In an unexpected turn of events, Sony has made waves by issuing takedown notices for fan-created content that revives the short-lived PlayStation game, Concord. This bold move comes as a surprise to the community working tirelessly to breathe life back into the game that faced an untimely end.
The Rise and Fall of Concord
The hero shooter Concord, developed by Firewalk Studios, quickly became one of PlayStation’s most notable failures. Despite high hopes, the game was taken offline a mere two weeks after its launch due to extraordinarily low player engagement, with estimates indicating it sold only 25,000 copies. The game’s failure led to the closure of Firewalk Studios and marked a costly chapter for Sony, squandering hundreds of millions of dollars.
In a testament to its enduring allure, a dedicated group of players devoted themselves to reviving Concord, reverse-engineering its code to host online matches on private servers. Their hard work did not go unnoticed by Sony.
A Community Revival Effort
Through a dedicated Discord channel, the fan group announced their progress: “After a long time of reverse engineering [and] server development, we just managed to play a match of Concord!” They admitted the project was still in a work-in-progress state, yet playable, as they aimed to set up servers for private playtesting.
Despite their efforts, the community’s project attracted attention when videos and images of their work surfaced on YouTube. This exposure seemingly prompted Sony to crack down on the content with copyright notices.
Passionate about maintaining the game’s integrity, the volunteers emphasized that their server access would remain exclusive to legitimate buyers of the game, avoiding any distribution of copyrighted material. “I know this sucks for people who got forcefully refunded, but lawyers are most likely already watching everything we do and I want to ensure this project stays as legal as we realistically can do,” stated a message on their Discord. However, the group has paused further invitations due to “worrying legal action.”
The Bigger Picture of PlayStation’s Live-Service Strategy
In February 2022, then-PlayStation head Jim Ryan declared the launch of over 10 new live-service games by March 2026, leading to significant studio acquisitions, including Bungie and Haven Studios. However, many projects have since been canceled, including a rumored live-service God of War title and a Twisted Metal project. Sony’s adventure into live-service gaming has faced numerous hurdles, admitting that the strategy is “not entirely going smoothly.” This acknowledgment came during a recent financial briefing, highlighting the challenges faced in this transformative journey.