and they were not willing to settle for less. In an industry where player feedback is all-too-often ignored, a development like this one stands as a rare example of accountability and a reminder that gamers ultimately hold the power.

Let's hope that moving forward, Sony and other publishers take this lesson to heart. The gaming community has spoken, and this time, they won.

As Concord fades into history, the industry is left with a stark reminder: listen to your audience, or prepare to pay the price. The gamers have made their voices heard, and now, it’s up to developers and publishers to step up their game—literally...

~Smash