Concord, the highly anticipated multiplayer shooter from Sony, launched on August 23 for PS5 and PC but struggled to gain traction in the competitive gaming landscape. The game’s failure to draw in players, reminiscent of titles like Overwatch with its 5v5 hero shooting format, led Sony to take it offline just two weeks later, on September 6, offering full refunds to all purchasers. After years of development, this ambitious project intended as Sony’s flagship live service offering was deemed a commercial disappointment.
Costs of Concord Development
Insight from industry insider Colin Moriarty, shared on the Sacred Symbols podcast, reveals the staggering financial investment behind the game. According to Moriarty, who claims to have spoken with a source close to Concord’s development, the total cost reached an estimated $400 million (approximately Rs. 3,341 crore). Initially, the project was internally branded as “the future of PlayStation,” with hopes that it could evolve into a franchise akin to Star Wars.
Moriarty acknowledged that his initial beliefs about the game’s development expenses were significantly off the mark. “Concord cost about $400 million,” he stated during a recent podcast episode.
I spoke extensively with someone who worked on Concord, and it’s so much worse than you think.
It was internally referred to as “The Future of PlayStation” with Star Wars-like potential, and a dev culture of “toxic positivity” halted any negative feedback.
Making it cost $400m. pic.twitter.com/F5O0oy4gaQ
— Colin Moriarty (@longislandviper) September 20, 2024
Financial Impact on Sony
While the figures are staggering, it is likely that Sony did not shoulder the entire financial burden. Moriarty noted that when Concord entered its alpha stage in early 2023, approximately $200 million (around Rs. 1,670 crore) had already been invested in development. The specifics of how much of this expense was incurred by Sony prior to its acquisition of Firewalk Studios, the developer behind Concord, remain unclear.
According to Moriarty’s source, the company subsequently spent another $200 million to enhance the game’s quality to an acceptable level. He described the alpha version of Concord as being in a “laughable state,” necessitating further investment to achieve a “minimum viable product.”
Moriarty emphasized that Concord marks Sony’s “biggest loss ever on a game,” given that the company financed a significant portion of the reported $400 million budget. “Let that sink in,” he remarked, highlighting the financial stakes involved.
Challenges Faced During Development
The podcast further examined the internal dynamics that contributed to the project’s downfall. Described as a “Star Wars-like project,” Concord was touted as a cornerstone for Sony’s future, reflecting the company’s shift towards live service gaming. Despite a move toward these types of titles in recent years, Sony’s ambitions have faced significant setbacks, leading the company to reportedly cut its slate of planned live service games in half, with a target completion by March 2026.
Moriarty also raised concerns about the internal culture at Firewalk, wherein a “toxic positivity” reportedly discouraged critical feedback on the game’s development. He mentioned that Hermen Hulst, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Studio Business Group, was a prominent advocate for the project.
To date, Sony has not disclosed details regarding Concord’s launch failure or confirmed the reported development costs. Following its withdrawal from service on September 6 due to inadequate sales and low player engagement, the game has been removed from all digital platforms, including the PlayStation Store and PC storefronts like Steam and Epic Games Store. Players who purchased the game will be fully reimbursed.
Recently, a report indicated that Ryan Ellis, the game director for Concord, would be transitioning to a support role in the wake of the game’s failure.
Initially priced at $40 upon launch, Concord’s player count peaked at just 697 concurrent users on Steam, while its overall sales across PS5 and PC are thought to have been around 25,000 copies.
