In the world of video games, trends come and go quickly. Companies that don’t keep up or cling too tightly to outdated ideas often find themselves in trouble. Sony is the latest company to face this issue with its recent game, Concord.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a big game flop. Back in 2018, Konami released Metal Gear Survive during a time when interest in survival games was fading. Fans were already disappointed because the legendary creator of the series, Hideo Kojima, had left the company. The game was rushed, poorly made, and didn’t feel like a real Metal Gear game. It quickly became a joke in the gaming community and taught a harsh lesson to developers about ignoring what fans want.
Fast forward to today, and we see Sony facing a similar fate. Concord, a first-person multiplayer hero shooter, took eight years to develop and cost around $200 million. But when it was released, it attracted less than a thousand players on PC. So, what went wrong?
Firstly, the market is not exactly buzzing for new hero shooters. Established games like Overwatch and Valorant already dominate the scene, and many players have moved on. To make matters worse, Concord was released as a full-price game, while many similar games have shifted to free-to-play models. It had a tough challenge ahead: it needed to stand out and offer something exciting enough for players to pay for, but it clearly didn’t succeed.
The characters in Concord were another problem. They seemed generic and uninspired, as if they were designed to meet certain diversity and inclusion standards rather than being unique and memorable. For example, one character—a killer robot—looked like a poorly designed yellow barrel! If players don’t feel excited about the characters they’re supposed to play, they’re unlikely to even try the game.
As players shared their disappointment online, Concord quickly became a source of ridicule. Many blamed the game’s problems on overreaching diversity requirements, poor management, or a misunderstanding of what gamers want. Player numbers continued to plummet, and Sony eventually had to take drastic action. They pulled Concord from stores and issued refunds to everyone who bought it.
Game flops happen all the time, but Concord stands out because it was a major title from a huge company like Sony. It was expensive, and it missed the mark in so many ways. Recently, audiences have started pushing back against entertainment that feels overly focused on modern social issues. Other projects like Star Wars Acolyte and Rings of Power have also faced backlash, leading to cancellations and poor reception.
So, what caused Concord to fail? Several factors played a role. Charging full price for a new IP (intellectual property) in a saturated market was a mistake. Players were more interested in established games, and Concord didn’t offer enough unique features to draw them in. Sony was late to the hero shooter scene, and with other anticipated games like Marvel Rivals and Valve’s Deadlock attracting massive attention, Concord struggled to find its footing.
Another issue is that many players are growing tired of what they see as forced diversity and activism in games. Characters that seem designed only to check diversity boxes fail to resonate with audiences. People want well-rounded characters that they can connect with—not ones that feel like they were created just to avoid offending anyone.
Concord isn’t alone in facing these challenges. Another game, Dustborn, barely managed to keep 100 players during its first three weeks. Its gameplay even included a mechanic about defeating racist cops, which some found too on-the-nose or confusing.
Sony’s upcoming game, Fairgame$, looks like it might follow a similar path if it doesn’t change course. The negative feedback surrounding Concord, Dustborn, and others may force game studios to rethink how they approach game design. After all, without players willing to buy their games, even the biggest companies can struggle to survive.
In the end, Concord serves as a cautionary tale for game developers everywhere: listening to your audience and understanding the market is key to success.
