Things aren’t looking too good for Firewalk Studios with its first game, Concord. This first-person hero shooter had been in development for eight years, and Sony was apparently so impressed by it that it decided to acquire the studio, even before the studio had shipped a single game.
Yet, despite the lengthy development and high hopes, the game’s launch has been nothing short of disastrous. It peaked at just 697 players on Steam, which is ten times less than Redfall’s initial numbers.
Can Concord and Firewalk Studios Survive?
The low player count is particularly troubling given the current state of the hero shooter and live-service market. Games like Overwatch 2 and Fortnite dominate the genre, leaving little room for new games that aren’t unique enough to stand out.
Moreover, the live-service model has only gotten more competitive with games like Apex and Warzone having huge player bases. In this environment, Concord was always going to have a tough time breaking through, especially with it not being a free-to-play game, but its failure to do so has been so much worse than many expected.
One major factor in the game’s struggles is its pricing. At $40, it was seen as too steep for what many thought to be just another hero shooter in an already saturated market. This has led to a lukewarm reception, with many fans and critics questioning whether the game can sustain itself long-term.
The poor launch has put the studio in a pretty tough position. The gaming industry has recently had a few examples with studios that have been shut down after a single flop, and with this game failing to make a strong impression, there are already fears that Firewalk could be next.
Fans of the studio are hoping that this isn’t the case, but the situation is undeniably grim. The low player count, combined with the lackluster response from the community, means that the future of Concord and the studio is very much up in the air for now.
The Fall of Arkane Austin and Tango Softworks
Redfall was supposed to be a major hit for Arkane Austin. With a peak of 6,124 players on Steam, it seemed like it might just succeed despite mixed reviews. However, this wasn’t enough for the studio.
The studio was known for its unique and fan-favorite games like Dishonored and Prey, and faced a disaster when its latest game didn’t meet expectations. The game had been highly anticipated for some time, but its launch didn’t deliver the experience fans were hoping for.
The reviews were mostly mixed to negative, with complaints about gameplay mechanics, bugs, and the overall direction of the game. Despite having a somewhat decent start on Steam, the player base quickly dropped off, leading to a steep decline in interest and a massive loss in revenue.
This downfall ultimately contributed to its closure, with the studio shutting its doors earlier this year. Alongside it, Tango Softworks, another respected studio, also faced closure. Although recently, Krafton had acquired most of the talent behind Tango, as well as the Hi-Fi Rush IP.
What do you think will happen to the studio behind the game? Let us know in the comments below.
