What a Concord Comeback Would Need to Be Successful

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What a Concord Comeback Would Need to Be Successful

Key Takeaways

  • The door has been left open for Concord to eventually return.
  • Rebranding, including changing the game’s name and character designs, may be necessary for a successful comeback.
  • The initial $40 upfront fee also greatly contributed to Concord’s failure.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I have seen countless games rise and fall, some gracefully and others not so much. The tale of Concord is one that resonates deeply with me, not just because it shares similarities with some of my own gaming misadventures, but also due to its poignant lessons about the perils of underestimating the power of branding, pricing, and character design in today’s competitive market.

The servers for the game Concord have been turned off, but there’s a chance it could return at some point in the future. In their farewell announcement, developers Firewalk Studios hinted that they are considering possible ways to continue the hero-shooter game.

In the same update announcing Concord’s closure, Firewalk hinted at exploring methods to engage players more effectively and was considering the optimal strategy moving forward. Some fans are hopeful that this might lead to a future revival of Concord, while others remain uncertain about its prospects for a comeback.

In due time, we’ll see if Concord can reappear. If it does, it must address certain issues if it aspires to fare better in its second attempt compared to its initial success.

Concord Needs to Change Its Name

In the world of gaming and entertainment, a strong brand is crucial, and unfortunately, the ‘Concord’ label has developed a negative connotation. It’s similar to how ‘Morbius’ has become a running joke among the public. It seems challenging to change this perception if Concord were to make a comeback. If Sony decides to revive it, they might need to do so under a new name. Since the characters in Concord are known as “Freegunners,” this could potentially inspire a fresh moniker for the game.

However, Concord has garnered significant media attention due to its past setbacks. Reviving it under the same moniker might spark curiosity among individuals who haven’t played the original game. Yet, whether Concord returns with the original name or a new one, there’s one thing it must undeniably achieve.

Concord Must Go Free-to-Play

Concord aimed to launch as a live-service game without relying heavily on exploitative microtransactions. Instead of adopting the battle pass system or maintaining a premium shop, Concord opted for an initial $40 payment from players. However, the dismal sales figures for Concord show that most gamers were unwilling to pay $40 for a multiplayer-focused live-service game. If Concord had offered a single-player campaign or additional content beyond its multiplayer offerings, the outcome might have been different. But in 2024, it appears that gamers are reluctant to pay for multiplayer experiences alone.

It’s no wonder this observation holds true in the hero-shooter genre. The fact is, all of Concord’s rivals are free to play, which explains why consumers refused to purchase it as a premium game. Why spend $40 on Concord when you can enjoy Overwatch 2 and its extensive library of content without any charge? Why invest time in Concord when there are other exciting hero-shooters like Marvel Rivals emerging, all available for free? The $40 price tag of Concord certainly set it up for failure. Even if it had been offered for free at launch, it’s uncertain how many more people would have played it.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but reminisce about Concord, a game that once offered an open beta to the public, inviting everyone who was curious to give it a spin before its official release, primarily on PC. However, surprisingly few people seemed interested in this opportunity. When it came to enjoying Concord for free, it became evident that many weren’t willing to do so. This reluctance suggested that they wouldn’t be inclined to part with $40 for the same gameplay experience either.

Concord Needs to Dramatically Change Its Character Designs

It seems the primary obstacle hindering Concord‘s success is its questionable character designs, which are often criticized as being garish, off-putting, and in certain instances, reminiscent of other works. The characters in Concord have been compared to those in Guardians of the Galaxy, with one character resembling a color-swapped Yondu. If Concord is to make a comeback, it may require a significant overhaul of its characters’ appearances, although this could be the very obstacle preventing it from returning as a free-to-play game. Altering the appearance of Concord‘s characters would necessitate substantial financial investments, an expense that seems unlikely for Sony given the game’s commercial failure. At this point, it might be wiser for Sony to accept the losses and consider Concord as PlayStation’s most significant flop to date.

Concord’s Story Isn’t Over

It’s possible that Concord, once a popular game, may re-emerge as a free-to-play option at some point in the future. However, this isn’t guaranteed. Regardless of whether Concord returns or not, its story continues to unfold, with news that it will be showcased in Amazon’s animated anthology series Secret Level. The character Star Child has been confirmed to appear in the series. Despite Concord‘s shutdown, this creates a bit of an awkward situation for Secret Level, since the game is no longer available for purchase or play. At present, it seems that the episode featuring Concord will still be included in the show.

It’s plausible that the release of “Secret Level” could spark a wave of enthusiasm for “Concord”, much like how the “Fallout” TV series boosted curiosity in the video games. However, it’s important to note that this is quite an uncommon scenario. Even with a free-to-play relaunch, Sony might leverage this potential surge to revitalize “Concord”, but this remains highly unlikely. Regrettably, as of now, there are no official plans for resurrecting “Concord”. While it’s not impossible for unexpected events to occur in the gaming industry, it’s advisable not to get one’s hopes too high.

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2024-09-10 19:54