Sony Shuts Down Concord Discussions as Game Faces Imminent Closure, AmazonSeries Looms
Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced the impending closure of its recently launchedhero shooter, Concord, just weeks after its release. The news comes as no surprise, given the game’s dismal performance. The Guardian reported that thegame, developed over eight years at an estimated cost exceeding $100 million, saw a peak concurrent player count of only 697 on Steam.
However, what has sparked further discussion is Sony’s apparent attempt to stifle further discourse surrounding the game’s failure. On Twitter, the official PlayStation account disabled comments on the announcement of the game’s closure. This move, whilefailing to completely silence the online community, has only fueled further discussion. Concord has now topped Twitter’s gaming trends.
The game’s official Reddit forum, where a refund announcement was made, has also been temporarily locked.Forum administrators cited the overwhelming influx of activity following the closure announcement as the reason for the lockdown, aiming to stabilize the discussion environment. Interestingly, the forum boasts 45,000 members, exceeding the reported 25,000 copies sold.
While many have expressed their disappointment, claiming the gamewas good but simply not for everyone, some have taken to Steam to accuse the community of driving the game’s closure through hate and discrimination. They allege that the community’s backlash against the game’s LGBTQ+ representation and other progressive design choices led to its demise. However, a more rational perspectivesuggests this is simply a case of a colossal commercial failure, unrelated to the game’s reception. If progressive elements truly had such widespread support, why didn’t more players purchase the game?
Adding another layer of intrigue to the situation is Amazon’s recent announcement of a new animated series titled SecretLevel, produced by the team behind Love, Death & Robots. One episode of the series is dedicated to Concord, a fact that has sparked much amusement, given the game’s imminent closure. The irony of the situation, with the game shutting down before the episode even airs, has led to humorous inquiries aboutwhether a successful Concord series could lead to a game adaptation.
The closure of Concord serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. Despite significant investment and development time, a game’s success ultimately rests on its ability to resonate with players. In this case, Sony’sattempt to control the narrative surrounding the game’s failure has only amplified the discussion, highlighting the power of online communities and the potential for unexpected outcomes in the digital age.
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